§ Mr. MacDougallTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans his Department has to implement the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food and Nutrition Policy report of January 2000 on flour fortification with folic acid. [43866]
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§ Yvette CooperA consultation document on whether or not to fortify wheat flour with folic acid was issued in July 2000 jointly by the Health Departments and the Food Standards Agency (FSA). This was based on the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food and Nutrition Policy (2000) conclusion that fortification of wheat flour with folic acid would help reduce the number of births affected by neural tube defects.
The consultation responses have been analysed and the summary of responses posted on the Department's website. The majority of respondents were in favour of fortification although this was not overwhelming (59 per cent.). The most common concerns were over the potential risks of fortification and the possible restriction of consumer choice.
The complexity of the analysis and the need for additional work led to a longer timescale than anticipated. The Health Departments and the FSA held a joint stakeholders meeting on 18 March 2002 to discuss the issue and help inform policy. The policy options will be considered by the FSA Board as well as Health Ministers.