In Effort To Prevent Devastating Birth Defects, FDA Will Allow Folic Acid To Be Added To Corn Flour
Advocacy groups cheered the decision, but criticism of how long it took lingered.
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FDA To Permit Folic Acid In Corn Masa To Prevent Birth Defects
On Thursday, the FDA announced that folic acid may be added to corn masa flour, a staple for many Hispanic families, with a goal of reducing the risk of neural tube defects. Advocacy groups, including the March of Dimes, have been lobbying the FDA for years to make the recommendation. They applauded the move. In a statement, March of Dimes president Dr. Jennifer Howse called the announcement a “major victory for maternal and child health, especially in our Hispanic communities.” (Aliferis, 4/14)