Are there any health risks from mandatory folic acid fortification?
Based on the best scientific evidence, there is no apparent risk to public health and safety either from the amounts of folic acid already obtained from foods voluntarily fortified by the food industry, or from the estimated increase in folic acid intakes as the result of mandatory fortification. We investigated: masking the diagnosis of vitamin B12 deficiency; cancer; twinning; cognitive function; and miscarriage. However, as there remains some uncertainty in the scientific literature on the potential health risks of folic acid, we have taken a conservative approach to mandatory folic acid fortification. We are proposing an upper limit on the amount of folic acid mandated in wheat flour for bread-making and will be establishing a monitoring framework to investigate the health impacts of mandatory folic acid fortification. There will be a comprehensive and independent review of mandatory folic acid fortification, which will be initiated two years after the implementation of the standar
