Federal regulators have delayed until April a decision on whether to allow folic acid to be added to corn-masa flour, a move experts say could help prevent birth defects like those seen in a deadly cluster in three Central Washington counties.
The Food and Drug Administration has notified officials with the March of Dimes that the agency will take 90 additional days beyond a mid-January deadline to continue review of a petition urging voluntary fortification of corn masa, a grain common in Latino diets. Enriched wheat and rice flours have been required to be fortified for nearly 20 years.
“The FDA has extended the time frame to allow for thorough scientific review of the data,” said agency spokeswoman Lauren Sucher. “The petition remains a priority for the agency.”
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