Folicacid

Folic acid is a synthetic form of the B vitamin folate. Folate is naturally found in many foods, but folic acid is often added to foods and is also available as a dietary supplement. It is manufactured through chemical synthesis.

Folic acid is added to foods as a nutrient to help prevent neural tube defects in developing babies. It is commonly found in fortified grain products like breads, cereals, pastas, and rice, as well as in some other processed foods.

In the US, folic acid is approved by the FDA as a nutrient supplement and is widely used in food fortification. The FDA requires folic acid to be added to certain grain products to help reduce the risk of neural tube defects. Both the WHO/IARC and EFSA have evaluated folic acid. While generally recognized as safe when consumed at typical levels from fortified foods and supplements, very high intakes of folic acid from supplements have been a topic of research regarding potential interactions with certain health conditions.