Should folic acid be added to bread to help prevent neural tube defects, such as spina bifida, affecting foetuses and causing disabilities in babies?

Support for folic acid in bread

Extracts:

"The campaign to add folic acid to bread in an attempt to stop hundreds of babies from being born with disabilities has been bolstered by research suggesting that the move was probably safe."

"Each year, up to 600 babies are born with neural tube defects, such as spina bifida, while several hundred pregnancies are aborted because foetuses are affected. Many scientists support the mandatory adding of folic acid, which contains the vitamin folate, because they say there is overwhelming evidence that it helps prevent neural tube defects. There is to be a three-month consultation.

Critics have described the plans as "mass medication"."