Phil Sokolof
{{short description|American health activist}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Phil Sokolof
| birth_date = {{birth date|1921|12|15|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2004|04|15|1921|12|15|mf=y}}
| death_place = Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
| known_for = Heart disease crusader
| occupation = Businessman
| spouse = Ruth Rosinsky
| children = 2
}}
Phil Sokolof (December 15, 1921 – April 15, 2004) was a multi-millionaire businessman and campaigner against heart disease. In the 1980s and early 1990s, his fight for heart health targeted the restaurant chain McDonald's. He is credited with using his own assets to help spur notable changes.{{cite news|last1=McClellan|first1=Dennis|date=April 16, 2004|title=Phil Sokolof, 82; Used His Personal Fortune in Fight Against High-Fat Foods|newspaper=The LA Times|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-apr-16-me-sokolof16-story.html}}
His research led him to believe that high-fat foods were the primary culprit behind cardiovascular disease. In the 1980s he founded the National Heart Savers Association.{{cite news|date=January 22, 1989|title=... And Phil Sokolof|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-01-22-op-1193-story.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20141116170608/http://articles.latimes.com/1989-01-22/opinion/op-1193_1_phil-sokolof|archive-date=2014-11-16|access-date=2014-11-16}}
Campaigning
Sokolof's efforts regarding the McDonald's menu ended the practice of cooking their French fries in beef tallow.{{cite news|last1=McLellan|first1=Dennis|date=April 16, 2004|title=Phil Sokolof, 82; Used His Personal Fortune in Fight Against High-Fat Foods|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-apr-16-me-sokolof16-story.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20141116170553/http://articles.latimes.com/2004/apr/16/local/me-sokolof16|archive-date=November 16, 2014|access-date=November 16, 2014}} He waged campaigns against the use of so-called "tropical" oils, such as coconut and palm oils, which were used to manufacture many cookies and crackers. Sokolof's campaign forced several manufacturers, including Ralston Purina, Borden, Pillsbury, Quaker Oats, Sunshine Biscuits, Pepperidge Farm, and Keebler to end their use of tropical oils in their products.
After those achievements, Sokolof's campaigned against fat in people's diet. In 1995, Bryant Gumbel introduced him to debate the Today show as "America's No. 1 Cholesterol Fighter".{{cite news|last1=Koenenn|first1=Connie|date=May 4, 1995|title=Attack of the Anti-Fat Man: Just Who Is Phil Sokolof and Why Is He Picking On Milk (and the Foods We Love to Eat)?|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-05-04-ls-62392-story.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20141116170541/http://articles.latimes.com/1995-05-04/news/ls-62392_1_phil-sokolof|archive-date=2014-11-16|access-date=2014-11-16}} Sokolof took out ads decrying the popularity of 2% milk, arguing that it is not low-fat, and encouraged parents to only buy skim milk. In 1997, he urged Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods not to endorse McDonald's.{{Cite news|title=Articles about Phil Sokolof|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|url=http://articles.latimes.com/keyword/phil-sokolof|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20141116170539/http://articles.latimes.com/keyword/phil-sokolof|archive-date=November 16, 2014|access-date=November 16, 2014}} In 2002, Sokolof purchased full-page ads, asking fellow Omaha native Warren Buffett not to purchase Burger King. {{cite news|last1=Bedlan|first1=Barry|date=November 27, 2002|title=Ad Urges Buffett Not to Buy Burger King Chain|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|agency=Associated Press|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-nov-27-fi-sokoloff27-story.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20141116170555/http://articles.latimes.com/2002/nov/27/business/fi-sokoloff27|archive-date=November 16, 2014|access-date=November 16, 2014}}{{cite web|last1=Charles|first1=Dan|date=November 7, 2013|title=FDA Moves To Phase Out Remaining Trans Fats In Food Supply|url=https://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/11/07/243730263/fda-moves-to-phase-out-remaining-trans-fats-in-food-supply|work=NPR}}
Sokolof died on April 15, 2004, of heart failure{{Cite news|last=Saxon|first=Wolfgang|date=2004-04-17|title=Phil Sokolof, 82, a Crusader Against Cholesterol, Is Dead|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/17/us/phil-sokolof-82-a-crusader-against-cholesterol-is-dead.html|access-date=2022-01-10|issn=0362-4331}} at the age of 82. The Los Angeles Times eulogized Sokolof saying, "In our big, complex bureaucratized society, there was indeed a case where one person made a difference, and where an idea had definite and beneficial consequences."