Govt defers introduction of folic acid to bread

The mandatory addition of folic acid to bread will not now come into force until 2012. Photo / Wairarapa Times-Age

The Government's decision to defer the fortification of bread with folic acid has been met with mixed reaction - much like the fortification itself.

Mandatory fortification would be deferred until May 2012, Food Safety Minister Kate Wilkinson said today.

The Government and bakers were now likely to focus on introducing a voluntary range of fortified breads.

The deferral was the "best way forward", Ms Wilkinson said.

"I agree with public health advocates that folic acid is beneficial to the health of women and can prevent neural tube defects, but I also understand consumers overwhelmingly want to be able to choose whether or not the bread they buy is fortified."

Folic acid has been shown to reduce the risk of babies being born with defects such as spina bifida, but bakers say women would need to eat at least 11 slices of bread a day to make a difference to the health of their unborn child.

The former Labour government had ruled that folic acid should be added to all bread under a mandatory order starting this year as part of a trans-Tasman food standard agreement.

Labour health spokeswoman Ruth Dyson said today that eight years ago politicians asked bakers to voluntarily fortify bread and they asked for mandatory fortification rules.

"As soon as the mandatory regime was due to come in to effect, the bakers changes their mind, started scaremongering campaigning against folate, and now are trying to look like the good guys."

Women need to eat two slices of fortified bread a day before they conceive to reduce the number of babies born with spina bifida and the number of foetuses who cannot survive to full term, Ms Dyson said.

Voluntarily fortified bread was likely to be too expensive for may women who need it, she said.

The Green Party said the deferral would allow time for research into whether the fortification was safe.

If the Government required a "synthetic additive" to be added to bread it had to be sure it was effective, there were no harmful side effects and no better way of achieving the outcome, MP Sue Kedgley said.

"Both Ireland and the United Kingdom are presently assessing emerging issues in cancer risk and we should too."

New Zealand Association of Bakers president Laurie Powell said he congratulated the Government's decision to defer fortification and had "heeded the strong message" to make a voluntary scheme work.

"A voluntary programme preserves choice for all New Zealanders."

The Food and Grocery Council also supported the deferral, saying a voluntary programme can target women of child bearing age without posing health risks to others.

The amendment to give effect to the deferral will be gazetted today.

- NZPA