If you've been following the news about changes to UK flour regulations, you'll probably have heard that folic acid is going to be added to flour.
It's a question I'm now being asked almost daily.
Will Panda Flour have to contain added folic acid?
The simple answer is no.
But let's explain why.
What's changing?
From 13 December 2026, UK regulations will require folic acid to be added to most non-wholemeal flour made from common wheat.
This includes the white wheat flour commonly used in bread, cakes, biscuits and many other everyday foods.
The change is part of a government initiative intended to reduce the risk of certain birth defects during pregnancy.
Non-wholemeal wheat flour is already required to contain added nutrients, including calcium, iron and certain B vitamins. Folic acid is being added to those existing requirements.
Importantly, the new rule doesn't apply to every type of flour.
Why doesn't this affect Panda Flour?
The legislation specifically covers non-wholemeal flour made from common wheat.
Panda Flour doesn't contain wheat.
Our Original Panda Flour® is made from three simple ingredients:
- Bamboo fibre
- Coconut flour
- Psyllium husk
Our Golden Panda Flour® uses bamboo fibre, golden linseed and psyllium husk.
Neither contains wheat flour, so neither falls within the scope of the new mandatory folic acid fortification requirements.
We are not required to add folic acid to Panda Flour, and we have no plans to do so.
What makes Panda different?
Of course, avoiding wheat flour is only part of the Panda story.
When we developed Panda, the idea wasn't simply to create another gluten-free flour.
We wanted to explore a completely different approach to baking.
What happens when we replace refined starch with fibre?
That question led to the development of our Original and Golden Panda Flours.
Both offer three characteristics that make them particularly interesting for people looking for alternatives to conventional flour.
Naturally Gluten-Free
Panda Flour contains no wheat, barley or rye ingredients.
Our recipes allow you to recreate familiar favourites, including bread, pastry, pasta and cakes, without relying on gluten.
Ultra Low in Carbohydrates
Most conventional flours contain significant amounts of starch.
Panda takes a different approach.
Our Original Panda Flour contains just 9.2g of available carbohydrates per 100g, while Golden Panda Flour contains only 2.6g per 100g.
That makes both particularly useful for people following a low-carb or keto lifestyle.
Naturally High in Fibre
Fibre is the foundation of Panda.
Original Panda Flour contains 74.7g of fibre per 100g, while Golden Panda Flour contains 73.4g.
Rather than adding fibre to a conventional flour blend, we've built the flour around fibre from the beginning.
It's what makes Panda behave differently in the kitchen and allows us to create the foods so many people have been missing.
Will anything change for Panda customers?
No.
The introduction of mandatory folic acid fortification in certain wheat flours doesn't require us to change the ingredients in Original or Golden Panda Flour.
You'll still be able to enjoy the same naturally gluten-free, ultra-low-carb, high-fibre baking you've come to expect from Panda.
And we'll continue developing recipes that make everyday favourites possible without relying on conventional wheat flour or refined starch.
Because, ultimately, that's what Panda has always been about.
Bake the foods you've been missing.
Welcome to the world of Panda.
For further information about the new regulations, you can read the UK Government's official guidance on bread and flour composition.
