Harvey Wiley

Harvey Wiley was a pioneering American chemist and public health advocate in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He is best known for his work on food safety, particularly his efforts to identify harmful food additives and preservatives. Wiley led the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (then the Bureau of Chemistry) and promoted the idea that government should regulate food and medicine to protect consumers. His advocacy contributed to the passing of the 1906 Pure Food and Drug Act, laying the foundation for modern food safety standards and consumer protection.