A KICK IN THE TEETH

Utah Becomes First State to Ban Fluoride in Drinking Water

The ban will take effect on May 7 and is likely to affect lower income families.

Utah is the first state to ban fluoride in public drinking water, The New York Times reported. GOP Gov. Spencer Cox signed the legislation into law on March 27, prohibiting cities and communities from adding the mineral to their water systems. The ban, which will take effect on May 7, follows concerns by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. linking fluoridation with illnesses such as bone cancer and thyroid disease, despite scientists saying there’s not enough evidence to support a link. In 2022, only about 44 percent of Utah’s population received fluoridated water—a relatively low percentage in the county, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). “You would think you would see drastically different outcomes with half the state not getting it and half the state getting it. I’ve talked to a lot of dentists. We haven’t seen that,” Cox told ABC4 earlier this month. “So it’s got to be a really high bar for me if we’re going to require people to be medicated by their government.” Opponents, including the CDC, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Dental Association, warn that banning fluoride could worsen dental issues, especially in low-income areas.