In the US, Canada and Chile (and I beleive soon in the UK) folic acid is added to bread-making flour under satutory regulation. Australia and New Zealand look likly to follow as the joint countires food regulator has asked for feedback on the proposal.
Each year, 300 to 350 pregnancies in Australia and around 70 in New Zealand are affected by neural tube defects. Women who are deficient in folic acid have been shown to have a higher risk of having a child with these defects. The addition of Vitamnin B (folic acid) will reduce these numbers significantly it has been suggested.
Although bread has been put forward as the most common food item ate by women of child bearing age the regulator has asked if the addition should be spread across more foods, including milk and yoghurt.
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