Folate Health Claims The authority has completed its assessment of foods for which approval has been sought to be included in the register of foods approved to carry a folate/neural tube defect (NTD) health claim. This matter is part of the review being undertaken by the authority of the general prohibition on health and related claims. It relates specifically to a pilot for permitted health claims which may be made concerning the relationship between adequate intakes of folate by women of child-bearing age and the reduction in the risk of NTDs in babies. The foods have been assessed against nutritional qualifying and disqualifying criteria. These criteria have been set to permit the use of folate/NTD health claims on foods which contain at least 40 micrograms of folate per serve (as specified in the nutrition information panel). Foods which are not primary foods (as listed in Standard A9 of the Food Standards Code) must not contain in one serving more than 14 g fat; 5 g saturated fat; 500 mg sodium; or 10 g in total of added sugars or honey. The foods include a range of vegetables, breads, breakfast cereals, orange juices and legumes. Subject to any public submissions received on the proposed list of foods, the authority will shortly make a recommendation to the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Council that the foods be listed in the register and be approved to carry a folate/NTD health claim. You are invited to provide comments on the authority's proposed list by 28 September 1998. The list is available from the authority on Telephone: (04) 473 9942, Facsimile: (04) 473 9855, or email info@anzfa.gov.au. Given the short time for comment, the list will be mailed, faxed or emailed immediately upon request. The list is also available on the ANZFA home page www.health.gov.au/anzfa. Further applications for foods to be included in the pilot will be considered for future inclusion on the register and applications to participate in the pilot are available from the Authority's Information Officer. Further queries on this matter should be directed to Dr Hugh Baber on Telephone: (04) 474 0632.