Corn Masa in US

[Anastasia Smith]

This is a thread for progress on Corn Masa fortification in the US.

 

[Jessie Genoway - FFI]

Recently published FFI report finds that voluntary fortification of corn masa flour has resulted in only 5.8% of corn masa products in the US being fortified with folic acid:

https://www.ffinetwork.org/s/Corn-M...tes-Supply-Chain-Market-and-Fortification.pdf

 

[Admin]

Pending California legislation (H/T Dr. Roger Iliff):

California AB1830 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session

Bill Text (2024-03-21) Corn masa flour: folic acid fortification. [Re-referred to Com. on APPR.]

legiscan.com

 

[Admin]

A dearth of corn masa flour fortification in the USA:

Food companies thwarting success of FDA fortification policy, report finds

www.cspinet.org

 

[Admin]

HHS hosts a roundtable re: corn masa fortification on March 29, 2024:

Readout of HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra’s Roundtable on Fortifying Corn Masa Products

Secretary Xavier Becerra hosted a roundtable with representatives of large manufacturers and distributors of corn masa flour products.

www.hhs.gov

 

[Admin]

NIH / PMC PubMed Central study on corn masa fortification in the USA:

Fortification of Corn Masa Flour With Folic Acid in the United States

Food fortification is an effective public health tool for addressing micronutrient deficiencies. The mandatory fortification of enriched cereal grains (e.g., wheat flour) with folic acid, which began in the United States in 1998, is an example of a successful ...

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

 

[Admin]

L.A. Times article against corn masa fortification:

Column: California wants to mandate folic acid in tortillas to help babies. Why that’s bad

It was time for the Great Tortilla Folic Acid Test. The 3.5-ounce bag of folic acid powder was available on Amazon for $20. I washed out my mouth with water, closed my eyes and took two warm corn tortillas.

www.latimes.com

 

[Admin]

Here is a link to Scott Montgomery's excellent presentation on corn masa fortification, especially as it impacts the Hispanic community:

https://sbf-forum.org/index.php?res...e-presentation-on-corn-masa-fortification.61/

 

[Admin]

"FAILURE TO FORTIFY" – How companies are neglecting to take a simple step that could save Latino/a/e lives."

Published by the Center for Science in the Public Interest:

https://www.cspinet.org/resource/failure-fortify

 

[Admin]

"Fortification of Corn Masa Flour with Folic Acid in the United States"

Article from the American Journal of Public Health presents evidence in favor of corn masa fortification to address Hispanic health disparities:

Fortification of Corn Masa Flour With Folic Acid in the United States

Food fortification is an effective public health tool for addressing micronutrient deficiencies. The mandatory fortification of enriched cereal grains (e.g., wheat flour) with folic acid, which began in the United States in 1998, is an example of a successful ...

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

 

[Jon_Yaeger]

Corn Masa Fortification Legislative Toolkit

A guide for getting corn masa legislation in front of state legislators and Latino community advocates.

The draft model legislation is the focus of the toolkit.