Another group of public commenters urged the GRU Authority to stop adding fluoride to Gainesville’s drinking water, which it has done since the 1940s.

The request follows a nationwide trend to reconsider adding fluoride to drinking water—largely prompted by comments by Robert Kennedy Jr., who President-elect Donald Trump has picked as the next secretary of health and human services. Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo recommended in November that fluoride stop being added to drinking water.

Since November, the Florida cities of Port St. Lucie, Stuart and Tavares have voted to stop adding fluoride, according to Florida Today. The city of Melbourne voted to stop adding fluoride after a “marathon” meeting on Tuesday.

Florida Today reports that Melbourne commissioners cited the lack of choice that customers have and new studies.

Speakers at GRU’s meeting hit on similar themes.

But several other speakers opposed any change. They cited benefits of fluoride when added in safe amounts to water and said it promotes teeth health. Local dentist and UF graduate Dr. Bert Hughes spoke and said peer-reviewed studies have shown that fluoride is not harmful when added to drinking water.

The topic was not on the GRU Authority agenda, and directors didn’t touch on the issue.

Original article online at: https://www.mainstreetdailynews.com/govt-politics/gru-authority-ends-solar-agreement