Not all cereals are fortified. Risks of orofacial clefts in children born to women using multivitamins containing folic acid. We cannot say whether reduced risk is due to folic acid, another component of multivitamins or some other health behavior common in vitamin users. March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation. March of Dimes, Nov. 1992.
Folic acid is found mainly in green leafy vegetables, asparagus and liver.
However, it is difficult to get enough folic acid through diet alone. Cuskelly, GJ, et. Compared with supplements and fortified food, consumption of extra folate as natural food folate is relatively ineffective at increasing folate status. The researchers conclude that advice to women to consume folate rich foods as a means to optimize folate status is misleading. Institute of Medicine.