ACI Group calls for greater education on nutrition as folic acid fortification deadline looms

 By December of this year, all non-wholewheat wheat flour products must be fortified with folic acid in addition to added nutrients already required by law, such as calcium and iron. Despite the many proven benefits of folic acid, an important nutrient that is already widely prescribed during pregnancy to support healthy foetal growth and development, the news has caused some consumers to voice concerns about chemicals being added to staple foods.

As Gareth Clark, Sales Director at ACI Group says, the food industry has an important role to play in preventing the spread of misinformation and educating consumers about the nuances of food processing. “It’s frustrating to see this positive story swept up in the ‘ultra-processed food’ hysteria,” he says. “Often these stories are provocatively framed in the media, so the food industry needs to take the lead – not just in this case, but in all cases of beneficial fortification.

“There is a long list of countries that have fortified with folic acid for a significant period of time, and maybe a more balanced approach would be to educate consumers on the potential epidemiological risks of not fortifying. In the UK, 12% of children aged 11 to 18 years, 4% of adults aged 19 to 64 years, and 2% of adults aged 65 years and over between 2019-2023 were considered low in folate according to Government data. This has huge implications for everyone, especially those planning to start a family.

“Too often, the narrative is that organic ingredients are good, and processed ingredients are bad. That is lacking in nuance to the point of being misleading, and it’s down to all of us in the industry to correct that.”

NHS guidelines recommend taking folic acid supplements while trying to conceive and during the early stages of pregnancy to reduce the risk of neural tube defects like spina bifida. However, it has also been shown to support red blood cell formation among several other benefits. Despite this, data shows that the folic acid intake of many demographics, especially younger women and those from deprived areas, can be low.

“It’s crucial for brands and manufacturers to be ready for these new regulations by analysing their ingredient supply chains,” added Clark. “At ACI Group, we’re ensuring our customers can be as transparent and explicit as possible with both partners and consumers about every ingredient that goes into their products.”

To learn more about ACI Group and its portfolio of niche ingredients, visit www.acigroup.biz.