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Folic acid in UK bread from 13 December 2026: what's changing

Published 29 October 2026

From 13 December 2026, UK law says folic acid must be added to non-wholemeal wheat flour. So most white and brown bread made with that flour will list folic acid, but wholemeal flour, flour from small mills, and other flours like rye and spelt are not covered.

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This guide sets out what the rule says, which breads it covers, and how to check a label. We stick to the facts. Some people want bread without added folic acid. Some don't mind. Either way, the label tells you.

Is folic acid being added to bread in the UK?

Yes. The rule is about flour, not bread. Bread is covered because it is made from flour.

UK flour that is not wholemeal already has some things added by law. These are calcium carbonate, iron, niacin and thiamin. From 13 December 2026, folic acid joins that list. The amount is 0.25mg per 100g of flour.

GOV.UK says some foods may have this flour in them from autumn 2025. So you may see folic acid on some packs already.

What bread does not have folic acid?

The rule does not cover every flour. GOV.UK lists what is left out:

  • wholemeal flour
  • flour made by small mills (GOV.UK sets the limit at 500 tonnes of flour a year)
  • flour for communion wafers, matzos, gluten or starch

The government's folic acid page also says gluten-free foods are not covered. Nor are other flours, such as soya, or ancient grains like spelt.

So breads made only from wholemeal flour, rye flour or spelt flour are not covered by the rule. Gluten-free bread is not covered either.

There is one more gap. Ready-made foods brought into the UK that have flour in them are not covered. So a loaf baked abroad and sold here may not list folic acid. The label will tell you.

Is wholemeal bread exempt from folic acid?

Wholemeal flour is not covered. But a loaf can mix flours. Some "wholemeal" or "50/50" loaves also use plain wheat flour. That plain flour is covered.

So read the whole list. If you see only "wholemeal wheat flour", that flour is not covered. If you also see "wheat flour", check for folic acid in brackets after it.

How do I spot folic acid on a label?

Added vitamins and minerals must be named in the ingredients list. That includes when the flour is part of a bread.

GOV.UK gives this example of how it will look:

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

Here are the steps:

  1. Turn the pack over and find "Ingredients".
  2. Look for "wheat flour" near the start.
  3. Read what is in the brackets after it.
  4. If "Folic Acid" is there, the flour has it added.

If the flour is "wholemeal", "rye" or "spelt", there may be no brackets at all.

Breads and crackers that don't list folic acid

We checked the ingredients for every bread and cracker in our catalogue. These are made with rye, spelt, oats, buckwheat or wholemeal flour. None list folic acid today. They also pass our wider rules, so there are no seed oils, emulsifiers or added sugar.

Rye loaves:

Spelt loaves:

Rye crispbreads:

Oat and buckwheat crackers:

See the full list on our bread without added folic acid page. You can also see bread without seed oils and crackers without palm oil.

What about white bread and sourdough?

Most white bread uses non-wholemeal wheat flour. So from 13 December 2026, most white loaves made with UK flour will need folic acid in the flour. This includes many white sourdough loaves.

A white loaf may still not list it if:

  • the baker uses flour from a small mill, or
  • the bread was made outside the UK.

If you want a white loaf without added folic acid, ask your local baker where their flour comes from. Or take a photo of the label and check it with us.

We will check every white loaf in our catalogue again after 13 December. Labels can change at any time, so check the pack you have.

Recipes that use rye and crispbreads

FAQ

When does folic acid have to be added to flour in the UK? From 13 December 2026. Some foods may have it sooner.

Does all bread have folic acid in the UK? No. Bread made only from wholemeal, rye, spelt or gluten-free flour is not covered. Nor is flour from small mills.

Is spelt flour fortified with folic acid? GOV.UK names spelt as a flour type that is not covered. Check the label in case the bread also uses wheat flour.

How much folic acid is added to flour? 0.25mg per 100g of non-wholemeal wheat flour.

Is the rule the same across the UK? The rule covers flour milled in or brought into the UK. The government says matching rules are being made in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Sources

  • 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
  • Food Standards Scotland, Folic acid fortification: https://www.foodstandards.gov.scot/consumer-advice/know-the-food-facts/know-the-food-facts-folic-acid-fortification
  • legislation.gov.uk, The Bread and Flour (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2024, explanatory memorandum: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2024/1162/pdfs/uksiem_20241162_en_001.pdf

Got a loaf 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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