A pilot study conducted at a Wellington Hospital fund that the cost of surgery for spina bifida and other neural tube defects is $1 million per child. This findings led researchers to criticise the Government's "neglect" by failing to fortify bread with folic acid.

The neural tube is the part of the embryo which eventually develops into the brain and spine. The risk of neural tube defects can be significantly lowered if pregnant women consume sufficient folic acid early on.

Last year the Government recanted plans to mandate fortifying bread with folic acid after bakers' lobby groups pointed out research suggesting a link between folic acid and some types of cancer. However, others argue that the cancer risk has been overplayed, with other research actually showing the opposite trend of folate lowering the risk of some cancers.

Additional concerns come from the Bakers' Association, whose members disagree with "mass medication". However, the Paediatric Society said that mandatory fortification was the ideal way to prevent defects, since half of the pregnancies in the country are unplanned and women often discover too for folic acid to have an effect.

The Government has commissioned two pieces of research to assist in the decision. One will study the impact of voluntary fortification, the other will investigate women's knowledge of folic acid.