Can tampering with tortillas reduce the number of birth defects in California?

According to a new law, the California Legislature thinks the answer is "yes"

If you were with me the other day, you know that the California State Legislature has passed 794 new laws that, like it or not, we all have to obey in 2026.

If you weren’t with me the other day, you’re probably better off.

In addition to protecting our cat Darby from ever being declawed to protect our furniture, the Legislature decided it was time to add folic acid to the tortillas we buy at the grocery store to sail onto the basketball floor when referees make a call we don’t like.

Okay, I made that up.

The part about folic acid in tortillas is right, and it’s even true that some disgruntled fans actually do toss tortillas onto the basketball floor, but the real reason for this new law has to do with preventing birth defects. A noble concern, for sure.

Of all the new laws, however, this one about tortillas attracted more stories and more headlines than any of the other new laws because Californians eat more tortillas than any other state in the union.

According to Ana Ibarra’s excellent piece in CalMatters, “Starting in 2026, California tortillas will contain folic acid to help prevent birth defects - a change aimed at closing a gap for Latina mothers.”

Sounds good to me, but if Donald Trump’s enforcers get even a whiff of DEI here, this seemingly helpful legislation will be toast. Tortilla toast.

Already I’m sure that RFK, Jr. is working overtime to debunk the alleged benefits of folic acid and will cite “rigorous research” in Denmark that proves his point.

The problem here is twofold.

First, this solution to a serious problem is coming from lawmakers in a blue state and will be immediately challenged as woke.

Tortillas preventing birth defects? C’mon man.

And second, the legislation aims to help a specific ethnic group, which places it squarely in Donald Trump’s DEI crosshairs.

If you think I’m kidding, just wait and see how the White House reacts when it gets wind of this “Tortilla Tampering” law.

Added Ibarra, “State data show that between 2017 and 2019 - the latest years for which state data is available - about 28 percent of Latinas reported taking folic acid the month before becoming pregnant. White women took the vitamin at a higher rate, with 46 percent of them reporting consuming folic acid.

“This puts Latinas at higher risk of having a baby born with neural tube defects - defects of the brain and spinal cord. Some examples of that are conditions like spina bifida and anencephaly.

“Research has shown that folic acid can reduce birth defects by up to 70 percent. That’s why it’s found in prenatal vitamins. But because women may not find out they are pregnant until weeks or months after, public health has long recommended that folic acid be added to staple foods.”

Makes sense to me, even if no one has presented any evidence that California Latinas of child-bearing age eat more tortillas than the general California population as a whole. Just to be on the safe side, it might be a good idea to add folic acid to pasta for Italian Californians and maybe a shot of folic acid into a mug of Guinness for Irish Californians.

Notes Ibarra, “With the implementation of Assembly Bill 1830, California is the first state to require folic acid in corn masa products.”

Makes me proud. Which means it will make Donald Trump mad.

Speaking of things that will draw the Commander in Chief’s ire, starting in 2026 Californians will get the day off to celebrate Diwali, single-use plastic bags will be permanently banned from the grocery store, landlords will have to provide a stove and a fridge - both working - to tenants, and cops will have to fess up when they use AI to write their reports.

Finally, agencies are allowed to reduce or waive parking penalties if the person cited cannot pay the fine in full because of financial hardship.

Or if his car looks like mine.

Reach me at bobdunning@thewaryone.com