California updates rules for store-bought tortillas in 2026
Updated: 2:27 PM PST Dec 18, 2025
A new California law will take effect Jan. 1, 2026, requiring most store-bought corn tortillas and other foods to be fortified with folic acid.AB 1830 that requires corn tortillas and corn masa products that are manufactured, sold, distributed, or used as an ingredient to contain 0.7 milligrams of folic acid per pound (within an acceptable industry standard deviation). It also allows wet corn masa products to contain folic acid at 0.4 milligrams per pound of end product. This law was signed on Sept. 28, 2024. Smaller businesses that make their own masa products are exempt. The law also requires labeling, including:a folic acid declaration on the Nutrition Facts label (consistent with federal rules), anda statement that the product contains corn masa flour or was made using a wet corn masa process.The goal is to help prevent neural tube defects (such as spina bifida and anencephaly), which research shows can be reduced by regular folic acid intake. Folic acid is already commonly added to flour tortillas, bread, and cereal, but corn masa flour was not included in the original 1998 federal fortification mandate; federal rules later allowed voluntary fortification, and only a small share of products were fortified. See more coverage of top Central Coast stories | Download our app / Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
SALINAS, Calif. —
A new California law will take effect Jan. 1, 2026, requiring most store-bought corn tortillas and other foods to be fortified with folic acid.
AB 1830 that requires corn tortillas and corn masa products that are manufactured, sold, distributed, or used as an ingredient to contain 0.7 milligrams of folic acid per pound (within an acceptable industry standard deviation). It also allows wet corn masa products to contain folic acid at 0.4 milligrams per pound of end product.
This law was signed on Sept. 28, 2024.
Smaller businesses that make their own masa products are exempt.
The law also requires labeling, including:
a folic acid declaration on the Nutrition Facts label (consistent with federal rules), anda statement that the product contains corn masa flour or was made using a wet corn masa process.
The goal is to help prevent neural tube defects (such as spina bifida and anencephaly), which research shows can be reduced by regular folic acid intake.
Folic acid is already commonly added to flour tortillas, bread, and cereal, but corn masa flour was not included in the original 1998 federal fortification mandate; federal rules later allowed voluntary fortification, and only a small share of products were fortified.
See more coverage of top Central Coast stories | Download our app / Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel