www.GoodinEveryGrain.ca Good in Every Grain 38 BUT WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH WHEAT FLOUR? In 1998, the Canadian government went one step further and mandated that all enriched or white flour milled in Canada must contain folate to help reduce the incidences of NTDs. In fact, the Food and Drug Act mandates that, among other standards, in 100 grams of flour, there must be various nutrients, including 0.15 milligrams of folic acid. Studies have shown that this mandate has helped reduce spina bifida cases by 53 per cent.* The reason for this is during the milling process, the bran is removed to make enriched flour — this flour is then used to make enriched ("white") breads, pastas, crackers, etc. The bran contains the mineral of a whole grain; when removed, those necessary minerals can also be removed. The Food and Drug Act requirements mean that the necessary vitamins and minerals are added back into the flour during the milling process. Sharing facts and real-world scenarios — like how eating Ontario grains can help prevent NTDs — reinforces Ontario grains' highquality food safety standards. Ontarians can feel confident knowing that whether they're choosing whole grain or enriched grain food products, studies show that choosing grains is beneficial to their health. * For more information, including links to more information about spina bifida, NTDs, and research on how grains can help prevent NTDs, visit www.GoodinEveryGrain.ca/2022/08/10/wheat-flour-and-spina-bifida/ CANADIAN WHEAT AND SPINA BIFIDA The Good in Every Grain team is always searching for new facts to share about Ontario grains. Facts that are fun, unique, and thought-provoking can help consumers remember to trust, choose, and support Ontario grains. Our team discovered something unique and very interesting about Canadian wheat that can directly impact the health and wellbeing of Ontarians. Did you know that Canadian wheat is healthy for us and can help prevent spina bifida and other neural tube defects (NTD) in newborns? WHAT IS SPINA BIFIDA? Spina bifida, an NTD, is a structural defect that occurs when babies are still in the womb and their spinal column doesn't close all the way.* The spinal cord and surrounding tissues are exposed and can lead to children being born with significant disabilities.* WHAT IS SPINA BIFIDA? Before we get any further, let's talk about folic acid or folate. Folate is a B vitamin found in foods like dark green vegetables, citrus fruits, and legumes like soybeans that play an important role in DNA and amino acid synthesis.* Many health professionals recommend that pregnant women eat food fortified with folate and take a vitamin to increase their folate levels.
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