New research from the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) has found that several types of Asian vegetables contain folate levels equal to or greater than spinach, making them one of the richest sources of folate known. The research team, led by scientists at the Queensland Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI) used new technologies to measure the folate levels of ten Asian vegetables including buk choy, choy sum and wombok and compared them... ...Read more »

A study in the Medical Journal of Australia shows that blood folate levels have significantly improved since the introduction of mandatory fortification of bread flour with folic acid in 2009. The news has been welcomed by the Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Ageing, Catherine King. “Since September 2009, Australian millers have added folic acid (a form of the B vitamin folate) to wheat flour for making bread,” King said. “I congratulate industry for the work they’ve done in implementing... ...Read more »

One of the leaders of the Australian flour milling industry, Mark Laucke of Laucke Flour, has written an open letter to the Australian Food Industry expressing serious reservations about the mandatory fortification of flour with folic acid. On 13 September 2009 it became compulsory in Australia for all bread-making flour to be fortified with folic acid as a consequence of an amendment to the Food Standards Code passed two years ago that took effect on that date. Laucke’s concerns are expressed... ...Read more »

From Sunday 13 September 2009, bread-making flour in Australia must have folic acid, a form of the B vitamin folate, added to it to reduce the risk of babies being born with birth defects such as spina bifida. Australia has decided to stick with the plan despite New Zealand backing out after concerns were raised about the health ramifications. New Zealand will instead proceed with a targeted voluntary programme. The regulatory body originally made the move as folic acid is known to prevent neural... ...Read more »

Mandatory fortification of folic acid in bread will be deferred until May 2012 in New Zealand, with the focus now on introducing a targeted voluntary programme, NZ Minister for Food Safety Kate Wilkinson announced this week. Australia and New Zealand were due to make folic acid fortification mandatory as of September 13, but New Zealand has backed away from the plan after concerns were raised about the health ramifications. At this stage, Australia is still pushing ahead with the plan. The regulatory... ...Read more »

New Zealand is contemplating a deferral of the proposed mandatory fortification of folic acid in bread until 2012 in response to concerns about the safety of the move. Australia and New Zealand are currently due to make folic acid fortification mandatory as of September 13, but New Zealand is calling for public comment regarding the possibility of putting the plan on the back burner. Australia is expected to go ahead regardless, creating fears that the joint regulatory system seen across Australia... ...Read more »

New Zealand could pull out of a trans-Tasman move to fortify bread with folic acid as opposition mounts against the plan. As of September 13, the flour used to make bread will be required to be fortified with folic acid after a 2007 decision by Food Standards Australia New Zealand. The regulatory body made the move as folic acid is known to prevent neural tube defects in babies. The impact on the population at large is now under question, however, after studies have discovered a possible link between... ...Read more »

Australian consumers should have the right to claim for compensation if they are adversely affected by food which has been fortified with additives by Government mandate, according to Deakin University’s Adjunct Professor Joe Lederman. Professor Lederman who was addressing an international symposium on Food Law and Policy, run by Deakin University’s Law School at the weekend, said the mandatory fortification of bread-making flour with folic acid was due to take effect from 13 September... ...Read more »