Bakers furious at 'mass medication' of NZ's bread

The Bakers' Assocation has warned that bread fortified with folice acid will be less safe than it is now. Photo / Herald file

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Supermarket suppliers and bakers want the Government to protect them from lawsuits as questions grow about the health impact of a food additive about to be introduced to all bread.

In four months, bakers will be forced to begin putting a synthetic form of folic acid into almost every loaf made in New Zealand.

This is despite a market research survey carried out by the Government that shows 87 per cent of New Zealanders oppose the move.

The plan aims to reduce the number of brain-damaged babies, although the fall may be a few as four a year.

But new research shows folic acid may cause an increase in colon cancer cases. And another study suggests it may cause colon cancer to grow faster.

The Bakers' Association has labelled the compulsory introduction "mass medication" of the population, and warned that bread containing folic acid will be less safe than it is now.

While about 50 countries already have voluntary schemes, the September introduction would put New Zealand among select few that make it mandatory, or are planning to do so.

The United Kingdom is among them, but it has put plans on hold while it awaits new research.

Ireland canned plans to make adding folic acid mandatory after a voluntary scheme was shown to raise women's folate levels.

New Zealand Food Safety Minister Kate Wilkinson said the Government was concerned about the scheme, which it had "inherited" from Labour.

"We need to make sure the health benefits outweigh the risk," she said. "We have to make sure the evidence is science-based and not emotion-based. We are concerned and we are looking at it."

Wilkinson said Food Safety Authority officials were preparing advice on the latest research. She expected to take it to Cabinet before the end of the month, when a "course of action" would be decided.

"We have to take into account 87 per cent of New Zealanders didn't want mandatory fortification of bread with folic acid," she said.

The scheme was a favourite of former Health Minister Annette King but never went before Parliament. It was passed under special rules which do not allow the same level of public scrutiny.

The mandatory scheme was developed after it was decided the current scheme - in which specific brands are fortified with folic acid - was unsuccessful.

Neither the Food Safety Authority nor the Ministry of Health could say if any money had been spent on a public education campaign to promote the voluntary scheme.

Papers released under the Official Information Act show the authority told Wilkinson that "research on the health effects of folic acid, both positive and negative, is a rapidly developing area".