Bernard L. Oser

Bernard L. Oser (February 2, 1899 – January 21, 1995) was an American biochemist and food scientist who was involved in vitamin analysis. Early Years Bernard Leonssove Oser was born in Pennsylvania on February 2, 1899, to Harris Oser and Francis Oser, both Russian immigrants.

Education and early career Oser received his Ph.D. at Fordham University in 1927. Prior to receiving his doctorate, he worked during 1920–21 at Jefferson Medical College as an assistant in physiological chemistry and then worked from 1922 until 1926 as a biochemist at Philadelphia General Hospital (both in Pennsylvania).

Later career and research Oser then went to work at Food and Drug Research Laboratories, Inc. in Waverly, New York, then known as the Food Research Labs. Inc., from 1926 to 1957 as an assistant director to the vice president. He then served as president of the Chemistry Board from 1959 to 1974 before forming his own consulting firm, Bernard L. Oser & Associates from 1974 to 1995. Oser also served as adjunct professor at Columbia University from 1959 to 1971 as well. His research during this time focused on biological and chemical assays on vitamins, proteins, and other nutrient; pharmaceutical vitamin fortification, stabilization, and availability; toxicology and safety evaluation of food additives, drugs, pesticides, and related chemicals; and the scientific aspects of food law and regulations.

Role in the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) A charter member of IFT when it was founded in 1939, Oser received the Babcock-Hart Award in 1958 and would be named an IFT Fellow in 1975. He also served as president in 1968–69.

Other activities Oser was also active in the Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association and served on their Expert Panel during his career.

Death and legacy Oser died in 1995, the last surviving charter member of IFT. In 2000, the first Bernard L. Oser Award was presented to honor others involved in contributions to food ingredient safety or for leadership in establishing principles for food safety evaluation or regulation.

Select Publications November 1956: Bernard L. Oser and Mona Oser, "Nutritional Studies on Rats on Diets Containing High Levels of Partial Ester Emulsifiers. I. General Plan and Procedures; Growth and Food Utilization" December 1956: Bernard L. Oser and Mona Oser, "Nutritional Studies on Rats on Diets Containing High Levels of Partial Ester Emulsifiers. II. Reproduction and Lactation" January 1957: Bernard L. Oser and Mona Oser, "Nutritional Studies on Rats on Diets Containing High Levels of Partial Ester Emulsifiers. III. Clinical and Metabolic Observations " February 1957: Bernard L. Oser and Mona Oser, "Nutritional Studies on Rats on Diets Containing High Levels of Partial Ester Emulsifiers. IV. Mortality and Post‑Mortem Pathology; General Conclusions" March 1957: Myron Brin, Bernard L. Oser and Mona Oser, "Value of Gelatin as a Nutritional Supplement" March 1957: Bernard L. Oser and Mona Oser, "Biological Estimation of Metabolizable Energy" May-June 1957: Bernard L. Oser and Mona Oser, "The Response of Hamsters to a Natural‑Type Diet Containing Emulsifiers" 1961:Bernard L. Oser and Mona Oser, "2-(p-tert-Butylphenoxy)isopropyl 2-chloroethyl sulfite (Aramite)®: II. Carcinogenicity"

1963: Bernard L. Oser, Mona Oser and Howard C. Spencer, "Safety evaluation studies of calcium EDTA" 1965: Bernard L. Oser, Mona Oser, Kenneth Morgareidge and Stephen S. Sternberg, "Studies of the safety of azodicarbonamide as a flour-maturing agent" 1965: Bernard L. Oser, Mona Oser, Steven Carson and Stephen S. Sternberg, "Toxicologic studies of petrolatum in mice and rats" 1966: Bernard L. Oser, Keneth Morgareidge, Myron S. Weinberg and Mona Oser, "Carcinogenicity study of carbarsone"