Our folic acid is in a food form (folate) with food cofactors. Folate refers to a group of forms of vitamin B9 and its related compounds, which are all from natural sources. Folic acid refers to one specific form that is manufactured and is isolated. Our process grows folic acid into food; the nutrient is taken into the food's cells and becomes part of the food, changing its molecular structure. When this happens, it is no longer folic acid. You could test the food and would not find any isolated folic acid. What's left is a food form of vitamin B9 combined with related compounds that is now considered folate.

See also: How are whole food nutrients made?