Casimir Akoh Honored With 2012 Appert Award

LAS VEGASCasimir C. Akoh, distinguished professor of food science at the University of Georgia, received the 2012 Nicholas Appert Award at the 2012 Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) Annual Meeting & Expo. The award, which includes a $5,000 honorarium and a plaque, is IFTs highest honor and is given annually to an IFT member for preeminence in and contributions to the field of food science and technology.

Akoh is recognized for his innovative contributions to research in fats and oils, especially his research on the enzymatic modification of lipids to produce functional and healthful structured lipids and improvement of frying oil life and quality. He is one of the first researchers to publish articles on the enzymatic modification of lipids to produce trans-free fats, and industry has used the enzymatic technology to commercialize the production of diacylglycerol oil.

Akoh is also a research leader in the area of enzymatic production of infant formula fat analogs. He continues to collaborate with others in academia, industry, and government from the United States and around the world.