Ingredient

Why Folic Acid is Bad for You

Flagged

Folic acid is the synthetic form of folate, a crucial B-vitamin (B9). It is produced chemically in laboratories, often from petroleum-derived precursors, and is used to fortify foods and in dietary supplements.

Why it’s in your food

The manufacturer’s reason.

Manufacturers add folic acid to foods, particularly grain products like flour and cereal, as a public health initiative. This fortification helps to prevent neural tube birth defects in infants.

Community scan data

How it shows up in the wild.

Found in 16 productswe’ve analyzed.

5

Rated Clean

0

Caution

11

Flagged

Where to find it

Products containing Folic Acid.

16 products in our database.

ANDRE-BOUDIN BAKERY

Mystery Cracker

Flagged

Enriched flour and many industrial additives.

CRACKER17/28 clean · Apr 15, 2026

Conagra Brands, Inc.

Cocoa Puffs Cereal

Flagged

Enriched flour and artificial flavor are not good.

CEREAL7/15 clean · Apr 20, 2026

POST CONSUMER BRANDS, LLC

Pebbles Cereal

Flagged

Full of artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives!

CEREAL15/23 clean · Apr 15, 2026

WK Kellogg Sales LLC

Alpen Cereal

Flagged

Enriched flour and added vitamins make this RED.

CEREAL16/18 clean · Apr 20, 2026

NOONGSHIM AMERICA, INC.

NOONGSHIM AMERICA

Flagged

Artificial flavor and enriched flour are big red flags.

OTHER16/26 clean · 3w ago

PEPPERIDGE FARM, INC.

Milk Chocolate Cookies

Flagged

Enriched flour and hydrogenated oils spoil these cookies.

COOKIES13/23 clean · Apr 15, 2026

GERBER PRODUCTS CO.

Gerber Whole Grain Cereal

Flagged

Enriched flour and artificial vitamins are not traditional.

CEREAL7/22 clean · Apr 20, 2026

TRADER JOE'S

Vanilla Ice Cream Chocolate Wafer Cookies

Flagged

Enriched flour and carrageenan make this dessert suspect.

FROZEN27/40 clean · 1w ago

TRADER JOE'S

Cheesecake

Flagged

Enriched flour and too many additives make this a no-go.

FROZEN7/16 clean · 1w ago

GENERAL MILLS SALES, INC.

Cocoa Puffs

Flagged

Too many artificial and processed ingredients!

CEREAL20/24 clean · Apr 20, 2026

WK Kellogg Sales LLC

Rice Krispies Cereal

Flagged

Too many industrial flavors for Nonna!

CEREAL11/12 clean · Mar 17, 2026

Gerber Products Co.

Gerber Biscuits

Flagged

Too many industrial ingredients for Nonna's kitchen!

BABY FOOD9/19 clean · Mar 17, 2026

POST CONSUMER BRANDS, LLC

Cereal

Flagged

Too many industrial vitamins and minerals!

CEREAL4/10 clean · Apr 17, 2026

PEPPERIDGE FARM, INC.

Pepperidge Farm Milk Chocolate Cookies

Flagged

Too many industrial ingredients, Nonna would disapprove!

COOKIES14/24 clean · Apr 15, 2026

DIST. BY GENERAL MILLS SALES, INC.

Canned Wild Blueberries

Flagged

Enriched flour and artificial flavor, oh dear!

OTHER14/25 clean · Apr 20, 2026

General Mills Sales, Inc.

Cheerios (likely Original)

Flagged

Industrial syrup and artificial color in your cereal!

CEREAL19/24 clean · Apr 15, 2026

FAQ

Frequently asked questions.

Is folic acid found naturally in foods?
No, folic acid is the synthetic form of the vitamin. The natural form, folate, is found in various foods like leafy green vegetables, legumes, citrus fruits, and liver. The body processes these two forms differently.
Why is folic acid added to foods?
Folic acid fortification is a public health strategy aimed at increasing the folate intake across the population. Sufficient folate intake, especially before and during early pregnancy, is critical for significantly reducing the risk of neural tube defects in infants.
Would Nonna use folic acid in her kitchen?
Nonna would not have folic acid as an ingredient in her kitchen. While she would consume natural folates from her traditional diet rich in vegetables, adding a synthetic vitamin to food is a modern industrial practice she wouldn't recognize.

Check your own pantry.

Get notified when the iPhone app launches.