California Mandates Folic Acid in Tortillas to Reduce Birth Defects
Summary:
Starting January 1, California will require manufacturers to add folic acid to corn masa products, including tortillas. This new law aims to reduce neural tube defects in babies born to Hispanic women, a group disproportionately affected by these conditions. Folic acid, proven to decrease birth defects by up to 70%, was previously added to enriched grains but excluded from masa products. The move targets accessibility, as tortillas are a staple in Hispanic households, though small businesses are exempt from the mandate.
What This Means for You:
- Health Benefits: Consuming fortified tortillas can help reduce the risk of birth defects, especially for pregnant women.
- Cost-Effective Nutrition: Fortifying masa costs just four pennies per metric ton, making it a low-cost solution compared to supplements.
- Industry Impact: Major manufacturers must comply, while small shops remain unaffected, preserving traditional practices.
- Future Considerations: Policymakers may explore similar mandates for other culturally significant foods to address health disparities.
Original Post:
Changes are coming to tortillas in California in the new year, with a new law requiring manufacturers to add folic acid to corn masa products. The goal is to decrease birth defects in children born to Hispanic women.
Research shows folic acid promotes new cell growth and can reduce birth defects by up to 70%.
A 1998 U.S. Food and Drug Administration mandate required folic acid to be added to certain enriched grains, such as pasta and rice, but not to corn masa products.
Since then, Latina women have not seen any decrease in their babies being born with neural tube defects in their brains and spinal cords, which is why lawmakers are targeting tortillas.
“I really was in shock because we grow with these kinds of tortillas since generations, and we never have any problems. We have healthy kids,” said Dora Sanz, who is the owner of 3 Hermanas in east Sacramento.
The tortillas she is serving customers come from manufacturers, but her family has been making them from scratch for generations.
“So like, do we really need to put these in the tortillas?” said Sanz.
Sana Jaffery is the legislative director for Fresno Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula, who authored the bill. She said it costs four pennies to fortify a metric ton of corn masa, but hundreds of dollars for supplements where you get the same vitamins.
Jaffery said lawmakers have briefly looked into making supplements more affordable, but it is a separate issue.
“It’s not only Latinos who eat tortillas, but everybody around the world also eats tortillas,” said Sanz.
Mom-and-pop shops will be exempt from this change, but big manufacturers in California will need to start adding folic acid to tortillas beginning January 1.
Mission Foods has already been doing this for years.
Extra Information:
CDC: Folic Acid and Birth Defects – Learn more about the importance of folic acid in preventing neural tube defects.
FDA: Food Fortification Policy – Explore the federal guidelines on fortifying foods.
WHO: Folic Acid and Public Health – Understand the global impact of folic acid fortification.
People Also Ask About:
- What foods contain folic acid? Folic acid is found in fortified grains, leafy greens, and now, California’s masa products.
- Why is folic acid important during pregnancy? It supports fetal development and reduces the risk of neural tube defects.
- Are tortillas the only food being fortified? No, other enriched grains like pasta and rice are already fortified.
- Will this change affect the taste of tortillas? No, folic acid is tasteless and will not alter the flavor.
- Who is exempt from this law? Small, mom-and-pop tortilla makers are exempt.
Expert Opinion:
“This legislation is a proactive step toward addressing health disparities,” says Dr. Maria Rodriguez, a maternal health expert. “By fortifying a culturally significant food like tortillas, California is ensuring that vulnerable populations have access to essential nutrients without altering their dietary habits.”
Key Terms:
- Folic acid in tortillas
- California folic acid mandate
- Neural tube defects prevention
- Hispanic women birth defects
- Corn masa fortification
- Pregnancy nutrition
- Food fortification laws
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