Tuesday, October 22, 2024 | 9:00am - 12:00pm ET
Unraveling the Challenging Chemistry
of Natural and Synthetic Colors
The sixth ACS/FDA colloquium “Unraveling the Challenging Chemistry of Natural and Synthetic Colors” will be held online on Tuesday, October 22, 2024. This colloquium will provide a historical perspective on natural and synthetic colors as well as perspectives on manufacturing, characterization challenges, fermentation processes, and more.
The US FDA Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) and the American Chemical Society (ACS) have partnered to provide a chemistry colloquium series being offered virtually. The series focuses on aspects related to food including additives, ingredients, packaging, and safety, and is intended to broaden the knowledge base of food science professionals and the public.
Meet the Experts
Ricky Cassini
CEO & Co-Founder of Michroma
Ricky Cassini is the CEO & Co-Founder of Michroma, a biotech company pioneering natural ingredients through biotech innovation. Driven by a passion for entrepreneurship and sustainability, he’s focused on creating solutions that benefit consumers, the planet, and food companies. Recognized by Forbes 30 Under 30 (North America), MIT Innovators Under 35 LATAM, and the Westerwelle Foundation’s Young Founder program, Ricky has a strong background in business administration and industrial management. Before founding Michroma in 2019, he worked as a strategic consultant for multinationals and taught operations and logistics at Austral University.
Dr. Bhakti Petigara Harp
FDA, Office of Cosmetics and Colors (OCAC)
Dr. Bhakti Petigara Harp has been with FDA's Office of Cosmetics and Colors (OCAC) in CFSAN as a research chemist since 2000. Her current responsibilities include research and methods development for color additives and other components using various analytical for the agency’s color certification program. She also is a technical expert and troubleshooter to support the FDA district laboratories in regulatory actions concerning the analysis of atypical samples of food, drugs and cosmetics containing organic color additives. In addition, Bhakti performs chemistry reviews of data establishing chemical identity, composition, stability, and manufacture of color additives submitted in support of color additive petitions. Bhakti earned her B.S. in Chemistry from Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, Pa. She earned her Ph.D. in Chemistry from University of Maryland in College Park, Md.
Dr. M. Monica Giusti
The Ohio State University
Dr. M. Mónica Giusti is a Distinguished Professor and Associate Department Chair at the Food Science and Technology Department, The Ohio State University, and visiting faculty at the Universidad Nacional Agraria, in Peru. Her team investigates the chemistry and functionality of flavonoids, with emphasis on anthocyanins and natural colorants. With over 150 peer-reviewed publications and 8 patents, her research is highly cited. She has received many research and teaching awards including the 2020 CFAES Senior Faculty Researcher of the Year Award, and the 2019 IFT William V. Cruess Excellence in Teaching Award. Giusti is a Fellow of the Institute of Food Technologists and the National Academy of Science.
Sue Ann McAvoy
Sensient Food Colors LLC
Sue Ann McAvoy is Senior Regulatory Advisor for Sensient Food Colors LLC, a unit of Sensient Technologies Corporation, a leading global manufacturer and marketer of colors, flavors, and fragrances. In her 45 years at Sensient, she has had roles in technical service, marketing and regulatory. In her current role Sue Ann provides regulatory oversight for food colors throughout the world. Sue Ann has a B.S. in Food Science, an MBA in Marketing, a M.S. in Food Safety and a Masters of Jurisprudence in Global Food Law. She also holds recognition as a Certified Food Scientist (CFS) by the Institute of Food Technologists. Sue Ann is currently serving as President of the International Color Manufacturers Association (IACM) an industry association that advances the interests of manufacturers, producers, and users in the color industry. She has represented IACM internationally at the Codex Committee on Food Additives and USDA FAS Emerging Market Program events in India, Philippines, Turkey, El Salvador and Dubai.
Part of a colloquium series brought to you by the US FDA Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition and the American Chemical Society.
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