Women planning pregnancies need to eat more folic acid-rich foods, says the Ministry of Health.
Folic acid reduces the risk of birth defects such as spina bifida.
A report issued yesterday says the ministry and the Food Safety Authority should consider a national campaign to boost folic acid consumption, and consider making
it compulsory for folic acid to be added to bread or flour.
The report also recommends the ministry continue promoting daily folic acid supplements to women planning pregnancy.
"New Zealand has a policy of allowing voluntary fortification of certain food products with folic acid," a ministry statement said.
But apart from breakfast cereal manufacturers, the food industry had not adopted the policy.
"Many pregnancies are unplanned and, even if they are planned, women are not aware of the need to take increased folate," the ministry said.
Present policies were therefore not having any great effect in reducing birth defects.
Dr Barry Borman, manager of the ministry's public health intelligence group, said there was also increasing evidence that folic acid might reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, some cancers and Alzheimer's disease.
But because the evidence was not definitive, it was not being considered in the development of policy options.
- NZPA
Herald Feature: Health
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