Folic acid is incredibly important - we all know that.

But a new study highlighting that importance has certainly raised eyebrows. Safefood conducted a survey of 500 women aged 18 and over. Through the responses received, they learned that "80 percent check their mobile and social media as part of their morning routine." It was also ascertained that "following eating breakfast and taking a shower, typical morning habits included applying makeup (56 percent), picking an outfit (56 percent), preparing lunches (47 percent), styling hair (46 percent) and doing the school run (27 percent)." However, just one-in-four of us are taking our folic acid tablets. Women are told to take 400mg of folic acid supplements each day... even if they don’t plan on becoming pregnant. Safefood says women don't receive enough folic acid through diet, even if they're eating fortified foods (like breakfast cereals). But the way in which this important message was delivered left many very peeved indeed.

YOUNG WOMEN! Have YOU remembered to chemically prepare your body-vessel for mandatory growth of hypothetical ImaginaryFutureBabies today? pic.twitter.com/nUiCWaVw3U

— Ciara (@Ciaraioch) September 26, 2017

Women are soooo selfish these days

— DeeO'Gormaín (@Sewerhorse1) September 26, 2017

This was a waste of research.

— Big Stupid (@worstposterever) September 26, 2017

do ye expect us to prioritise our lives as 'young women' just to prepare for being baby making machines?? #nothanks

— Tríona O' Sullivan (@TKD_T) September 26, 2017

You forgot "Blessed be the fruit" at the end

— Anna Katarzyna (@AnnaKatarzyna01) September 26, 2017

pic.twitter.com/fvZUoad1y8

— Kate (@CaitFU) September 26, 2017

Why is the government doing such a bad job promoting folic acid to women? It's like watching a car crash, but with more neural tube defects.

— Neasa Conneally (@neasaconneally) September 26, 2017

Seems it was bloody @safefood_eu that wastes money on this. Also checked how much women spend on makeup over folic acid.

— Steph F (@Stephanenny) September 26, 2017

Men more likely to check phone than wash under their foreskin. https://t.co/0pAljmBdWa via @rte

— sea hag (@0edipussy) September 27, 2017

This is not helpful research @safefoodnetwork or @rte #Womenmorelikely to look at sky than take folic acid https://t.co/ekXcWGL84e

— Karl Kitching (@Karl_Kitching) September 27, 2017

press@safefood.eu : Demand SafeFood retract their women shaming folic acid press release. - Sign the ... https://t.co/D08qGU0jNt via @Change

— Jan Ní Shúilleabháin (@JanetOS_) September 26, 2017

Wait! Wait, there's MORE to that @safefood_eu bolloxology. Women spend €€ on beauty products but won't spend cents on folic acid. BAD WOMEN!

— Karen Shrill Mulreid (@beatingblog) September 26, 2017

A petition demanding the study and press release be retracted has already gathered over half of the signatures it's aiming for. Putting aside the way in which it was promoted, it's fair to say we should be aware of the benefits of folic acid or folate. Folic acid (or the naturally occurring form, folate) is essential for a baby’s development during pregnancy and if mum isn’t getting enough it can lead to neural tube defect and conditions such as spina bifida (birth defect of the spine) among others. Dr Marian O’Reilly of Safefood said:

“With 50 percent of all pregnancies unplanned, taking folic every morning gets you into a healthy habit, even if a baby is the last thing on your mind.”