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Flour without folic acid in the UK: which bags are not covered

Published 29 October 2026

From 13 December 2026, folic acid must be added to non-wholemeal wheat flour in the UK. Wholemeal flour is not covered, and nor are rye, spelt, oat, rice or chickpea flour, so those are the bags to look for.

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This guide sets out which flours the rule covers and which it doesn't. Then we show the bags we have checked. We stick to what the law and the label say.

What is the new flour rule?

The rule is in The Bread and Flour (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2024. Matching rules are being made across the UK.

Most UK wheat flour already has four things added by law. These are calcium carbonate, iron, niacin and thiamin. From 13 December 2026, folic acid joins them. GOV.UK sets the amount at 0.25mg per 100g of flour.

The rule covers flour milled in the UK or brought into the UK.

Which flour has folic acid added?

The rule covers non-wholemeal flour made from common wheat. In the shop, that means:

  • plain white flour
  • self-raising white flour
  • strong white bread flour
  • brown flour that is not wholemeal

Some of these bags may list folic acid already. Millers can start before the date.

Which flour is not covered?

GOV.UK lists what the rule leaves out:

  • wholemeal flour
  • flour from small mills (up to 500 tonnes a year)
  • flour for communion wafers, matzos, gluten or starch

The rule is only about common wheat. Rye is a different grain, so rye flour is not covered. GOV.UK names spelt as a flour that is not covered. Flours made from oats, rice, buckwheat or chickpeas are not wheat at all.

Cornflour is not covered either. GOV.UK says it does not count as flour under these rules.

Is white spelt flour covered?

No. White spelt flour is not wholemeal, but spelt is not common wheat. So the rule does not cover it. The same goes for white rye flour.

Wholemeal wheat flour we checked

Each of these lists only wholemeal wheat on the pack. There is nothing added in brackets.

Rye flour

Rye flour makes dense, dark loaves. It is often mixed with wheat flour in recipes.

Spelt flour

Spelt works in most recipes that use wheat flour. It has gluten, so it is not for people who avoid gluten.

Other flours

These are not made from wheat.

See every bag, including oat and brown rice flour, on our flour without folic acid page.

What about self-raising flour?

White self-raising flour is covered by the rule. Wholemeal self-raising flour is not covered, but it has raising agents added. We don't list it, because our rules flag phosphate raising agents.

If you want to make your own, mix wholemeal or spelt flour with baking powder at home. Then you can choose what goes in.

How do I check a bag of flour?

Added vitamins and minerals must be named in the ingredients. GOV.UK shows how it will look:

Wheat Flour (Wheat Flour, Calcium Carbonate, Iron, Niacin, Thiamin, Folic Acid)

Here are the steps:

  1. Find "Ingredients" on the back of the bag.
  2. If it just says "wholemeal wheat flour", it is not covered.
  3. If it says "wheat flour", read the brackets after it.
  4. If you see "Folic Acid", it has been added.

A list with one grain and no brackets has nothing added. Brackets tell you more has gone in.

Breads made with these flours

If you want ready-made bread, look for loaves made only with rye, spelt or wholemeal flour. See our bread without added folic acid page.

FAQ

Does wholemeal flour have folic acid? No. Wholemeal flour is not covered by the rule. Check the label in case a brand adds it.

Does plain flour have folic acid? Plain white wheat flour must have folic acid added from 13 December 2026. Some bags may have it sooner.

Is spelt flour fortified in the UK? No. GOV.UK names spelt as a flour that is not covered.

Is flour from a small mill covered? No. GOV.UK says mills that make 500 tonnes of flour a year or less are not covered.

Sources

  • legislation.gov.uk, The Bread and Flour (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2024 (SI 2024/1162): https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2024/1162/contents/made
  • GOV.UK, Bread and flour: labelling and composition: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/bread-and-flour-labelling-and-composition
  • GOV.UK, Folic acid: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/folic-acid/folic-acid

Got a bag of flour in your hand? Take a photo of the label in The Better Basket. It's free, and we'll show you what's in it.

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