DeSantis signs law banning fluoride in Florida public water

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced and signed legislation banning local governments from adding fluoride to public drinking water, framing the measure as a protection against 'forced medication' and a means to ensure consumer choice. The new law, part of the broader Florida Farm Bill, allows individuals to seek fluoridated water from private suppliers but bars government-mandated additives in public water. Supporters, including Florida's Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo and Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, argue the move is about informed consent and cite recent studies on possible health risks, especially for pregnant women and children. Critics, such as the Florida Dental Association and other health organizations, counter that water fluoridation is a safe, effective, and equitable public health measure that reduces tooth decay, particularly benefiting low-income communities. The bill's passage follows a national trend of skepticism toward public health mandates, drawing comparisons to the backlash against pandemic-related restrictions. Florida becomes the second state to prohibit water fluoridation, with the issue shifting from a fringe concern to a mainstream political debate in the state.