A Database of the Fluoride Content of Selected Drinks and Foods in the UK and Republic of Ireland

It is important to monitor systemic fluoride (F) intake from foods, drinks and inadvertent toothpaste ingestion in order to minimise risk of dental fluorosis while maximising caries prevention. In collaboration with Newcastle University, we have developed and populated a “fluoride database” which includes the fluoride concentration (µg fluoride per 1g of the product) and content (µg fluoride per 100 g of the product) of a substantial number of food and drink products sold within the UK and Republic of Ireland, representing brands manufactured by leading companies in the European food market. The database is intended as a tool for public health professionals and policy-makers to facilitate monitoring of dietary fluoride intake, particularly in children.

This publication provides information on fluoride concentrations of the most commonly consumed food and drink items in the UK, compiled from the results of a range of research projects funded by The Borrow Foundation and Organix Foundation and Food and Environment Research Agency (Fera) Science Ltd. The background to the development of the database is described in our paper published in Caries Research (Zohoori & Maguire, 2016).

The wide range of fluoride content within food and drink groups, verified within this fluoride database clearly highlights the need for comprehensive fluoride labelling of food and drink products, particularly those used primarily by infants and very young children (Zohoori & Maguire, 2018).