Winter Haven cites RFK Jr. in removing fluoride from drinking water
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Winter Haven, Florida, voted last week to remove fluoride from its drinking water, citing concerns from Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whom President-elect Trump tapped to serve as secretary of health and human services.
Why it matters: Kennedy's nomination and his promotion of debunked claims about medicine have reignited debate across the U.S. about whether to continue water fluoridation.
Driving the news: Winter Haven Commissioner Brad Dantzler (R) motioned to stop adding the chemical to the city's drinking water, a practice that has been in place for almost 40 years, according to WFLA.
- Dantzler said that his move was influenced in part by Kennedy's "well-known" anti-fluoride stance. RFK Jr. "wants fluoride out of the water of the entire country," the commissioner said.
- Commissioners heard from local dentists who said that the studies cited to link fluoride with negative health effects are flawed and that the chemical helps those who can't afford dental care.
- The motion passed 3-2, with the practice set to end by Jan. 1.
The big picture: Fluoride is a mineral that repairs and prevents damage to teeth that bacteria cause in the mouth, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- "Almost all water contains some naturally occurring fluoride, but usually at levels too low to prevent cavities," per the CDC.
- "Studies continue to show that widespread community water fluoridation prevents cavities and saves money, both for families and the health care system," the CDC adds.
Flashback: The Tampa Bay Times published a series of editorials in 2012 after the Pinellas County Commission decided to eliminate the chemical from its drinking water.
- The editorials, which outlined the benefits of fluoridated water and bashed commissioners for ignoring established science, helped reverse the decision and won the paper a Pulitzer Prize.
What we're watching: Hillsborough Commissioner Joshua Wostal (R) has also called to remove fluoride from drinking water.