It never fails to amaze me how our politicians and in particular our Health Ministers feel they have the right to determine what additives they can put in our water and food.
I stumbled across a news article where the Health ministers are to discuss a controversial plan to put folic acid in bread to stem spinal defects.
Thank god that there are bakers and nutritionists out there fighting the mandatory fortification plan being led by the trans-Tasman regulator Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ).
The scheme will require the vitamin to be added to all bread-making flour to reduce spinal bifida and other crippling defects in babies. While this may sound commendable, why is it considered necessary to medicate the whole population and why should we all be subjected to having yet more additives put into our food.
Surely “mass-medicating” is uneconomical and unnecessary.
A spokesman for manufacturer Goodman Fielder said, “It is like saying that crash helmets save lives so everyone has to wear one, whether you are riding a motorcycle or not, even if you are just walking down the street.”
The Australia and New Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial Council made up of state and federal health ministers form both countries will meet in Brisbane to discuss the implications of fortification, and is not expected to make a decision until July.
Enough is enough, our food is already over processed and has so many additives put into it.