Sidney Wolfe, the internationally renowned consumer activist and staunch critic of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 86. Wolfe was one of the most respected voices in consumer advocacy, known for his unwavering commitment to keeping unsafe products off of store shelves.
A graduate of Yale Law School, Wolfe began his career with the federal government, acting as a trial attorney for the Department of Justice. In 1969, he left government work and established the Public Citizen’s Health Research Group, which he ran until his death. Through his organization, Wolfe waged a relentless battle against drug companies and the FDA, which he believed was not doing enough to protect consumers from unsafe products.
In 1975, Wolfe wrote a book titled “The Worst Pills, Best Pills,” which exposed the dangers of some prescription drugs and the FDA’s refusal to take action against them. The book, which was initially criticized by many in the medical community, ultimately became a best-seller and served as an eye-opening wake-up call to many.
Wolfe’s groundbreaking research also helped to bring about the passage of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act in 1994, which improved the regulation of dietary supplements. He also founded the National Research Center for Women & Families in 1997, which provides education about health and consumer issues to the public.
Throughout his life, Wolfe maintained a dedication to protecting the public from unsafe products and making medical information more widely available. His efforts resulted in millions of lives saved, and for that, he will be remembered as a true hero.
