Winter Haven, FL - The Winter Haven City Commission voted to remove fluoride from its drinking water by 2025, citing concerns over government overreach and referencing Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s anti-fluoride stance.
The Winter Haven City Commission has voted 3-2 to remove fluoride from the city’s drinking water, a decision set to take effect by January 1, 2025, or as soon as reasonably practical thereafter.
The move follows debates over government involvement in public health and references to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s stance against water fluoridation.
“The government really should not be involved in healthcare, or what goes into the bodies of citizens,” said Mayor Pro Tem Brian Yates, according to NBC affiliate WFLA.
Supporters of the decision argued that health-related choices should be left to individuals rather than mandated by government policy.
During discussions, one commissioner cited Kennedy's advocacy for removing fluoride nationwide, noting its relevance to current events and policy discussions.
Kennedy has associated fluoride with potential health risks, though his claims often involve studies of individuals exposed to higher-than-normal levels of fluoride and have been met with opposition from health experts.
Fluoride, which has been added to U.S. drinking water since 1945, is widely recognized as a major public health achievement for its role in reducing tooth decay.
This decision places Winter Haven among a small but growing number of communities reconsidering water fluoridation, a practice long endorsed by health organizations but increasingly questioned by some critics.
The change will require adjustments to the city’s water treatment processes and is expected to remain a topic of local and national debate.