Ken Cook

Ken Cook is an American environmental advocate and policy analyst. He is president and co-founder of the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization focused on environmental and public health issues. Cook has contributed to U.S. agricultural and environmental policy, particularly in food and personal care product safety, pesticide and drinking water regulations, conservation programs for farming operations and clean energy initiatives.

Early life and education Cook was raised in suburban St. Louis, Missouri. He spent summers working on his uncles’ cattle farms, which influenced his interest in agriculture and the environment. In high school, he became fascinated by the debate between Paul R. Ehrlich and Barry Commoner about population growth and its effect on the environment, pursuing an independent study on their pivotal books – his first exploration of environmentalism.

He attended the University of Missouri, Columbia, earning a Bachelor of Arts in history, a Bachelor of Science in agriculture, and a Master of Science in soil science. Cook is currently the chairman of the board for the nonprofit Center for Climate Integrity. He has supported stricter regulations on bisphenol A (BPA) and has highlighted concerns over toxic chemicals in consumer products.

In 1993, Cook co-founded the Environmental Working Group with Richard Wiles. The organization researches agricultural policy, conservation practices, and environmental issues. Its analysis of pesticide residues in food contributed to the passage of the 1996 Food Quality Protection Act. Under Cook's leadership, EWG has published research on drinking water contaminants, industrial pollution, and personal care product ingredients. It has also launched consumer resources such as "Skin Deep" and the "Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce".

He described the passage of the California Food Safety Act as a "milestone in food safety," emphasizing that California's economic influence could prompt nationwide changes in food manufacturing practices.

Cook advocated for increased transparency in farm subsidy allocations, arguing that the release of new U.S. Department of Agriculture data would help drive reforms in federal farm payments.

Cook has advocated for stricter regulations on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and enforceable limits on these chemicals in drinking water. He has opposed farm subsidies that primarily benefit large agricultural corporations and criticized federal subsidy distributions under the Trump administration. He has also spoken out against California's fixed electricity charges and efforts to reduce incentives for rooftop solar.

Cook has testified before U.S. congressional committees and advised policymakers, including Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson. In 2010, he testified before a Senate subcommittee on the health and environmental risks of chemical dispersants used during the BP oil spill.

He has spoken at events hosted by McGill University’s Division of Cancer Prevention, the Autism Research Institute, and the Food Tank Summit. His work has been featured in media outlets such as CBS Evening News, The New York Times, and Los Angeles Times.

Recognition Cook has been named as one of Washington's Top Lobbyists by The Hill and The Huffington Post. In 2009, Cook was voted the “Ultimate Green Game Changer” by readers of The Huffington Post''.