Fredrick J. Stare

Fredrick John Stare, American nutritionist

Fredrick J. Stare (April 11, 1910 – April 4, 2002) was an American physician and nutritionist who played a pivotal role in the development of nutrition science in the United States. He was the founder and first chair of the Department of Nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health, now known as the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, serving from 1942 until his retirement in 1976. Stare's work and public advocacy helped shape dietary guidelines and public understanding of nutrition and health for decades.

Early Life and Education

Fredrick J. Stare was born in Columbus, Wisconsin. He pursued his undergraduate education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he developed an interest in chemistry and biochemistry. After completing his bachelor's degree, Stare earned his M.D. from the University of Chicago in 1933 and subsequently received a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1936.

Career

In 1942, Fredrick J. Stare was instrumental in establishing the Department of Nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health, the first of its kind in the United States. Under his leadership, the department focused on the study of nutrition as a science and its implications for public health, emphasizing the importance of a balanced diet in disease prevention and health maintenance.

Stare was known for his strong opinions on diet and health. He advocated for a balanced diet that included a variety of foods, and he was an early critic of fad diets and nutritional supplements that lacked scientific backing. His public stance often put him at odds with proponents of such diets, but he remained committed to evidence-based nutrition advice.

Throughout his career, Stare contributed to numerous scientific publications and served on various national committees that shaped dietary recommendations in the United States. He was a vocal advocate for the fortification of foods with essential nutrients as a means to combat nutritional deficiencies.

Controversies

Fredrick J. Stare's career was not without controversy. He was criticized by some for his connections to the food and sugar industries, with allegations that these relationships influenced his research and public statements on nutrition. Despite these controversies, Stare maintained that his positions were based on scientific evidence and the best interests of public health.

Legacy

Fredrick J. Stare's contributions to the field of nutrition science and public health are significant. He helped to establish nutrition as a critical area of study within public health and advocated for dietary guidelines based on scientific research. His work laid the foundation for future research in nutrition and its role in preventing disease and promoting health.

Stare passed away on April 4, 2002, but his legacy lives on through the continued work of the Department of Nutrition at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the many students and researchers he mentored.

See Also

• Nutrition
• Public Health
• Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health