About Us

The Florida Folic Acid Coalition is a coalition of organizations committed to the following mission and vision:

Mission

To decrease the incidence of folic acid preventable birth defects and to promote optimal folate status among Floridians.

To fulfill its mission, the Florida Folic Acid Coalition pursues the following goals:

• Increase the number of women who consume 400 micrograms (0.4 milligrams) of synthetic folic acid daily, from fortified foods and/or supplements, in addition to food folate from a varied diet.
• Establish folic acid education as a routine and standard part of the delivery of preventive health care services to Floridians.
• Increase awareness and education of the nutritional and health benefits of folic acid across the lifespan.

Vision

As a result of the Coalition's efforts, this simple primary prevention strategy will result in fewer pregnancies affected by folic acid preventable birth defects. More Floridians will recognize the benefits of achieving and maintaining optimal folate status.

Coalition Information

The FFAC is based at the University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), Food Science and Human Nutrition Department. Its office is on the University of Florida campus in Gainesville, Florida. Our key partners include the Florida Department of Health (2004-2005 Sponsor), March of Dimes Florida Chapter (2005 Sponsor) and the University of South Florida Birth Defects Center.

The FFAC is working toward accomplishing its goals through the following strategies:

• Increase the proportion of women of childbearing age in Florida who understand that consuming folic acid daily can help prevent neural tube defects.
• In collaboration with our partners, educate the public and health care professionals about the US Public Health Service and Institute of Medicine recommendations on folic acid.
• Educate health care practitioners, maternal and child health advocates and the public about the important public health opportunity folic acid represents for the prevention of serious birth defects and other diseases of public health significance.
• Promote the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) intake of folate for all persons as a strategy for promoting overall good health.