Fluoride, a chemical commonly added to drinking water and dental hygiene products to prevent tooth decay, has been locally and nationally debated for decades. Supporters argued that it was an

Utah’s Republican Gov. Spencer Cox signed a law Friday to prohibit fluoride in public drinking water amid a recent surge of concern over the mineral additive—despite decades of backing by public health officials—fueled in part by Health Secretary Robert F. Kenney Jr.’s claims of its potential health risks.

Republican Governor Spencer Cox signed legislation Thursday barring cities and communities from deciding whether to add the mineral to their water systems.

Utah Gov. Spencer J. Cox signed a bill banning fluoride from public water supplies. The ban will take effect in May.

The order—which will go into effect on May 7—is a culmination of a baseless premise that originated in the 1960s that Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy has pushed even further. Fluoride removal bills are also on the table in North Dakota,

Governor's late night signature of bill comes despite pressure to veto. Several other states are following Utah's steps.

It's official, Governor Spencer Cox has signed a bill banning water fluoridation in public water system. A nationwide first.

Utah is the first state to ban fluoride in public water, after Gov. Spencer Cox signed a bill prohibiting the addition of the mineral, which can prevent tooth decay, into water systems.