DT News - UK - Blackpool defers decision on fluoridated milk

Dental Tribune International

Sun. 23 February 2014

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BLACKPOOL, UK: Blackpool councillors have deferred their plans to introduce milk containing fluoride into local primary schools, according to the Blackpool Gazette. The council met on 27 January to make a decision on whether school children should have fluoridated milk, but decided to hold off introducing it.

Blackpool’s director of public health, Dr Arif Rajpura, said: “We have decided to defer the decision on fluoridated milk. “A study which took place in Newcastle showed slightly higher levels of fluoride than expected in children who used the milk. Public Health England has asked that any local authority considering a decision on using fluoridated milk to await the findings of its study."

“The information was only provided to us today [27 January] and we will look at the findings and make a decision on fluoridated milk in the coming weeks when we have a chance to review it.”

If the council goes ahead with the plans, parents will be given the chance to opt out of the scheme. Councillor Sarah Riding, cabinet member for health, said: “The issue for us is that unfortunately children’s teeth in Blackpool are some of the worst in the country."

“Introducing fluoride would not be something that happens in isolation – we would continue with all our initiatives in schools around brushing teeth.”

This article was published in the February issue (No. 2, 2014) of the Dental Tribune United Kingdom Edition.

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