California's New Tortilla Law: Folic Acid Fortification for Healthier Births

Key Points California’s new Assembly Bill 1830 mandates folic acid fortification in corn masa flour, ensuring that tortillas and similar products help prevent birth defects in newborns. The legislation addresses a long-standing gap in federal nutrition policy and aims to reduce health disparities in the Latino community. Consumers won’t notice any difference in taste or texture — major tortilla brands, including Mission, have already adopted folic acid fortification. Tortillas in California are getting a small upgrade, all in an effort to better serve the Golden State's youngest residents. On January 1, Assembly Bill 1830 took effect in the state, requiring manufacturers to add folic acid to corn masa flour used in most tortillas. The bill, authored by Assemblymember Dr. Joaquin Arambula, aims to help prevent birth defects caused by low folic acid, which, Arambula explained in a statement, disproportionately affect the Latino community in the state. “I want to thank Governor Newsom for signing this important bill," Arambula said in 2024, at the time of the bill's signing. "AB 1830 addresses a health equity issue, and California is once again leading the nation in protecting mothers and infants from preterm birth defects. I’m grateful that this legislation will provide a culturally appropriate way to address disparities to help prevent birth defects across our state." Arambula additionally noted that the bill helps correct an oversight in the 1998 federal mandate, which required the same folic acid fortification in enriched cereal grain products but excluded corn masa and wet masa products. As Johns Hopkins explained, folic acid, also known as folate, is a B vitamin that occurs "naturally in food, particularly in dark, green leafy vegetables." In this case, it would be added in a synthetic form to fortify food. This could aid women in the early weeks of pregnancy, when the fetus is developing the neural tube. "This structure is flat at first, but rolls into a tube by only 1 month after conception to become the brain and spinal cord," Johns Hopkins shared. "Without enough folic acid, the cells in this structure can’t function or grow properly, and the tube doesn’t close. The spine, skull, and brain can be affected, with open or closed abnormalities." It added that this leads to two of the most common types of neural tube defects: spina bifida and anencephaly. Research has shown that the risk of these neural tube defects is "significantly lowered when a woman gets extra folic acid in addition to a healthy diet," especially during the first trimester of pregnancy. Related: The Simple Dressing That Turns Ordinary Kale Into a Nutrient Powerhouse “The final adoption of this legislation is a significant step forward in improving infant health outcomes through a culturally responsive lens, and March of Dimes is glad to have joined with Dr. Arambula and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists to sponsor this legislation," Dr. Amanda Williams, the chief medical officer at March of Dimes, added. “By requiring corn masa products to be fortified with folic acid, we can help protect more of our nation’s babies from developing neural tube defects. We applaud the legislature for its bipartisan support of this culturally responsive bill and the Governor for his endorsement." The good news for everyone in California is that you won't notice any difference in taste or texture. In fact, several brands have already been doing this for years, including Mission, the largest tortilla manufacturer in the U.S., which lists folic acid on the ingredient list for its Original Wraps. While this law is specific to California, Arambula hopes other states will follow their lead. In fact, one state already has, with Alabama adopting a similar bill in 2025. As Arambula added, "We expect to see the rest of our nation pay attention and follow suit.”