National Committee on Folic Acid Food Fortification

In 2004, the Minister for Health and Children set up a National Committee on Folic Acid Food Fortification and requested the Food Safety Authority of Ireland to act as the Secretariat to the Committee. The Committee was tasked with reviewing options for the fortification of foods with folic acid in view of the relatively high level of NTDs in Ireland . In carrying out this work the Committee addressed the broader aspects of implementing this policy including the technical issues regarding fortification, addressing risk and examining other reported health benefits that are linked to fortification.

National Committee on Folic Acid Food Fortification Meetings

Committee members:

Ms Maureen Lynott (Chair)
Management Consultant: Health Sector Management

Dr Margot Brennan
Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute

Dr Harry Comber
National Cancer Registry Board

Mr Eamon Corcoran
Department of Health and Children

Dr Sean Daly
Coombe Women's Hospital

Dr Davida de la Harpe
National Council on Ageing and Older People

Dr John Devlin
Department of Health and Children

Prof. Albert Flynn
University College Cork

Dr Mary Flynn
Consultant Public Health Nutritionist

Dr Cliodhna Foley Nolan
Safefood – The Food Safety Promotion Board

Ms Joanna Gibson
Consumers Association of Ireland

Dr Catherine Hayes
Health Service Executive

Dr Orla Healy
Department of Health and Children

Dr Fenton Howell
Health Service Executive

Mr Nick Killian
Irish Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus

Prof Joe McMenamin
Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children

Dr Ailish Ni Riain
Irish College of General Practitioners

Mr Kevin O'Donnell
Irish Medicines Board

Mr Alan Reilly (Secretary)
Food Safety Authority of Ireland

Professor John Scott
Trinity College Dublin

Dr Louise Sullivan
Food and Drink Industry Ireland, IBEC