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Dept of Health

Answer

Mr. Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has commissioned into the fluoridation of water and the intake of fluoride from sources other than water; and if he will make a statement. [124882] Yvette Cooper: The fluoride concentration of drinking water, whether occurring naturally at levels up to the maximum permitted concentration of 1.5 milligrams per litre, or artificially supplemented to a concentration of 1 milligram per litre, principally affects dietary intake of fluoride through consumption of tapwater, and of domestically-prepared soft drinks, beverages and meals. The intake of fluoride from retail food is estimated from the UK Total Diet Study. The estimate from data gathered between 1978 and 1980 is included in Chapter 36 of Department of Health Report on Health and Social Subjects 41 "Dietary Reference Values for food energy and nutrients for the United Kingdom" (sixth impression and later revisions, 1994 onwards). Copies are available in the Library. The Food Standards Agency has recently completed a survey of fluoride levels in the 1997 Total Diet Study and will report the results in full once they have been assessed. The Department has commissioned the National Health Service Centre for Reviews and Dissemination, at the University of York, to conduct a systematic review of the evidence on the safety and efficacy of fluoride in drinking water, which is expected to report in July.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

124882; 352 c50W

Session

1999-00

Subjects

Health hazards Food Water supply Research Fluoride Water treatment

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk