The repeating history of objections to the fortification of bread and alcohol: from iron filings to folic acid

Gunasekera, Hasantha

doi:10.5694/j.1326-5377.2006.tb00597.x

Topics

The recent viewpoint by Kamien1 is timely, given Food Standards Australia New Zealand is currently advocating for the mandatory fortification of all bread-making flour with folic acid (80–180 μg per 100 g of bread). The proposal is now before the Australia and New Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial Council, and a decision is imminent.

Institute for Child Health Research, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, NSW.

Correspondence: hasanthg@chw.edu.au

1. Kamien M. The repeating history of objections to the fortification of bread and alcohol: from iron filings to folic acid. Med J Aust 2006; 184: 638-640. <MJA full text>
2. Wald N. Prevention of neural tube defects: results of the Medical Research Council Vitamin Study. Lancet 1991; 338: 131-137.
3. Pfeiffer CM, Caudill SP, Gunter EW, et al. Biochemical indicators of B vitamin status in the US population after folic acid fortification: results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999–2000. Am J Clin Nutr 2005; 82: 442-450.
4. Williams LJ, Rasmussen SA, Flores A, et al. Decline in the prevalence of spina bifida and anencephaly by race/ethnicity: 1995–2002. Pediatrics 2005; 116: 580-586.
5. Maberly GF, Stanley FJ. Mandatory fortification of flour with folic acid: an overdue public health opportunity. Med J Aust 2005; 183: 342-343. <MJA full text>

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