Folic Acid Action Challenges FSA

LONDON—Folic Acid Action (FAA; MicroFolicAcid.com/faa) is challenging concerns raised by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) about the risk of excessive intake of folic acid, amid fears that it may stop women planning a pregnancy from supplementing their diet with this essential nutrient. The FSA is calling for major food manufacturing companies to reduce the amount of folic acid in their products so that women consuming bread fortified with folic acid - should the fortification plans go ahead - are not at risk of excessive intake.

Andrew Russell, chair of FAA, stated: "Folic acid is an essential vitamin and people generally do not get enough of it! Most importantly, pregnant women need substantial extra folic acid and should not rely on flour fortification alone, and they should ideally start supplementation three months before conception and continue throughout the first 12 weeks of pregnancy."