The UK is finally to add folic acid to white flour in a new drive to reduce neural tube defects, it has been announced.
The government said it hoped the measure would spare about 200 children from neural tube defects annually.
Until now British governments have sought to tackle the issue by advising pregnant women to take folic acid supplements.
It said the measure is failing because as many as 50% of pregnancies are unplanned.
The new ruling will apply to non-wholemeal flour, which is already fortified with calcium, iron, niacin and thiamine.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid said: “We are committed to giving more children a healthy start in life. With the safe and taste-free folic acid baked into the national diet, hundreds more babies will be born healthy each year.
“Focusing on preventing life-threatening health issues such as spina bifida, will ensure fewer people will require hospital treatment, and more individuals and families are able to live healthier lives.”
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