Corn tortillas in California now must contain folic acid
8 hours ago
- #Food Fortification
- #Birth Defects Prevention
- #Public Health
- California enacted a law mandating folic acid fortification in corn masa flour to reduce neural tube defects in Hispanic infants, a community with disproportionately high rates of these birth defects.
- Alabama will implement a similar law in June, with other states considering legislation, driven by advocacy groups aiming to address micronutrient deficiencies nationwide.
- Folic acid fortification in enriched wheat products since 1998 has reduced neural tube defects by about 30%, but corn masa was originally excluded, limiting its impact on Hispanic populations.
- Large producers like Gruma Corp. and Mission Foods are now fortifying their corn masa and tortilla products, encouraging broader industry adoption and state-level policy changes.
- Critics, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr., oppose mandatory fortification as government overreach, but public health experts emphasize its safety, efficacy, and importance in preventing birth defects.
- Neural tube defects occur early in pregnancy, often before women know they are pregnant, making fortification a crucial public health strategy to ensure folic acid reaches at-risk populations.