Mandatory Folic Acid Fortification in Food in Australia

Introduction

Notably, Mandatory Folic Acid Fortification in Australia is a mandatory standard program that targets and is used in the food industry. The program seeks to ensure that all the wheat flour which is used in making bread, excluding the organic wheat, be fortified. 1(p370) the program formulated that the wheat would be fortified through the use of folic acid.

While this particular contextual food standard program being formulated in June 2007, it was implemented later on after two solid years that is in September 2009.

1(p372)The two-year period helped ensure that all food industries were organized to implement the program, where they took the lane of adding folic acid. Concerning the above mentioned, this paper takes the lane to enlighten on Mandatory Folic Acid Fortification in Australia which it will achieve through bringing to light the various aspects associated with it as a mandatory standard program in Australia.

The Mandatory Folic Acid Fortification in Australia as a mandatory standard program incorporates various aspects. To start with, the program has various stakeholders. Such included the Food Standards Australia New Zeeland, the Australian Government as well as various food industry representatives. 1(p374) These stakeholders will help in enabling that all the retailers, as well as manufacturers and consequently applies the mandatory folic acid fortification. Besides, the Mandatory Folic Acid Fortification in Australia as a mandatory program was formulated by the founders based on certain beliefs and interests. To start with, and the major was to ensure that they promote individuals health growth as well as development.

Such would be achieved through fortification of wheat flour which would add folate- a food element that promotes and individuals, especially babies, healthy growth as well as development. Besides, the founders in the formulation of the program had the belief that through its implementation, they would be able to decrease the likelihood of incidence of neural tube defects, for instance, the spine bifida.5 (p3) The presence of folate in food will help the neural tube closing during the early stages of pregnancy, which in case the tube doesn’t close, such will result in the occurrence of neural tube defect.

Notably, the formulation of the Mandatory Folic Acid Fortification in Australia as a program was framed through the provision of a two years preparation period. Such was between June 2007 and September. It was required that prior to the program enforcement in September 2009, the affected companies by the program need to prepare for the implementation of the program through instances such as adding folic acid.4(p4)Further to mention, the program was also framed on its importance to an individuals health. For instance, this program was associated with the benefits resulting from the presence of folate in prevention and avoidance of neural tube defect.3 (p7)

In conclusion, the rational linear model was relevant to this particular contextual policy process since it helped in ensuring proper implementation for the affected firms on the stated date of enforcement. For instance, the model offered the affected firms enough period of preparation that would ensure that they get all the requirement to ensure that they enforce this program. Such, and when summing up, provided a great ground for the implementation and the presence of Mandatory Folic Acid Fortification in Australia.

References

1. Crider KS, Bailey LB, Berry RJ. Folic acid food fortificationits history, the effect, concerns, and future directions. Nutrients. 2011 Mar 15″ ” 3(3):370-84.
2. Kim YI. Will mandatory folic acid fortification prevent or promote cancer? The American journal of clinical nutrition. 2004 Nov 1″ ” 80(5):1123-8.
3. Brown RD, Langshaw MR, Uhr EJ, Gibson KN, Joshua DE. The impact of mandatory fortification of flour with folic acid on the blood folate levels of an Australian population. Med J Aust. 2011 Jan 17″ “194(2):65-7.
4. Japar D, Chandra-Hioe MV, Shrestha A, Arcot J. Voluntary fortification of breakfast cereals with folic acid: contribution to dietary intake in Australia. International journal of food sciences and nutrition. 2016 Apr 2″ “67(3):225-31.
5. Mallard SR, Gray AR, Houghton LA. Periconceptional bread intakes indicate the New Zealand’s proposed mandatory folic acid fortification program may be outdated: results from a postpartum survey. BMC pregnancy and childbirth. 2012 Feb 14″

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