Decline in the consumption of food fortified with folic acid has been linked to increase in the number of neural-tube defects

A decline in the consumption of food fortified with folic acid has been linked to the increase in the number of neural-tube defects in Ireland. These findings have emerged from a study led by senior lecturer in Health Systems Research at the School of Nursing and Human Sciences, Mary Rose Sweeny. Although the number of birth defects recorded had declined since 2008, 2009 seems to have seen a U-turn with an increase being recorded from that year. This research has suggested two potential reasons for the reduction in folic acid: the number of foods (specifically bread, milk and dairy spreads) fortified with folic acid has fallen, and retailers are shopping at a large number of discount –grocery stores that offer fewer folic acid fortified foods.