Evaluation of the implementation of the folate-neural tube defect health claim and its impact on the availability of folate-fortified food in Australia.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the implementation of the folate-neural tube defect (NTD) health claim and its impact on the availability of folate-fortified food in Australia.


METHODS
During late 2005, a survey was conducted in 16 supermarkets across all Australian capital cities to identify the use of the folate-NTD health claim on the labels of the 128 food products listed in food standard 1.1A.2: 'Transitional standard--Health claims' and the number of products fortified with folic acid.


RESULTS
Seventy-nine per cent of existing listed food products were found and two of these were implementing the folate-NTD health claim. Forty-four per cent of these listed products, previously fortified with folic acid, were no longer fortified. One hundred and seventeen generally available food products were fortified with folic acid, predominantly breakfast cereals (73%). Twenty-seven per cent of these folate-fortified products were listed in the transitional standard.


CONCLUSIONS
The health claim was not used widely to inform women of child-bearing age of the importance of periconceptional folate intake. The increased availability of folate-fortified products generally has occurred independently of the health claim. Deficiencies in the verification system of the tested regulatory framework are identified. The voluntary regulatory provisions for both folate fortification and the use of the health claim diminished the States' influence over their implementation of public health tools.
Lawrence
Mark
M
School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria. lawrence@deakin.edu.au
D001315:Australia; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D005527:Food, Fortified / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D009436:Neural Tube Defects / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011356:Product Labeling
D005492:Folic Acid