FSAI advise against further folic acid fortification

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland has advised against further folic acid fortification of food

 

An international conference at Trinity College Dublin was told that there were no additional benefits to mandatory folic acid fortification of bread in Ireland.

 

After conducting a blood monitoring study of the Irish population, the FSAI found that folic acid intake remains high mainly due to voluntary food fortification by industry.

 

Addressing controversies surrounding folic acid fortification, Professor Mary Flynn, Chief Specialist in Public Health Nutrition, FSAI said: “There is a need for more EU wide regulation of this area. Now that EU food legislation allows food businesses to voluntarily fortify their food products there is a real need to set maximum limits for the addition of vitamins, such as folic acid to food.”