Asked by: Esther McVey (Conservative - Tatton)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 10 July 2026 to Question 15320 on Folic Acid, with reference to the Food Standard Agency's information page entitled Guidance: Folic Acid, updated on 10 July 2026, where the nine pieces of evidence can be found as the links are not working.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson
The Food Standards Agency’s (FSA) website moved over to the GOV.UK platform on 25 June 2026. The FSA’s information page on the fortification of flour with folic acid is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/folic-acid/folic-acid
Asked by: Esther McVey (Conservative - Tatton)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the article in The Lancet by Dr Czeizel entitled Can terathanasia explain the protective effect of folic-acid supplementation on birth defects, published on 16 August 1997, particularly the comment that fetal deaths could readily account for not just part of the effect of folic acid on prevention of defect in births, but for the entire effect.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson
In the United Kingdom, folic acid fortification was first considered by the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food and Nutrition Policy (COMA) in 2000.
In its report on Folic Acid and the Prevention of Disease, COMA considered the 1997 paper by Hook and Czeizelb, Can terathanasia explain the protective effect of folic-acid supplementation on birth defects?.
COMA noted that “It has been suggested that some agents that reduce the incidence of birth defects might do so by increasing the rate of death or abortion of affected fetuses ("terathanasia") and that the effect of folic acid on [neural tube defects] NTDs could be mediated by this means. For this reason, there has been some concern over an increased rate of spontaneous abortions among women taking folic acid supplements.”
COMA further noted that it “is most likely due, however, to an increase in fertility and multiple pregnancies among women taking supplements and to an effect of folate in allowing the survival of non-viable conceptuses to a stage where their loss is recognised as abortions. The generally accepted view is that folic acid supplements prevent NTDs simply by allowing the normal development of the fetal neural tube.”
Folic acid fortification was recommended by COMA in 2000 and by its successor the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) in 2006, after an extensive review of the evidence on folate and health. The SACN has further considered the evidence in its 2009 report to the Chief Medical Officer on folic acid and colorectal cancer risk and its 2017 update on folic acid and did not identify any further concerns on the issue.
Asked by: Esther McVey (Conservative - Tatton)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the government announcement of 27 June 2026 on Pioneering projects to transform obesity care, for what reason the relevant competing interests of the quoted experts were not disclosed.
Answered by Preet Kaur Gill
The Government announcement on 27 June 2026, titled Pioneering projects to transform obesity care, backed by £85 million from government and industry, was a press notice announcing the 12 successful projects funded through the Obesity Pathway Innovation Programme. The quoted individuals were identified by their names, organisation, and roles.
Press notices are intended to communicate Government announcements and are not scientific or academic publications. The affiliations of those quoted were set out in the announcement, enabling readers to understand the capacity in which comments were provided.
Asked by: Esther McVey (Conservative - Tatton)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 11 June 2026 to Question 3756 on Folic Acid, whether he is taking steps to help ensure patients will be made aware of the fortification of non-wholemeal wheat flour; and what support will patients be given to avoid it in their diet.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson
The Government introduced mandatory fortification of non-wholemeal wheat flour with folic acid as a preventative public health measure to help reduce the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs) during pregnancy. Increasing folic acid intake through fortification will help prevent approximately 200 NTDs, including spina bifida each year, which is about 20% of the annual United Kingdom total. The policy will have the wider benefit of increasing the intake of folic acid and improving folate status across the whole population. Folate, including folic acid, plays an important role in forming healthy red blood cells and maintaining brain health.
This policy has been developed over many years, with advice from UK scientific committees, with two public consultations, and clear public communications, including a Government announcement. Further information is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/birth-defects-prevented-by-fortifying-flour-with-folic-acid
The four chief medical officers of the UK wrote to healthcare professionals about the policy in relation to pregnancy advice for women who are trying to conceive or likely to become pregnant, with further information available at the following link:
A consumer facing information page has also been published by the Food Standards Agency.
All non-wholemeal wheat flour is already fortified with four nutrients: iron; thiamine; niacin; and calcium.
In developing the policy, it was agreed that fortification should be limited to non-wholemeal wheat flour, helping to ensure that alternative flour choices remain available for those who choose or need to avoid fortified products. This includes wholemeal flour and other flour types such as soya or spelt flour. This was set out in the consultation document.
To help consumers identify suitable products, added vitamins and minerals, including folic acid, must be declared in the ingredients list on flour and on foods made using fortified flour. Individuals with specific dietary requirements should seek advice from an appropriate healthcare professional.
The Government’s impact assessment, called De Minimus Assessment, was published at the following link in November 2024:
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2024/1162/resources
Asked by: Esther McVey (Conservative - Tatton)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 23 February 2026 to Question 113069 on Folic Acid, to clarify where the impact assessment has been published as it is not available on the cited link.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson
The Government introduced mandatory fortification of non-wholemeal wheat flour with folic acid as a preventative public health measure to help reduce the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs) during pregnancy. Increasing folic acid intake through fortification will help prevent approximately 200 NTDs, including spina bifida each year, which is about 20% of the annual United Kingdom total. The policy will have the wider benefit of increasing the intake of folic acid and improving folate status across the whole population. Folate, including folic acid, plays an important role in forming healthy red blood cells and maintaining brain health.
This policy has been developed over many years, with advice from UK scientific committees, with two public consultations, and clear public communications, including a Government announcement. Further information is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/birth-defects-prevented-by-fortifying-flour-with-folic-acid
The four chief medical officers of the UK wrote to healthcare professionals about the policy in relation to pregnancy advice for women who are trying to conceive or likely to become pregnant, with further information available at the following link:
A consumer facing information page has also been published by the Food Standards Agency.
All non-wholemeal wheat flour is already fortified with four nutrients: iron; thiamine; niacin; and calcium.
In developing the policy, it was agreed that fortification should be limited to non-wholemeal wheat flour, helping to ensure that alternative flour choices remain available for those who choose or need to avoid fortified products. This includes wholemeal flour and other flour types such as soya or spelt flour. This was set out in the consultation document.
To help consumers identify suitable products, added vitamins and minerals, including folic acid, must be declared in the ingredients list on flour and on foods made using fortified flour. Individuals with specific dietary requirements should seek advice from an appropriate healthcare professional.
The Government’s impact assessment, called De Minimus Assessment, was published at the following link in November 2024:
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2024/1162/resources
Asked by: Esther McVey (Conservative - Tatton)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Government response of 29 June 2026 to the petition entitled End the mandatory fortification of white flour with folic acid immediately, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of options available to individuals and patients to avoid flour products which are fortified with folic acid.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson
The Government introduced mandatory fortification of non-wholemeal wheat flour with folic acid as a preventative public health measure to help reduce the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs) during pregnancy. Increasing folic acid intake through fortification will help prevent approximately 200 NTDs, including spina bifida each year, which is about 20% of the annual United Kingdom total. The policy will have the wider benefit of increasing the intake of folic acid and improving folate status across the whole population. Folate, including folic acid, plays an important role in forming healthy red blood cells and maintaining brain health.
This policy has been developed over many years, with advice from UK scientific committees, with two public consultations, and clear public communications, including a Government announcement. Further information is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/birth-defects-prevented-by-fortifying-flour-with-folic-acid
The four chief medical officers of the UK wrote to healthcare professionals about the policy in relation to pregnancy advice for women who are trying to conceive or likely to become pregnant, with further information available at the following link:
A consumer facing information page has also been published by the Food Standards Agency.
All non-wholemeal wheat flour is already fortified with four nutrients: iron; thiamine; niacin; and calcium.
In developing the policy, it was agreed that fortification should be limited to non-wholemeal wheat flour, helping to ensure that alternative flour choices remain available for those who choose or need to avoid fortified products. This includes wholemeal flour and other flour types such as soya or spelt flour. This was set out in the consultation document.
To help consumers identify suitable products, added vitamins and minerals, including folic acid, must be declared in the ingredients list on flour and on foods made using fortified flour. Individuals with specific dietary requirements should seek advice from an appropriate healthcare professional.
The Government’s impact assessment, called De Minimus Assessment, was published at the following link in November 2024:
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2024/1162/resources
Asked by: Esther McVey (Conservative - Tatton)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to FOI 903 to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), whether the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has a copy of the Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority's audit of Moderna.
Answered by Preet Kaur Gill
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has conducted searches and does not believe we hold a copy of the report referenced in FOI 903 from the UK Health Security Agency.
The nature of the complaint in the report is outside the scope of what would be investigated by the Agency and as a result we would not expect to hold a copy.
Asked by: Esther McVey (Conservative - Tatton)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to answer Question 3280, tabled on 20 May 2026.
Answered by Preet Kaur Gill
I refer the rt. Hon. Member to the answer I gave on 1 July 2026 to Question 3280.
Asked by: Esther McVey (Conservative - Tatton)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 11 June 2026 to Question 3756 on Folic Acid, what assessment he has made as to whether the removal of people with (a) stents and (b) having kidney dialysis from the NHS list of people who cannot take folic acid will lead to more or fewer of these patients exceeding the recommended upper level for folic acid intake.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson
The National Health Service website section on medicines is in the process of being transformed. NHS England undertook in-depth research to understand what the user needs are for medicine information on the NHS.UK website and then designed, tested, and iterated a new medicines page format, which is now rolling out across the medicines content, rather than being specific to folic acid.
This new format is shorter and simpler than the legacy medicines topic pages, making them more accessible and easier to maintain, decreasing risk. As NHS England cannot provide definitive advice for all patients in all situations, instead patients are encouraged to read the relevant Patient Information Leaflet and to consult a physician if they have any existing medical condition.
Asked by: Esther McVey (Conservative - Tatton)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 11 June 2026 to Question 3756 on Folic Acid, who authorised the removal of people with stents and those receiving kidney dialysis from NHS guidance on groups unable to take folic acid; and on what date was that decision taken.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson
The National Health Service website section on medicines is in the process of being transformed. NHS England undertook in-depth research to understand what the user needs are for medicine information on the NHS.UK website and then designed, tested, and iterated a new medicines page format, which is now rolling out across the medicines content, rather than being specific to folic acid.
This new format is shorter and simpler than the legacy medicines topic pages, making them more accessible and easier to maintain, decreasing risk. As NHS England cannot provide definitive advice for all patients in all situations, instead patients are encouraged to read the relevant Patient Information Leaflet and to consult a physician if they have any existing medical condition.