Boosting Nutrition

“AvoColor has been shown to have excellent color yield in a wide variety of food products, including confections, juices, and baked goods, and is stable to light, oxygen, and temperature.” ~ Gregory Ziegler

Research Lead

Gregory Ziegler
Professor, Department of Food Science

Product

AvoColor is a food color additive derived from avocado (Persea americana) seeds.

Why it's Important

  • Consumer demand for "clean-label" food ingredients, including color additives derived from natural sources, is growing.
  • AvoColor contains high levels of polyphenols, which studies show have beneficial effects in animal models of obesity.

Status

  • Persea Naturals LLC, a Penn State startup company
  • Provisional Patent Application (15/343,810)
  • PCT Application (PCT/US2016/060538)

Technology Development Awards

  • $75,000 - Penn State Fund for Innovation, Jump-Start Program (2016)
  • $50,000 - Second Place, Fall 2016 Invent Penn State Competition
  • $43,928 - RAIN Grant (2014, 2015)
  • $12,000 - Penn State Research Foundation (2016)
  • $1,000 - Ben Franklin TechCelerator (2016)

Office for Research and Graduate Education

Address

217 Agricultural Administration Building
University Park, PA 16802-2600

Office for Research and Graduate Education

Address

217 Agricultural Administration Building
University Park, PA 16802-2600