The UK's new folic acid law kicks in on 13 December 2026. From that date, all non wholemeal wheat flour, white and brown, must be fortified with folic acid. The aim is to prevent around 200 cases of neural tube defects like spina bifida every year. Here's the catch: wheat flour is in far more than bread. It shows up in pasta, pizza, crackers, biscuits, cakes, pastries, pies, breakfast cereals, and most flour based batters, fish fingers, chicken nuggets, scampi, onion rings, tempura. It's also used as a thickener in soy sauce, gravy granules, stock cubes, soups and sauces. Malt vinegar and malt extract can be wheat derived too. Because so many of these foods are eaten together every day, the folic acid adds up across the whole diet, not just from one slice of bread. Let's look at a typical day for a child. They have cereal for breakfast, a sandwich for lunch, then pasta for tea or a pizza. That is cumulative to a high degree. Why some people may want to avoid it. Folic acid isn't risk free for everyone. The main medical concern is vitamin B12 deficiency, including pernicious anaemia. Folic acid can correct the anaemia on blood tests while the nerve damage continues, that can lead to permanent spinal cord damage called subacute combined degeneration. Official guidance says it should never be taken alone in these cases. It's also contraindicated in most cancers, because some tumours are folate dependent and extra folic acid may fuel them. People on methotrexate, used for rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and some cancers, should be careful, as folic acid can reduce how well it works. And epilepsy medicines like phenytoin, phenobarbital and primidone can have their levels lowered by folic acid, risking more seizures. Wholemeal flour is exempt, as are non wheat flours like rice, maize, rye, oat and buckwheat, and small scale mills producing under 500 tonnes a year. But even though wholemeal is exempt, people checking packaging are already finding folic acid listed on wholemeal flour and wholemeal bread. That is because many products mix in some non wholemeal flour, or manufacturers are fortifying voluntarily. The supposed safe option is not always safe. We need to stop this altogether. Sign the petition to end the mandatory fortification of white flour with folic acid immediately It closes on 8 December 2026 and needs 100,000 signatures for a debate in Parliament. If you have already signed please share with family and friends to make them aware. Its in the comments 🇬🇧