WA leads the push for mandatory folate in bread

3/5/07
Western Australia will continue to lead the push for folic acid to be added to bread products in a bid to reduce the number of babies born with potentially fatal defects.
Mr John Hyde, Parliamentary Secretary to the Health Minister, said the compulsory fortification of bread flour with folate would ensure that women consumed enough folic acid to protect their babies from devastating neural tube defects.
"About 40 babies a year, or one in 700 pregnancies in WA are affected by neural tube defects, such as spina bifida, which can cause babies to die shortly after birth, lifelong disabilities or stillbirth," Mr Hyde said.
"Seventy per cent of these conditions could be prevented by taking folic acid before and during early pregnancy."
The call comes on the eve of an Australia New Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial Council meeting in Brisbane.
The council had previously stated its commitment to the folate proposal; however, technical and compliance issues were delaying progress across Australia.
Mr Hyde said more than 40 countries had already introduced the mandatory fortification of bread-making flour with folic acid, with results showing drastic reductions in birth defects.
He said it was unacceptable that Australian industry was stalling on such an important issue.
"For Australia not to follow suit puts us at a serious health disadvantage," Mr Hyde said.
"The savings to the health system alone will be enormous, with an estimated $30million per year saved in Australia and $3million in WA."
Mr Hyde said the voluntary fortification of food and health education was failing to reach 40 per cent of the WA population.
Minister's Office - 9422 3000