Campaign Against the Mandatory Fortification of Bread with Folic Acid
Soil & Health has been leading the campaign to get an exemption from having artificial ingredients compulsorily inserted into organic. Read our submission. See also questions in Parliament.
We urge readers/members immediate voice to the Association's opposition to the proposal of mandatory fortification of bread with folic acid. Soil & Health asks you to let our Food Safety Minister Annette King know that you want real choice. Either email her at or fax her on (04) 495 8445 ASAP.
The Proposal
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) have decided to mandatory fortify bread with folic acid and are expected to make a similar decision for iodine. The only consumer choice granted by FSANZ is unleavened breads and retail unfortified flour. This is not really choice for most consumers.
Soil & Health Seeks
Soil & Health is seeking an exemption for certified organic products to be exempted from mandatory fortification. An exemption for organic bread will give all consumers a choice of a fortification free product while still accessing a healthy option.
The Process
Food Safety Minister Annette King will be meeting with fellow Australian Ministers at the Food Standards Ministerial Council meeting in Canberra on the 25th of October 2006. There she can either agree with the decision or seek a review of the decision. Soil & Health, with support from the organic bakers & flour millers listed below, call on the Hon. Annette King to allow New Zealand consumers an organic choice.
Please write to the Minister expressing your concern/opposition on this issue.
Supporting Information
- Soil & Health is most concerned for those that have experienced the very real tragedy of neural tube defects such as spina bifida. We have been working for 65 years to have toxins such as Dioxin and pesticides removed from our food and environment. These also contribute to spina bifida and many other horific conditions. S&H advocates a highly nutritious organic diet high in natural folate.
- Never before have New Zealanders been subject to mandatory fortification of their food. Nor have our organic bakers been faced with having to add synthetic additives to their bread. Even the ubiquitous iodised salt is voluntary. The nearest equivalent is the localised fluoridation of water.
- Organic bakers do not use synthetic additives, and such additives are completely against the principles of organic production.
- Organic bakers take pride in the natural quality of their products. Organic consumers seek out organic products because of the way they are produced and the absence of synthetic ingredients. Many organic breads are whole grain, maintaining natural folate.
- Mandatory folic acid fortification in bread is outside organic consumer expectations.
- Supporting organisations include the Consumers Institute, organic certifiers OrganicFarmNZ and BioGro, the Green Party and the organic bakers & millers.
- Fortification of bread will deliver a mean increase in folic acid intake in the target population of 140 μg in NZ, resulting in an estimated reduction of between 4-14 out of 70-75 pregnancies in New Zealand affected by a Neuro Tube Defect (NTD) each year. That equates to 7.9 cases of NTD prevented - assuming all bread flour is fortified rather than just bread (which is being proposed). Broken down that means 1.3 live births, 1.3 stillbirths, and 5.2 terminations.
- The New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) expressed reservations about long-term health risks for the at least 6% of children that will exceed the Upper Limit guidelines.
- New Zealanders deserve choice and education.
- A NZFSA survey last year found 84% of people were opposed to mandatory fortification.
- An Australian report had 91% wanting choice with 95% of the target group (reproductive females) wanting choice.
- View our media release, in conjunction with organic bakers and flour millers, seeking an exemption for organic bread from fortification.
- Read what the Green Party says.
- Read what some of our members have said.
The photographed products are examples of the options left for consumers who want to avoid mandatory fortification of all other bread with folic acid and iodine. The other alternative is to bake your own bread.
Soil & Health Submission to Food Standards Australia New Zealand
Re: PROPOSAL FOR MANDATORY FORTIFICATION WITH IODINE (Proposal P230)
The Soil & Health Association of New Zealand Inc is 65 years old, and is the largest membership organisation supporting organic food and farming in New Zealand, and as such advocates for a healthy natural diet derived from food produced organically and free from additives.
In the event of mandatory fortification of either or both, iodine and folic acid, Soil & Health recommends an exemption for organic foods.
Soil & Health is conscious of the need for good nutritional education and supports strategies that explain the necessity and sources of iodine in diet, and those factors which suppress adequate iodine uptake.
Soil & Health is concerned that other components such as some soy products and fluoride in the contemporary diet may be factors in the rise in iodine deficiency. Organic consumers prefer a solution to the cause, rather than focus on treatment of symptoms.
In the event of need for supplementation, natural products as ingredients are preferred.
Seaweeds are used by some organic consumers with an awareness of the added need for minerals such as iodine, and certified organic kelp – seaweed products exist with that market in mind.
Acknowledging the high level of nutritional and health awareness of organic consumers, in the event of an exemption for organic foods from fortification, monitoring will show any need for increased education or recommendations to that consumer sector.
Fortification with any synthetic additive is contrary to the ideals of the consumer base of Soil & Health’s membership, and mandatory fortification will reduce choice for those wanting to avoid additives.
That said, many pregnant and breastfeeding women in Australia and New Zealand, in the absence of adequate iodine intake or subject to goitrogenic factors, may require daily iodine supplements.
FSANZ states in the draft assessment report that fortification will not be enough to address iodine status shortfalls.
Soil & Health agrees that an education program through the health system, including information on iodine sources and inhibitors is required, with optional supplementation a possibility.
This does not necessitate mass medication and in that event, broader consumer choice than unleavened bread and a few cereals is appropriate. Considering typical diets, the unfortified choices suggested in the Proposal assessment report are not really choice at all.
Soil & Health is aware of small domestic market focused bakeries that would have difficulty complying with the proposed standard for mandatory fortification with iodine. Those bakeries, and also access to markets requiring no added iodine, need to be allowed for in the interests of fair trade. Regulation as recommended so far disadvantages small commercial operations. An exemption for organic foods would reduce the level of commercial disadvantage.
Organic production and processing is based on minimum alteration or addition to food composition. Organic processing standards restrict additives in bread. BioGro for example would have to change its standard to something less than consumer expectations if mandatory fortification was introduced.
The current voluntary fortification regime allows consumer choice and fair trade as long as clear labelling is present.
FSANZ’ Proposal states, ‘Food labeling or promotional claims must be factually correct and not misleading or deceptive under the fair trading legislation of Australia and New Zealand. FSANZ intends to discuss the use of descriptors such as ‘natural food’, and ‘organic foods’ with the
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and the New Zealand Commerce Commission, to clarify the status of foods using iodised salt with regards to fair trading”
An appropriate descriptor or definition of ‘organic’ produce or goods is likely and appropriately that which has been produced according to either a ‘National’ organic standard, or is organically certified. The 12 month transition period for implementation allows more than sufficient time for that mechanism to be established.
At least three organic certification organisations in New Zealand:
- Organic Farm NZ Incorporated
- BioGro Producers and Consumers Council owners of BioGro NZ Certification and BioGro Domestic Organic Certification
- The Biodynamic Farming and Gardening Association, Demeter certifier in New Zealand,
do not agree with mandatory fortification of organic food and in principle agree with an exemption for organic food.
The Soil & Health motto is Healthy Soil , Healthy Food , Healthy People.
Below a paragraph that expresses the principle as presented by one of our prolific members.
“Under genuine organic management the inherent expectation and principle is that the produce grown takes up and produces enough iodine and folic acid to satisfy a person’s need when consuming a balanced organic diet.
While this is not yet necessarily always the case it is the aim of the organic production system to produce ‘whole foods’ in the true sense of the word. We are better off exploring what is required to get acceptable levels in our food crops again and pay the true and fair price for producing quality food.
Giving in to external pressure to fortify foods takes away the only natural option to explore what is required to grow ‘quality’ food and gives producers and wholesalers a cheap and easy way out. It encourages a commodity/quantitative approach (factory farming vs organic farming) and prevents a focus on quality food production. A regulation that encourages fortification encourages poor food production systems!
An exemption would allow the organic producers to continue exploring genetic material and growing methods that deliver ‘genuine’ organic whole foods and will also give consumers a choice”.
Summary
- The Soil and Health Association of New Zealand does not support Mandatory Iodine Fortification.
- Soil & Health supports public education of the need for iodine, sources of iodine and factors that inhibit the uptake of iodine.
- Soil & Health supports informed and fair consumer choice.
- In the event of FSANZ choosing to pursue a Mandatory Fortification regime, Soil & Health requests that an exemption be made for Certified Organic producers and processors.
- Soil & Health and other organic organisations in New Zealand and Australia wish to explore with FSANZ, options for an organic foods exemption from mandatory fortification.
Questions for Oral Answers in Parliament - Thursday, 19 October 2006
Food Standards Australia New Zealand-Folic Acid
12. Dr PAUL HUTCHISON (National-Port Waikato) to the Minister for Food Safety: Does she intend to sign up New Zealand to the Food Standards Australia New Zealand plan, to add folic acid to bread, at the Australia New Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial Council this month; if so, why?
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR (Minister of Corrections) on behalf of the Minister for Food Safety: The Minister is on record as being a strong supporter of folic fortification, and will take into account the submissions and advice she has received to date, and will continue to receive, when she participates in the discussion on the Food Standards Australia New Zealand proposal at the upcoming ministerial council meeting.
Dr Paul Hutchison: Why would she commit New Zealand to a rushed-through new plan for mandatory fortification of most breads with folic acid, when folic acid supplements will still need to be taken to prevent neural tube defects, when evidence of effectiveness is in doubt with this new plan, and when a public opinion poll shows that more than 80 percent of New Zealanders are against mandatory fortification?
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR: This is not a rushed process. When we came into Government in 1999 that member led the charge to have folic fortification. There has been much discussion about the level of fortification within bread, and it is important that we do not have levels that are unsafe. That member supports that position, and I am sure he will support-or he should support-the precautionary approach being proposed.
Steve Chadwick: Has she seen any reports on this matter?
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR: Yes, I believe she has, in the Sunday Star-Times of 23 July, where Dr Hutchison called for more time for consultation, which would delay the introduction of the one known means of reducing neural tube defects. The question I ask of Mr Hutchison is this: does he support this or does he not?
Madam SPEAKER: The member is not entitled to ask that question.
Barbara Stewart: Can we expect to see further Government action aimed at removing additives such as excess sugar from food, once a precedent has been set for the Government to interfere with food by adding folic acid to bread on a population-wide basis?
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR: Any proposal such as that is up for discussion between officials of Australia and New Zealand, which is the agreed process.
Sue Kedgley: Will the Minister listen to the appeals of the baking industry and the entire organics industry, and seek to exempt organic breads from mandatory fortification, thereby ensuring some consumer choice, or will she undermine the entire organics standard, which explicitly prohibits the adding of synthetic additives to organic products?
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR: I know that the Minister is aware of the issues around organic production, and will take on board those concerns when she has discussions with officials from Australia and her counterparts from Australia.
Dr Paul Hutchison: Why is she considering adopting mandatory fortification of most breads without due consultation, when even the New Zealand Food Safety Authority as recently as 31 July this year stated: "All the government departments involved in this joint submission have strong concerns at the very short consultation period provided for the proposal.", and why is she going off, once again, half-baked?
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR: For that member to claim this has been a rushed consultation process is ridiculous. He himself was advocating for this in 1999 when we came into Government. There has been extensive consultation. The Minister is to have discussions with her colleagues in Australia, and decisions will be made then.
Dr Paul Hutchison: Can the Minister confirm that in the excellent article by Dr Paul Hutchison in the New Zealand Herald in 2000 he states that there would initially be voluntary fortification of bread; and that in the United Kingdom, 6 years later, in the light of new evidence, the UK scientific advisory committee on folate and disease has requested further time to consider potential risks and benefits of increased folic acid intake?
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR: I believe that member does support folate fortification. The approach in the proposal is a precautionary one. The proposed levels are quite low but will assist to reduce neural tube defects in the New Zealand population, which currently run at about 50 a year.
Dr Paul Hutchison: Has the New Zealand Government undertaken any substantial ethical processes relating to the introduction of mandatory fortification of most breads; if yes, what are they; if not, why not?
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR: I am not aware of the detail of that. If the member would like to put down a question, I am sure we can get a substantive answer for him.
Dr Paul Hutchison: Does she agree with the joint food standards submission that a comprehensive monitoring programme should have been developed as part of the draft assessment report, and can she offer proof that New Zealand is ready for a comprehensive monitoring programme; if not, why not?
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR: I am sure those assurances and those issues will be part of the discussion that the Minister will have next week in, I believe, Australia.
Hon Paul Swain: I seek leave of the House for Paul Hutchison to table the excellent letter from Paul Hutchison on this subject.
Madam SPEAKER: The member cannot seek leave on behalf of another member.
Sue Kedgley: I seek leave to table a document that indicates that at the ministerial council next week we will have one vote out of 10. The Australians will have nine votes, and we will have one.
Madam SPEAKER: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is objection.
Dr Paul Hutchison: I seek leave to table the excellent article in the New Zealand Herald.
Madam SPEAKER: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is objection.
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