The Food Standards Agency
now advise us that they have recommended to the UK Government that flour excluding wholemeal flour be fortified with folic acid to reduce the number of pregnancies affected by neural tube defects (for example Spina Bifida). The proposed legislation if it becomes law is likely to require millers to add 100 to 450 micro grams of folic acid per 100 grams of flour.The FSA wish to use the Bread & Flour Regulations 1998 as a means to introduce the fortification.
These clarifications mean that traditional mills will no longer be threatened by proposed legislation as was originally feared. The required addition of folic acid (should it become law) will be made in a preparation of chemicals containing calcium carbonate (chalk), Thiamin (Vitamin B1), Niacin and Iron which millers are required to add to flours other than wholemeal flour as a result of legislation called the Bread & Flour Regulations 1998. Thus, mills will not have to purchase or install additional machinery other than that they should already have.
The Bread & Flour Regulations were introduced in the 1940s to help reduce the number of people suffering from diseases such as rickets which were common due to deficiencies in the population's diet. The FSA argue that there continues to be a section of the population who would be deficient in calcium and iron if these regulations were repealed.
Whilst passionately against the addition of any additives to flour, traditional mills recognise their obligations under the Bread & Flour Regulations.
Fosters Mill and other traditional mills would like to thank all those who have signed our petition or written to their MP. The campaign has done a great deal to raise awareness of traditional milling and the FSA how recognise we should be consulted if the proposals become law.
Looking forward:
Traditional mills such as Fosters Mill will continue to raise awareness of the additives we are required to put in flour. Our customers do not want them and are mostly unaware of their existence. We believe customers should have choice; those who select specialist artisan products such as stoneground flour are making an informed choice and can manage their diets without the need for mass medication curteousy of the State.
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Contact the , Jonathan Cook at Foster's Mill |