DHB Fluoride Ad Complaint Laid With Advertising Watchdog

Voxy.co.nz
Apr. 22, 2010

Local campaigners wanting to keep fluoride out of Far North water supplies have lodged complaints about five of the Northland DHB's fluoridation advertisements.

"The DHB has spent thousands of taxpayer dollars to tell us we should have toxic waste in our water" says complainant Cliff Royal. "These ads are false and misleading in the most blatant ways" he says.

"Not only did the DHB's sham trial show no benefit from fluoridation, the Ministry of Health's national figures show the same" he points out, adding with concern "But what's worse is the mountain of evidence fluoridation is a significant health threat; not at all safe as the DHB ads claim. That mountain contributes to the 18 pages of documentation in my complaint."

The Far North District Council refused to moderate the discussion, and provided no "for and against" sheet with voting papers (with information compiled by the opposing factions) as other Councils have done. They said it was up to the two sides to slog it out.

"Then they issued the voting papers without warning!" exclaims Mr Royal incredulously. "And then the DHB runs these ads filled with utter nonsense. This is a real 'David and Goliath' battle. We are lucky to have Fluoride Action Network helping get the real facts out there" he concludes.