Fascinating post, Lauren. I mean, if Americans were anti-fortification, I'd say that's driven by our general individualistic nature and reluctance to have big government impose on us. It's surprising that Europe which regulates what size tomatoes must be would be resistant to such a clear win in pre-natal health. I wonder if part of it is due to the cultural reluctance to anything artificial in food--the "natural is good" presumption which so often is actually not the case!
The author of this post is not dofferentiating between folic acid and folate. Fortification is with folic acid (synthetic form that the body has to convert into folate). Folate itself has been studied and, as the author states, does not seem to have health consequences like the issues with causing B12 deficiency. BUT FOLIC ACID DOES. And folic acid is what is used in fortification. This is an important distinction that the author misses and that completely changes the argument!
Guys more im looking to it, it looks like its causing problems cause its not natural form. Syntetic b9. Body strugles a little bit to convert it. Maybe thats why we dont want it. Maybe USA so sick. Look natural b9 forms or food.
(Chooses to ignore Europe and talk about Uganda) Most mothers don't come to us in Uganda for antenatal care until 3 months which is super sad, missing the important timing.
Worth noting that although legislation is there in many low-income countries., often its just not followed. Here in Northern Uganda I would say 90% plus mothers get no fortification in their daily food. Even outside the main millers (who often don't fortify), most people are just grinding their own maize and obviously not adding the folate.
It seems this isn't cost-effective enough for a Charity Entrepreneurship or similar to do a "fortify health" style NGO projects on, which is a bit sad because they might be a decent option to support millers at least to fortify.
Yes, strongly agree that fortification is a good buy everywhere. It’s just a hilariously good buy in Europe, where 1) most of the easy public health wins have already been done, 2) there’s definitely the state capacity to make sure the regulation is enforced.
Fascinating post, Lauren. I mean, if Americans were anti-fortification, I'd say that's driven by our general individualistic nature and reluctance to have big government impose on us. It's surprising that Europe which regulates what size tomatoes must be would be resistant to such a clear win in pre-natal health. I wonder if part of it is due to the cultural reluctance to anything artificial in food--the "natural is good" presumption which so often is actually not the case!
The author of this post is not dofferentiating between folic acid and folate. Fortification is with folic acid (synthetic form that the body has to convert into folate). Folate itself has been studied and, as the author states, does not seem to have health consequences like the issues with causing B12 deficiency. BUT FOLIC ACID DOES. And folic acid is what is used in fortification. This is an important distinction that the author misses and that completely changes the argument!
Guys more im looking to it, it looks like its causing problems cause its not natural form. Syntetic b9. Body strugles a little bit to convert it. Maybe thats why we dont want it. Maybe USA so sick. Look natural b9 forms or food.
Love this, super important.
(Chooses to ignore Europe and talk about Uganda) Most mothers don't come to us in Uganda for antenatal care until 3 months which is super sad, missing the important timing.
Worth noting that although legislation is there in many low-income countries., often its just not followed. Here in Northern Uganda I would say 90% plus mothers get no fortification in their daily food. Even outside the main millers (who often don't fortify), most people are just grinding their own maize and obviously not adding the folate.
https://spring-nutrition.org/publications/reports/state-maize-flour-fortification-uganda
It seems this isn't cost-effective enough for a Charity Entrepreneurship or similar to do a "fortify health" style NGO projects on, which is a bit sad because they might be a decent option to support millers at least to fortify.
Yes, strongly agree that fortification is a good buy everywhere. It’s just a hilariously good buy in Europe, where 1) most of the easy public health wins have already been done, 2) there’s definitely the state capacity to make sure the regulation is enforced.