U.S. Health Secretary Plans to End Fluoride in Drinking Water Amid Growing Health Concerns

 

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. signals a major shift in national water policy

In a significant move that could reshape public health policy across the United States, U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced plans to instruct the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to stop recommending the addition of fluoride to public drinking water.

The announcement came Monday after a press conference in Salt Lake City, where Kennedy disclosed his intentions in an exclusive interview with the Associated Press.

On the same day, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) confirmed it is reviewing new scientific data regarding the potential health risks linked to fluoride in tap water.

This announcement follows a landmark decision by Utah, which last month became the first U.S. state to officially ban the fluoridation of public water supplies. The controversial legislation, signed by Republican Governor Spencer Cox, overrides local governments and prohibits cities from deciding whether or not to add fluoride—a chemical widely used for decades to prevent tooth decay—to their municipal water systems.

The new law has sparked heated debate, particularly from national health organizations and dental associations, which argue that eliminating fluoride could disproportionately impact low-income communities by increasing rates of dental problems.

The growing scrutiny around fluoride comes as emerging research questions its long-term safety, sparking national discussions on whether its continued use is truly necessary—or potentially harmful.

Is America Moving Away from Fluoridated Water? This bold policy shift by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. may mark the beginning of a nationwide reassessment of fluoride’s role in public health.