§ Mrs. Helen ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what responsibility the Food Standards Agency has with respect to informing Government policy on the fortification of flour with folic acid. [73894]
§ Ms BlearsThe Food Standards Agency was asked to consider and provide advice on the practical risk management issues which were linked to options for achieving universal fortification of flour with folic acid.
§ Mrs. Helen ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he has made of the effects of fortifying flour with folic acid on(a) the occurrence of birth defects and (b) the incidence of cardiovascular disease in other countries; [73895]
(2) if he will ask the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition to review evidence on the effects of folic acid in lowering homocysteine and reducing cardiovascular disease. [73893]
§ Ms BlearsThe Committee on Medical Aspects of Food and Nutrition Policy (COMA, 2000), assessed the effects of folic acid on birth defects, such as neural tube defects (NTD), and estimated that fortification of flour with folic acid at a level of 240 micrograms per 100g could reduce the incidence of NTD affected pregnancies by 43 per cent. In terms of other countries, mandatory fortification has been implemented in the US, Canada and Chile. Recent research in some US States has linked the policy with a fall in the incidence of NTD. However,800W the level of fortification in other countries varies considerably from that recommended by COMA and therefore the results may not be directly comparable.
There is epidemiological evidence that increasing dietary folate may reduce blood levels of homocysteine, an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, the effect of increasing folate intake on the incidence of CVD is not as yet conclusive. Results of ongoing randomised controlled trials are awaited.
I have no plans at present to refer the matter of links between folic acid, homocysteine levels, and cardiovascular disease to the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition. However, it is open to the Committee to review the developing evidence in this area if it feels this is appropriate.
§ Mrs. Helen ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will make a decision on his policy on the fortification of flour with folic acid. [73892]
§ Ms BlearsThe decision on this complex issue requires careful consideration of both the benefits and the possible risks of fortification. The options are currently being considered, in the light of the recommendations of the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food and Nutrition Policy (COMA, 2000); responses to the consultation process, carried out in 2000; and advice from the Food Standards Agency.