In California, tortillas are set for a significant transformation aimed at enhancing infant health.
Beginning on New Year’s Day, nearly all tortilla and corn masa products sold in the state will be required to include folic acid, a crucial vitamin for infant well-being.
However, some critics express concern that this change might alter the taste of tacos in the state. Folic acid isn’t particularly tasty, even in small amounts.
Last year, Los Angeles Times columnist Gustavo Arellano conducted a taste test, comparing standard tortillas to those fortified with vitamins. He and a tortilla factory owner immediately recognized a noticeable difference.
State statistics indicate that Latina women in California are less likely than others to consume enough vitamins during early pregnancy. A deficiency in folic acid can lead to serious birth defects.
From 2017 to 2019, it was reported that about 28% of Latino women took folic acid prior to pregnancy, compared to 46% of white women, according to the California Department of Public Health.
Deficiencies in folic acid can increase the risk of serious conditions like spina bifida and anencephaly.
Studies suggest that folic acid can lower the occurrence of these birth defects by up to 70%.
Back in 1998, the U.S. mandated the fortification of certain grain products, like pasta, rice, and cereals, with folic acid. Since then, the incidence of neural tube defects in babies has decreased by about a third, according to the CDC.
Despite relatively low intake, Latina women still experience higher rates of birth defects linked to folic acid deficiency. While folic acid was previously permitted in corn masa, it wasn’t mandatory. Now, California has taken a lead with Congressional Bill 1830, requiring vitamins in corn masa products, commonly found in many Latino diets.
Alabama also introduced a similar law that will take effect in June 2026.
Some manufacturers, like Mission Foods, have already begun adding folic acid to their products. They started this process in 2016, aligning with the federal government’s earlier approval of food fortification, and have expressed support for the new mandates in California and Alabama.
