California Mandates Folic Acid in Corn Masa

United States — California has become the first U.S. state to mandate the addition of folic acid to corn masa flour, a staple in Latino diets, to combat high rates of neural tube birth defects. This move, effective January, follows decades of successful folic acid fortification in other grains. United States — Alabama will implement a similar law in June, and legislation is pending or being considered in United States — Florida, United States — Georgia (U.S. state), United States — Oklahoma City, and United States — Oregon, with United States — Texas, United States — Delaware, United States — New Jersey, and United States — Pennsylvania also expressing interest. Major food producers like Gruma, Mission Foods, and Gruma — Azteca Milling have already begun fortifying their products, with Gruma expecting 100% fortification of its U.S. retail sales by July. While public health experts and advocacy groups like the Food Fortification Initiative and Center for Science in the Public Interest laud the initiative as a public health triumph, some critics, including Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., have voiced opposition, calling it government overreach.