Health: Birth Defects

Lord Turnberg Excerpts

Wednesday 18th December 2013 Lords Chamber

[Earl Howe]

My Lords, as I said, SACN’s recommendations highlighted both the risks and the benefits of this proposal—and I certainly acknowledge that there would be benefits. However, there are also implications. For example, SACN recommended that mandatory fortification should proceed only if accompanied by:

“Action to restrict voluntary fortification of foods with folic acid; measures for careful monitoring of emerging evidence on any adverse effects of long-term exposure to intakes of folic acid … and guidance on supplement use for particular population groups”.

We have to take those recommendations into account before taking any long-term decision.

[Lord Turnberg (Lab)]

My Lords, is the Minister aware of a recent publication that suggests that folic acid deficiency in men, too, may lead to birth defects in their offspring? Is this not another good reason for fortifying flour?

[Earl Howe]

My Lords, I am sure that that evidence will be taken into account when we take the decision, as we hope to do next year.