Opinion

Alabama Wants to Lead Autism Research — So Why Is It Mandating 1990s Nutrition Policy?

“If Alabama truly wants to lead, it must first stop making nutrition decisions that contradict modern biology”—Alicia Haggermaker

Guest Contributor

28 Dec 2025 — 4 min read

Image—submitted

Guest Opinion by Alicia Boothe Haggermaker

Alabama has recently signaled that it wants to position itself as a leader in autism research and innovation. That’s an ambitious and commendable goal. Families affected by autism need better science, better policy, and better outcomes.

But if Alabama truly wants to lead, it must first stop making nutrition decisions that contradict modern biology.

In 2026, Alabama will require synthetic folic acid to be added to corn masa and tortillas sold in the state. This policy mirrors older grain-fortification strategies originally designed decades ago. While well-intentioned, it reflects an outdated, one-size-fits-all understanding of human metabolism—an approach fundamentally at odds with what autism research now tells us.

The Problem Isn’t Folate. It’s the Form

Folate (vitamin B9) is essential. That part isn’t controversial.

What is controversial—and increasingly well documented—is the assumption that synthetic folic acid behaves the same way in every human body.

It doesn’t.

A significant portion of the population carries genetic variations affecting folate metabolism, including polymorphisms in the MTHFR gene. These variants do not cause autism, but they do affect how the body processes folic acid. In some individuals, synthetic folic acid is poorly converted into its usable form, leading to unmetabolized folic acid circulating in the bloodstream.

This matters because unmetabolized folic acid has been associated in the literature with:

Interference with natural folate utilization
Masking of vitamin B12 deficiency
Immune and neurological signaling disruptions
The illusion of adequate nutrition without functional sufficiency

Autism research increasingly emphasizes biochemical individuality, gene–environment interaction, and metabolic diversity. Mandating a synthetic nutrient that a non-trivial subset of the population struggles to process runs counter to that direction.

You Can’t Claim Precision Science While Practicing Nutritional Uniformity

Autism is not a single condition with a single cause. It is a spectrum influenced by genetics, epigenetics, immune function, gut health, environmental exposures, and nutrient metabolism. Alabama’s own rhetoric around autism research acknowledges complexity.

Yet this policy does the opposite.

Mandatory fortification assumes:

Everyone metabolizes nutrients the same way
Synthetic and natural forms are interchangeable
Population averages matter more than vulnerable subgroups

That approach may reduce certain risks at a population level—but it also ignores those who do not fit the average, including many families already navigating neurodevelopmental differences.

Leadership in autism research does not come from doubling down on 1990s nutrition policy. It comes from integrating current metabolic science, genetic variability, and informed choice.

There Is a Better Path Forward

This is not an argument against preventing neural tube defects. It is an argument for doing it better.

A modern, science-aligned approach would include:

Allowing or encouraging bioactive folate forms (such as 5-MTHF) instead of only synthetic folic acid
Clear labeling so families can make informed decisions
Education for healthcare providers about folate metabolism variability
Targeted supplementation strategies rather than blanket mandates

In short: precision nutrition instead of nutritional blunt force.

If Alabama Wants to Lead, It Has to Update the Map

You cannot claim leadership in autism research while enforcing policies that disregard metabolic diversity. You cannot study complexity with one hand and legislate uniformity with the other.

Alabama has an opportunity here—not just to follow federal precedent, but to model a smarter, more nuanced approach that reflects where science actually is, not where it was 30 years ago.

Leadership isn’t repeating old rules louder.

Leadership is recognizing when the rules need to evolve.

Alicia Boothe Haggermaker is a lifelong resident of Huntsville, Alabama, and a dedicated advocate for health freedom. For more than a decade, she has worked to educate the public and policymakers on issues of medical choice and public transparency. In January 2020, she organized a delegation of physicians and health freedom advocates to Montgomery, contributing to the initial draft of legislation that became SB267.

Opinions do not reflect the views and opinions of ALPolitics.com. ALPolitics.com makes no claims nor assumes any responsibility for the information and opinions expressed above.

References and further reading:

📜 Alabama Folic Acid Mandate (Primary Text)

Alabama House Bill 384 — Introduced PDF (full text):

https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/files/pdf/SearchableInstruments/2025RS/HB384-int.pdf

Alabama House Bill 384 — Enrolled PDF (final enacted text with folic acid amounts):

https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/files/pdf/SearchableInstruments/2025RS/HB384-enr.pdf

Legiscan — Enrolled Bill PDF (alternate download):

https://legiscan.com/AL/text/HB384/id/3231540

📖 Federal Context on Corn Masa Fortification

FDA — Fortifying Corn Masa Flour Products with Folic Acid (policy & allowable levels):

https://www.fda.gov/food/food-additives-petitions/fortifying-corn-masa-flour-products-folic-acid

FDA — Folate & Folic Acid Nutrition and Supplement Facts (includes corn masa):