Evaluation of Food Fortification with Folic Acid for the Primary Prevention of Neural Tube Defects

Acknowledgements

WE GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE OF MANY INDIVIDUALS FOR THEIR PARTICIPATION IN THIS STUDY.

Interviewers (in Newfoundland): Verna Clouston, Carol Dwyer, Pearl Grant, Julia Hobieka, Mary Hynes, Eva Jones, Judy Maddigan, Earle Pike, Wendy Skinner, Vera Staubitzer, Bernice Stokes, Glenda Sweetland, Bonnie Tobin and Rhonda Warren; (in Kingston) Wendy Durant, Amanda Tumber and Elsbeth Christie

Laboratory and clinical support (in Newfoundland): Elizabeth Drew, Karen Gerow, Kevin Kelly, Yvonne Lethbridge, Marsh's Taxi, Millie Trask, Marilyn Puddicome and Lynn Wade; (in Kingston) Mary Waugh, Pam Costello, Lana Tingle, Marilyn Hamilton, Sandra Booth and Lisa Paddle

Data entry and analysis (in Newfoundland): Sara-Lynn Heath, Michelle Kennedy, Karen Kennedy and Ann Ryan; (in Kingston) Hussein Hollands, Jennifer Chadwick, Tara McMunn

Consultation and advice: Walid Aldoori, Sharon Buehler, Eleanor Swanson

Logistical support in Public Health Agency of Canada: Ernesto Delgado, Jasminka Draca, Gina Marin, Barbara Xiao

We are particularly grateful to the people in Clarenville, Port Blandford, Random Island, St. John's, Newfoundland and the city of Kingston and Frontenac and Lennox & Addington Counties, Ontario who participated so generously in this project. Finally, special thanks and gratitude are due to several experts who reviewed the draft and provided many helpful suggestions and comments. They are Jamie Blackshaw (UK Food Standards Agency), Gideon Koren (University of Toronto), Nora Lee (Health Canada), Louis Levy (UK Food Standards Agency) and Howard Morrison (Public Health Agency of Canada).

This study was granted full ethics approval by research ethics boards at Memorial University of Newfoundland and at Queen's University. All study subjects gave written informed consent prior to participation in this study.