Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt signed an executive order mandating that the state health department no longer recommend adding fluoride to community water supplies, The Oklahoman reported June 26.
Five notes:
1. The executive order is part of the “Make Oklahoma Healthy Again” initiative in partnership with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
2. Gov. Stitt and RFK Jr. held a press conference June 26 to announce the new campaign, which also included an order for the removal of artificial food coloring in government-funded food programs.
3. Under the mandate, cities and water districts can still choose whether to add fluoride to their water supplies. However, the state health department will not recommend it until new recommendations from a governor-appointed panel can be developed.
4. Twana Duncan, DDS, president of the Oklahoma Dental Association, said in a news release that ODA supports water fluoridation as a public health measure to prevent tooth decay.
5. RFK Jr. has taken issue with water fluoridation several times since stepping into his new role with the HHS Department. Most recently during an April 30 cabinet meeting, he reportedly said fluoride made kids “stupider,” and said he plans to scale back the amount of fluoride in the country’s drinking water. He also celebrated anti-fluoride measures during his “Make America Healthy Again” tour earlier this year.
