Florida Bans Fluoride in Public Water, Citing "Medical Freedom"
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has signed Senate Bill 700 (SB 700) into law, effectively prohibiting local governments from adding fluoride or other medical additives to public water supplies within the state. This decision has been met with enthusiastic support from advocates of medical freedom and transparency, who argue that water fluoridation constitutes a form of forced medication.
DeSantis, speaking at a press conference in Tallahassee, emphasized the importance of informed consent, stating that "jamming fluoride in the water supply… is essentially a forced medication." He asserted that individuals should have the right to choose what enters their bodies, and the new law ensures that the government cannot unilaterally decide what goes into their drinking water.
While SB 700, which is part of the broader Florida Farm Bill, does not ban fluoride outright, it establishes a clear distinction between government-mandated fluoridation and individual choice. Floridians will still have the option to purchase fluoridated water from private suppliers, but they will no longer be subject to automatic fluoridation of their public water supply.
State Senator Keith Truenow echoed DeSantis’s sentiments, telling Fox News Digital that "when it gets hot in the Sunshine State, no one clamors for a cold glass of fluoride." He emphasized the commitment to protecting natural resources and empowering Floridians to make informed choices without government intervention.
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, who joined DeSantis at the signing ceremony, clarified that the law is not about denying access to fluoride, but rather about preventing unwanted medication. "Today, Florida took a bold step and declared that drinking water will hydrate, not medicate," Simpson stated to Fox News Digital. "No Floridian should be medicated without their consent, plain and simple. Through our Florida Farm Bill, we’re saying loud and clear: Florida’s water will be clean, it will be safe and it will be medication-free. That’s what freedom looks like in the Free State of Florida."
The move aligns with the national "Make America Healthy Again" movement, spearheaded by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. This initiative promotes consumer choice, reduced reliance on centralized health mandates, and a renewed skepticism towards top-down medical policies.
Bryan Griffin, communications director for DeSantis, framed the law as a natural extension of Florida’s commitment to individual liberty. "Today’s efforts to prohibit local governments from unilaterally adding fluoride to public drinking water is the logical next iteration of our commitment to being the Free State of Florida," Griffin stated. "And Ron DeSantis has delivered yet again."
DeSantis also connected the decision to a growing public distrust of medical institutions, citing the fallout from COVID-era policies. "People are just much more skeptical when these elites are trying to jam anything down our throats," he said. "The burden is on them to prove why this should be forced on people. And it really shouldn’t be."
The legislation encompasses broader provisions, including support for Florida’s agriculture sector, new consumer transparency laws, and restrictions on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices that target farmers and ranchers.
Furthermore, DeSantis has pledged to address the issue of geoengineering. "Florida is not a testing ground for geoengineering," DeSantis wrote on X. "The Free State of Florida means freedom from governments or private actors unilaterally applying chemicals or geoengineering to people or public spaces."
Critics of SB 700 argue that fluoridation has a proven track record of combating tooth decay, particularly in children. They contend that removing fluoride from public water supplies could lead to a decline in dental health, especially among low-income communities who may not have access to alternative sources of fluoride.
However, DeSantis cited updated guidance from State Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo, who raised concerns about fluoride’s potential effects on pregnant women and children. "You don’t even have to agree with that analysis," the governor said, "but people should still have the right to opt out."
The debate over water fluoridation is not new, and the decision in Florida is likely to reignite the discussion nationwide. Proponents of fluoridation cite scientific evidence demonstrating its effectiveness in preventing tooth decay, while opponents raise concerns about potential health risks and the ethical implications of mass medication.
The new law in Florida represents a significant victory for those who champion medical freedom and individual choice. It remains to be seen what impact the decision will have on the dental health of Floridians, and whether other states will follow suit in banning fluoride from public water supplies.
The action by Florida is the latest in a string of actions around the world banning the addition of fluoride to drinking water.
