Now the Food Standards Agency (FSA) will begin a 3-month consultation to see how the public feels about the issue.
The FSA is considering four options in its consultation: advising women to take folic acid supplements before contraception; urging young women to take folic acid supplements and consume foods rich in folate; encouraging the food industry to fortify more foods with folic acid; and backing the mandatory fortification of bread or flour.
After the FSA completes its consultation, it will make a recommendation to ministers.
According to BBC, Rosemary Hignett, the head of nutrition of the FSA, said the situation is complicated. However, she added, "This consultation is an opportunity for consumers, industry, health charities and other stakeholders to express their views and opinions on this issue."
The Department of Health already advises women to take folic acid before they become pregnant and during pregnancy, but research shows that only a quarter of women follow the the recommendation.
Taking folic acid, a synthetic form of the B vitamin folate, can decrease neural tube defects, which currently affect up to 900 pregnancies in the U.K. annually.
A report form the Scientific Advisory Committee in Nutrition stated that fortifying flour was "the most effective way to increase folic intakes of women most at risk."
The problem is that adding the vitamin to flour, which is consumed by nearly everyone in the country, could mask a deficiency of vitamin B12 - which could potentially cause damage to the nervous system, particularly in the elderly.
Gordon Lishman, director-general of Age Concern, said: "There is a concern that an increase in folic acid could mask a vitamin B12 deficiency in older people and this could remain undetected and untreated.
"The recommendations from the FSA must take into account the implications introducing folic acid into flour would have for all age groups."
