DADE CITY, Fla. (WFLA) — Florida is now the second state in the country to ban fluoride in tap water, following Utah. Gov. Ron DeSantis held a bill signing event in the city of Dade on Thursday. That’s where he created the Florida “Farm Bill” Act, which includes a fluorination ban.
“Local governments cannot engage in this fluoride forced drug,” DeSantis said.
It was a conversation in the state that last year Florida surgeon General Joseph Radapop picked up steam when he visited local leaders to share his concerns. Some of them were echoed by the governor before he signed the bill.
“There are risks associated with risks for pregnant women, young people and children,” DeSantis said.
The crowd was mixed with ranchers and farmers who attended the bill’s signature event, and showed support through applause. The governor said he also has support from the Trump administration.
“I think this fluoride is important. We are leading the way. We got praise from HHS secretary RFK JR. And I know a lot of people were happy to see it,” DeSantis said.
Dentists pushed this movement back against fluoride in public water. Dr. Aura Cisneros of the Suncoast Community Health Center fears low-income families will suffer the ban.
“The return on investment is also substantial because we invest in water fluorination every dollar, so the community can easily save $38 on dental costs,” Cisneros said.
The dentist also gave her advice on what people who are concerned about the absence of fluoride in public water supplies can do.
“People need to search for more preventive treatments, such as rinsing fluoride, using bottled fluorinated water. They need to brush and floss their teeth a little more often,” says Cisneros.
The Florida Farm Bill has other measures that become state law. This includes a call for bills to ban labels such as “plant-based meat” and “almond milk.” But Florida’s agricultural commissioner Wilton Simpson said several other southeastern states would be needed to join Florida to implement the label ban.
This is the language of the bill: CS/CS/CS/SB 700
