RFK Jr. plans to direct CDC to stop recommending fluoride in water

In a groundbreaking announcement, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. revealed his plans to direct the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to stop recommending the addition of fluoride in water. This decision comes after Kennedy attended a news conference with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin.

Kennedy stated that he will be putting together a task force to address the issue of fluoride in drinking water. While he does not have the authority to mandate communities to stop adding fluoride to water systems, he can direct the CDC to stop recommending it. Additionally, Kennedy will be collaborating with the EPA to set allowable levels of fluoride in public water systems.

Utah made history last month by becoming the first state to ban the addition of fluoride in public drinking water. Despite opposition from dentists and national health organizations, Governor Spencer Cox signed the legislation into law. By May 7, all water systems across the state will be required to shut down fluoridation systems.

Kennedy commended Utah for taking this bold step and expressed hope that other states will follow suit. More than 200 million people in the U.S. currently receive fluoridated water through community water systems. Grand Rapids, Michigan, was the first city to implement water fluoridation in 1945.

Supporters of Kennedy’s initiative to Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) have been vocal about the potential risks associated with fluoride in drinking water. Kennedy has highlighted various health concerns, such as arthritis, bone fractures, bone cancer, IQ loss, neurodevelopmental disorders, and thyroid disease, that have been linked to fluoride exposure.

A study published in Environmental Health Perspectives in 2012 by researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health found strong indications that fluoride may adversely affect cognitive development in children. While the CDC acknowledges the benefits of community water fluoridation in preventing cavities and reducing oral health disparities, Kennedy and his supporters are advocating for a reevaluation of the practice.

As the EPA reviews new scientific evidence on the health risks of fluoride in drinking water, Kennedy’s directive to the CDC marks a significant step towards ensuring the safety and well-being of the American public. With the support of other states and continued research efforts, the issue of fluoride in water systems will continue to be a topic of discussion in public health initiatives.