More hoodwinking over Far North Fluoridation?

More hoodwinking over Far North Fluoridation?

Investigations show that the latest support for fluoridation in the Far North “is just smoke and mirrors” according to Mark Atkin, of Fluoridation-Free NZ Coalition partner, Fluoride Action Network. The New Zealand School & Community Oral Health Services Society recently urged the Far North District Council (FNDC) to continue fluoridation. But its president is no other than Dr Neil Croucher, one of the Northland DHB researchers responsible for the Far North trial.

Society membership is restricted to senior oral health managers, advisors to District Health Boards, or representatives of dental organisations. One of its key aims is political advocacy according to its constitution. “In other words this is a front organisation for the pro-fluoridation lobby” points out Mr Atkin.

The Society was formed in 2003, “shortly after the Ministry of Health began holding annual closed-to-the-public fluoridation forums to devise strategies for expanding its fluoridation agenda” observes Mr Atkin, concluding “I cannot believe this is a coincidence. These people would have been key attendees at these forums.”

The Society’s media release was issued by Dr Tim McKay “a key fluoridation promoter for the Southland DHB, just as Dr Croucher, a British dentist, is for the NDHB” advises Mr Atkin. Dr McKay is a co-author of the Southland study on dental fluorosis, published in 2005, showing 30% dental fluorosis in fluoridated children. Dental fluorosis is a defect in teeth caused by over-exposure to fluoride during infancy.

Dr Croucher recently failed to persuade the FNDC to accept funding for continuing the trial for another two years, even with help from senior officials flown in at the taxpayer’s expense, and the offer of $58,000 from the NDHB to cover operating costs. “So he gets his own organisation to pretend to be independently urging the FNDC to continue fluoridation only a week later, on behalf of its ‘membership’ – of people paid to promote fluoridation!” exclaims Mr Atkin, adding “The FNDC has now quite properly decided to suspend fluoridation until it has the study results and has further consulted the public”.

“The Society also misleads the public by repeating internationally discredited claims about fluoridation. It does not benefit teeth during formation, as originally theorised. All recent large scale studies show no permanent benefit from fluoridation, let alone the claimed 30%" points out Mr Atkin.

“Communities in the North do not want fluoride medication put into their water supplies. It is high time public servants recognised this. Fluoridation’s days are numbered – it just hasn’t rolled over and died yet” concludes Mr Atkin.

ends

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