Only around a third of women are taking folic acid supplements at the time they become pregnant. The vitamin is recommended to prevent birth defects like Spina Bifida in babies. Could the answer lie in the slice of toast we have for breakfast?
There are plans to add folic acid or folate to flour - which would make bread one of our main sources of the vitamin. It's estimated this measure could prevent 300 neural tube defect pregnancies a year. So why are some people so opposed to it?
To discuss the issues, Jenni Murray is joined by Dr Caroline Relton of Newcastle University's School of Clinical Medical Sciences and Jenny Jones Green Party member of the London Assembly and Chair of London Food.
