Folic Acid Campaign

13 July 2009

Folic Acid Campaign

STOP! You have been fed a great deal of misinformation. Please hear the other side.

• Folic acid does not cause postrate cancer in humans. The negative studies referred to involve extreme levels of folic acid fed to rats. Levels humans would never consume.
• For every negative study there are 10 more stringent research studies to refute it
• UK has approved folic acid fortification – the delay is because they are still deciding on the best vehicle ie bread or flour (including pastries/biscuits etc)
• Neural tube defects (NTDs) are more common and deadly then meningitis
• 14 babies were born with NTDs in New Zealand last year. Specialists know this number should be quadrupled because many NTD affected babies are aborted and these are not recorded in the birth register. NTD miscarriages are also excluded.
• The level suggested is not the full 400mcg RDI but it works (US data since 1998 implementation) in reducing the number of NTD births, and has been proven to reduce heart disease and stroke, colon and stomach cancers, congenital heart defects in babies and onset of Alzheimers.
• Folic acid is a b-group vitamin necessary for healthy cell development and is comprehensively proven as beneficial for general health
• The current anti-campaign is funded and fuelled for commercial not food safety reasons. Australian bakers are not complaining because they are already set up for injecting folic acid - they add thiamine
• The Bakers Association, including president Laurie Powell, have all agreed to the proposal many times during face to face meetings over the past 10 years. Sue Kedgley has also pledged her support as long as organic bread was not fortified
• Major bakers (eg Goodman Fielder) have put in higher levels of folic acid in bread over some years but sold it as a premium product
• National and Labour MPs over three successive governments have agreed to this proposal – often unanimously
• The current levels suggested have been based on many rigorous research trials and reviews over the past 10 years and all have concluded no evidence of risk to the population. The programme included two full rounds of public consultation
• All details of this proposal have been widely publicised in the media over the last five years.
• The Bakers Survey conducted two years ago, so often quoted was heavily biased, emotive and void in terms of accurately measuring public opinion
• This is the most important preventive health initiative since iodised salt to prevent goiter and the rubella vaccine.

We don’t have the Bakers budget of thousands of dollars to fight this. We do know this programme is soundly based on quality research, full consulation, international support and many hours of taxpayer and volunteer dollars over the past 20 years. Just pick up the phone.

ENDS