Watch: Alexa Cook's full report. Credits: Video -Newshub ; Image - Getty Images Folic acid, which has been proven to prevent serious birth defects, is set to be added to bread. The announcement was made Thursday morning. "This is about protecting babies," said Food Safety Minister Dr Ayesha Verrall. "Low folate levels in mothers cause neural tube defects that result in the death of babies, or lifelong disability." Folic acid, a B vitamin also known as folate, was set to be added to bread in 2009 under a joint Australia-New Zealand plan negotiated by the previous Labour-led Government, but it was scrapped by National.