Mandatory fortification of flour with folic acid
All non-organic wheat flour suitable for breadmaking produced or sold in New Zealand must be fortified with folic acid.
Fortifying bread-making flour to protect babies is mandatory (media release)
Folic acid is the synthetic form of folate, an essential B vitamin needed for healthy growth and development, particularly for babies during the very early stages of pregnancy. In more than 80 countries, including Australia and the United States, fortification of flour with folic acid has been proven to reduce the prevalence of neural tube defects, which can be life-threatening for babies or cause life-long disabilities.
