Utah has become the first state in the country to remove fluoride from all public drinking water, with Gov. Spencer Cox signing legislation that takes effect in May. The law halts fluoridation statewide and prevents cities from reintroducing it.
Gov. Cox defended the law by questioning the need for fluoride, noting that roughly half of Utah has never had it and yet no significant differences in dental health have been observed. He said any chemical added to public water should meet a high standard of necessity.
BREAKING: Utah has become the first state to completely BAN fluoride in their drinking water.
All 50 states should follow suit! pic.twitter.com/YGogmMvuSG
— Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) March 30, 2025
One of the driving factors behind the decision is growing research that fluoride may affect children’s cognitive development. A recent government-sponsored report showed that higher fluoride exposure during pregnancy could lead to lower IQ in children — particularly boys.
The analysis, which included nearly 75 studies from around the world, found that increased fluoride levels in urine were consistently associated with reduced intelligence scores in children. In one study, a 1 part per million increase in fluoride was linked to a 5-point IQ drop in boys.
Utah banning fluoride and pride flags in the same day…
Check on your liberal friends. They might die. https://t.co/Ws9zf0Shn9— Storm (@stormrobinson) March 28, 2025
Trump administration officials, including HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., have spoken out about the risks tied to fluoride and have committed to advising utilities to stop its use. Kennedy has labeled fluoride an unnecessary industrial additive with potential for harm.
In Utah, just 66 out of 484 public water systems used fluoride in 2024. The law now ensures the practice will end statewide, including in the state’s largest city, Salt Lake City.
