Latest news with #Ladapo
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Florida becomes 2nd state to ban fluoride in public water supply
TALLAHASSEE, Florida — Florida on Thursday officially became the second state in the country to ban fluoride from public drinking water, marking a significant win for Medical Freedom groups aligned with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Florida follows Utah, which became the first state to ban fluoride in drinking water in March. 'You should be able to talk to folks, your doctor, your friends, your family, whatever, on any of these issues, and then make an honest judgment about what you think is best for you and your family,' Gov. Ron DeSantis said during a Thursday news conference in Trilby. 'Forcing this in the water supply is trying to take that away from people who may want to make a different decision, rather than to have this in water.' Libertarian-leaning Medical Freedom groups, which grew in popularity during the Covid-19 pandemic, convinced a handful of local boards to stop adding fluoride to drinking water in recent years. But they received a significant boost from Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo after his formal recommendation against adding fluoride to public water supplies in November. Ladapo is a close ally of Kennedy, who has referred to fluoride as 'toxic waste,' and announced plans in April to ask the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to stop recommending fluoride in drinking water. Ladapo, a Harvard-trained clinician, has said he only recently became concerned about the negative impacts of fluoride, about the time Trump announced Kennedy as his pick for HHS secretary. Ladapo was not at Thursday's news conference, but he took part in a prerecorded video with DeSantis posted on X late Wednesday, during which they discussed Covid, fluoride, and other medical freedom-related concerns. 'It's bad for their brains, it's bad for their intelligence and it's bad for their behavior,' Ladapo said of fluoride during the video. 'It's just way too risky to just be forcing it on everyone.' Grand Rapids, Michigan, became the first city in the world to begin adding fluoride to drinking water in 1945, a practice that was picked up nationwide due to its reported ability to ward off cavities in children. Scores of dentists and dental advocacy groups warned lawmakers in Florida and Utah against banning fluoride, arguing fluoride in toothpaste is not enough to help teeth as they grow. 'They're going to tell noble lies,' DeSantis said during the Wednesday video. 'They want to make these decisions for other people because they just don't think they're not smart enough to make the decision on their own.' The majority of Florida localities already do not add fluoride to drinking water, but since the most heavily populated areas do use fluoride, the majority of residents drink fluoridated water. This proportion shifted significantly last week after the county commission in Miami-Dade, the most populated in the state, voted to stop adding fluoride, despite a mayoral override of an earlier vote weeks before. DeSantis signed FL SB700 (25R) into law, which includes changes requested by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, including stronger protections against companies that promote environmental, social and governance policies. The measure, which will take effect July 1, also includes a new ban on the use of health-related water additives to public water supplies.
Politico
15-05-2025
- Health
- Politico
Florida becomes 2nd state to ban fluoride in public water supply
TALLAHASSEE, Florida — Florida on Thursday officially became the second state in the country to ban fluoride from public drinking water, marking a significant win for Medical Freedom groups aligned with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Florida follows Utah, which became the first state to ban fluoride in drinking water in March. 'You should be able to talk to folks, your doctor, your friends, your family, whatever, on any of these issues, and then make an honest judgment about what you think is best for you and your family,' Gov. Ron DeSantis said during a Thursday news conference in Trilby. 'Forcing this in the water supply is trying to take that away from people who may want to make a different decision, rather than to have this in water.' Libertarian-leaning Medical Freedom groups, which grew in popularity during the Covid-19 pandemic, convinced a handful of local boards to stop adding fluoride to drinking water in recent years. But they received a significant boost from Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo after his formal recommendation against adding fluoride to public water supplies in November. Ladapo is a close ally of Kennedy, who has referred to fluoride as 'toxic waste,' and announced plans in April to ask the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to stop recommending fluoride in drinking water. Ladapo, a Harvard-trained clinician, has said he only recently became concerned about the negative impacts of fluoride, about the time Trump announced Kennedy as his pick for HHS secretary. Ladapo was not at Thursday's news conference, but he took part in a prerecorded video with DeSantis posted on X late Wednesday, during which they discussed Covid, fluoride, and other medical freedom-related concerns. 'It's bad for their brains, it's bad for their intelligence and it's bad for their behavior,' Ladapo said of fluoride during the video. 'It's just way too risky to just be forcing it on everyone.' Grand Rapids, Michigan, became the first city in the world to begin adding fluoride to drinking water in 1945, a practice that was picked up nationwide due to its reported ability to ward off cavities in children. Scores of dentists and dental advocacy groups warned lawmakers in Florida and Utah against banning fluoride, arguing fluoride in toothpaste is not enough to help teeth as they grow. 'They're going to tell noble lies,' DeSantis said during the Wednesday video. 'They want to make these decisions for other people because they just don't think they're not smart enough to make the decision on their own.' The majority of Florida localities already do not add fluoride to drinking water, but since the most heavily populated areas do use fluoride, the majority of residents drink fluoridated water. This proportion shifted significantly last week after the county commission in Miami-Dade, the most populated in the state, voted to stop adding fluoride, despite a mayoral override of an earlier vote weeks before. DeSantis signed FL SB700 (25R) into law, which includes changes requested by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, including stronger protections against companies that promote environmental, social and governance policies. The measure, which will take effect July 1, also includes a new ban on the use of health-related water additives to public water supplies.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to sign bill banning fluoride in the state's drinking water
TALLAHASSEE, FL — Florida is set to become the second state in the country to ban fluoride from being added to public water supplies after Gov. Ron DeSantis announced on May 6 that he planned to sign the bill into law. In Miami, DeSantis, accompanied by Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson and Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo, said he's signing the "Florida Farm Bill" (SB 700), which prevents local municipalities from adding fluoride to their water. The bill doesn't explicitly mention fluoride, but rather bans certain additives in the water system. Though the legislation also does other things, such as adding consumer protections and establishing the Florida Aquaculture Foundation, removing fluoride from local water supplies has drawn national attention and criticism from public health advocates. Fluoride helps prevent tooth decay by strengthening enamel — the hard outer layer of teeth — making it more resistant to acid from bacteria and sugary foods. Dental and health care experts say removing fluoride from the public water supply could lead to increased dental problems, such as cavities, which could affect poorer residents, often rural populations without dental insurance or otherwise limited access to dental care. But during the governor's news conference, behind a sign that said "Free State of Florida," DeSantis said: "It's forced medication when they're jamming fluoride into your water supply." DeSantis' comments come after Florida lawmakers gave final approval to the bill in late April. The new law is expected to take effect on July 1. Health in America: As bans spread, fluoride in drinking water divides communities across the US DeSantis spent time blasting former chief medical adviser to the United States, Anthony Fauci, and the COVID-19 vaccine before talking about "studies that have raised concerns about physical and mental health risks that have been associated with overexposure to fluoride." Miami-Dade County commissioners also voted to override Mayor Daniella Levine Cava's veto and proceed with plans to remove fluoride from the county's water supply. "I think they voted the right way, so thank you," DeSantis said. "For the counties that voted the other way, the legislation that we'll sign is going to answer that question." The legislative move to nix fluoride additive from Florida's drinking water isn't a surprise, as Ladapo, who heads the Florida Department of Health, has backed arguments the American Dental Association has called "dangerous." Bill supporters maintain that fluoride is naturally occurring in water sources and adding more is unnecessary. In November, Ladapo told communities to stop fluoridating their drinking water, citing concerns over fluoride causing "adverse effects in children, reducing IQ, cognitive impairment, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder." But the Florida Dental Association issued a statement saying Ladapo's guidance against fluoride was "based on flawed and unscientific reports" and said it continues to "support ... community water fluoridation as an effective tool in reducing dental decay." The fluoride fight: Data shows more US cities, towns remove fluoride from drinking water Water fluoridation has been proven to be so effective at preventing tooth decay that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention named it one of the 10 greatest public health achievements of the 20th century, a time when Americans' life expectancies rose by 30 years. Despite careful adoption and a mountain of scientific evidence supporting its benefits to public health, American sentiment surrounding fluoride appears to wane as many water utilities have started to move away from the practice amid growing public pressure. Utah became the first state in the United States to pass a bill banning fluoride in March after Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. began targeting fluoride in drinking water — a move that public health experts have widely disagreed with. Scientists and dental health organizations have warned that Kennedy's plan is disastrous for public health. The health secretary has said he will tell the CDC to stop recommending that cities and states add fluoride to public water systems. Adding fluoride to water, a process called fluoridation, is not required by law. Contributing: Thao Nguyen, Hannah Yasharoff and Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA TODAY; Brandon Girod, Pensacola News Journal This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida will ban adding fluoride to water when DeSantis signs new law
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announces he will sign fluoridation ban
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Tuesday he will sign into law legislation that bans local governments from adding fluoride to public drinking water, ending a decades-old practice that health professionals have long credited with slashing rates of tooth decay, especially in poor communities. Once DeSantis signs the bill, Florida will become the second state in the country to prohibit the cavity-fighting mineral, following Utah which ended fluoridation this year. 'It's forced medication when they're putting fluoride into your water supply,' DeSantis said. 'Why should this be forced on people? It really shouldn't be forced on people.' Both Orange County and the Orlando Utilities Commission — which combined serve about 370,000 customers and had resisted earlier calls to halt fluoridation — said they would change course once the bill is signed. In contrast, Seminole County and dozens of other municipalities in Florida in recent months – including Lake Mary, Longwood, Tavares and Leesburg — had moved on their own to ban the mineral from their water, as opposition to fluoride moved from a fringe issue to a mainstream political one. DeSantis compared fluoridation of public water supplies to government rules during the pandemic, which he disliked. He railed against COVID-19 face mask requirements, the closing of schools and the shuttering of restaurants and other businesses. 'Honestly, because we saw how out of whack many of these medical elites were during COVID, I think people are much more skeptical when these elites are trying to jam anything down our throats,' he said. DeSantis made the comments during a press conference in Miami while standing next to Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo, who for months has strongly urged Florida to ban fluoride, citing research that the mineral can be toxic. U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. also has claimed fluoride is linked to various health problems. However, the American Dental Association, American Academy of Pediatrics and other medical groups have disputed those studies, and continue to endorse water fluoridation as one of the simplest, healthiest and most cost effective ways to reduce cavities, especially among young children whose teeth are forming. But Ladapo said those health professionals are citing old research. He compared them to the Peanuts comic strip character Linus, who clings to a blanket for security. 'We have professionals, doctors, dentists who are holding on to fluoride like that blanket,' Ladapo said. Fluoride, a mineral naturally found in water and soil, has been added to public water supplies in the United States since 1945. In Florida, utility providers add enough additional fluoride to bring levels to 0.7 parts per million — or about three drops in a 55-gallon barrel of water. The fluoridation ban is part of a wide-ranging agricultural bill approved by the Legislature last month that prohibits public and private utilities from putting health-related chemicals in drinking water. DeSantis said he would sign the bill as soon as the legislature officially transmits it to his office. Like DeSantis, state legislators in support of the prohibition called it a matter of personal choice and pointed out that most toothpastes and many mouthwashes contain fluoride. 'This is about your liberty,' state Rep. Danny Alvarez, R-Dover, said before voting for the bill last month. DeSantis, who acknowledged that fluoridation is beneficial to dental health, said the legislation would not prevent residents from adding fluoride to their own tap water. But opponents said ending fluoridation would be detrimental to poor families who cannot afford good dental care. They added that most dentists recommend using fluoridated drinking water along with toothpaste as one of the best ways to prevent cavities. 'This is a gift to conspiracy theorists at the expense of common sense and public health,' state Rep. Daryl Campbell, R-Fort Lauderdale said last month. 'This bill takes a safe and proven and affordable public health tool and rips it away' from low-income families. Orlando Utilities Commission, which serves about 150,000 water customers, will stop adding fluoride 'pending the governor's final signature,' spokeswoman Michelle Lynch said Tuesday. The fluoride should then dissipate from OUC's water system within 72 hours. Orange County, which delivers drinking water to about 220,000, will stop adding fluoride before July 1, when the ban would take effect, officials said. Tuesday's press conference took place just hours after Miami-Dade commissioners voted to override Mayor Daniela Levine-Cava's veto on a county ordinance banning fluoride in drinking water approved by commissioners last month. The anti-fluoride bill also would prohibit the labeling of plant-based foods as related to poultry, meat, milk or eggs, such as calling almond or soy milks dairy products. But the labeling prohibition would not take effect until at least 11 other Southeastern states enact similar bans. Florida Secretary of Agriculture and Consumer Services Wilton Simpson also attended Tuesday's event at the Rohde Building in Miami. 'Today, we announce that drinking water in Florida will hydrate, not medicate,' Simpson said. _____
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Gov. Ron DeSantis signs bill that bans fluoride from Florida's drinking water
As of July 1, it'll be against the law for Florida's water to contain fluoride. On May 6 in Miami, Gov. Ron DeSantis, accompanied by Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson and Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo, signed the "Florida Farm Bill" (SB 700), which prevents local municipalities from adding fluoride to their water. The legislation also does other things like add consumer protections and establish the Florida Aquaculture Foundation, but the removal of fluoride from local water supplies is what has gotten the most attention. Fluoride helps prevent tooth decay by strengthening enamel, the hard outer layer of teeth, making it more resistant to acid from bacteria and sugary foods. Dental and health care experts say taking it out of the public water supply could lead to an increase in dental problems, such as cavities, which could affect poorer, often rural populations without dental insurance or otherwise limited in access to dental care. But during his press conference, behind a sign that said "Free State of Florida," DeSantis said: "It's forced medication when they're jamming fluoride into your water supply." Water flows into glass through tap of kitchen sink. DeSantis spent time blasting former chief medical adviser to the United States Anthony Fauci and the Covid-19 vaccine before talking about "studies that have raised concerns about physical and mental health risks that have been associated with over exposure to fluoride." Earlier in the day, Miami-Dade County commissioners also voted to override Mayor Daniella Levine Cava's veto and proceed with plans to remove fluoride from the county's water supply. "I think they voted the right way, so thank you," DeSantis said. "For the counties that voted the other way, the legislation that we'll sign is going to answer that question." The legislative move to nix fluoride from Florida's drinking water isn't a surprise, as Ladapo, who heads the Florida Department of Health, has backed arguments the American Dental Association call "dangerous." In November, Ladapo told communities to stop fluoridating their drinking water, citing concerns over fluoride causing "adverse effects in children reducing IQ, cognitive impairment, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder." Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo talks about the possible harm of adding fluoride to public water at a Bartow City Commission workshop Feb. 18 But the Florida Dental Association issued a statement saying Ladapo's guidance against fluoride was "based on flawed and unscientific reports" and said it continues to "support ... community water fluoridation as an effective tool in reducing dental decay." The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has called community water fluoridation one of the 10 greatest public health achievements in the 20th century. Earlier this year, Utah became the first state to ban fluoride. Florida soon will become the second. This is a developing news story and may be updated. Check back later for more. Ana Goñi-Lessan, state watchdog reporter for the USA TODAY Network – Florida, can be reached at agonilessan@ This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Free State of Florida flushes fluoride as DeSantis signs farm bill
