By Jim Saunders | News Service of Florida

TALLAHASSEE — The Florida House on Tuesday gave final approval to a bill that would prevent local governments from adding fluoride to water supplies and take aim at labeling of plant-based products as milk, meat and eggs.

The Republican-controlled House voted 88-27 to pass the bill (SB 700), which also includes a series of other issues related to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The Senate passed the bill April 16, which means it is now ready to go to Gov. Ron DeSantis.

The bill came amid debates in cities and counties across the state about ending the decades-old practice of adding fluoride to public water supplies to improve dental health. Rep. Danny Alvarez, a Hillsborough County Republican who helped sponsor the bill in the House, said government agencies should not decide whether to put drugs and chemicals in people’s bodies.

This story was originally produced by WLRN, South Florida’s only public radio station at 91.3 FM, as part of a content sharing partnership with MIA Media Group. Read more at WLRN.org