ZERO2FIVE Food Industry Centre>About Us>Dr. Ellen Evans​

Dr. Ellen Evans​

Arthur Tatham  

Dr Ellen W Evans
Reader in Food Safety Behaviour
Email: elevans@cardiffmet.ac.uk
Back To Profiles

My role at the ZERO2FIVE Food Industry Centre

I have been a member of the team since 2013. As a Reader in Food Safety Behaviour at the ZERO2FIVE Food Industry Centre, I am actively involved with food safety research relating to three key areas: consumer food safety in the domestic setting; food safety culture in the food manufacturing industry and food service sector, and food safety education and communication in healthcare settings. 
​
The relationship between people and food fascinates me. I am particularly intrigued by the influence of human knowledge and perceptions upon behaviour, and the subsequent impact upon food safety; this interest spans from food handlers in the food sector through to the consumer in the domestic environment.

I conduct various aspects of food safety research from microbiological analysis, the development and evaluation of food safety education intervention strategies, to assessing food safety compliance in the food industry using covert observation methods, and observation of food safety practices in the innovative model domestic kitchen at the Food Industry Centre. 

I supervise BSc, MSc, MRes, PhD and Prof Doc student projects relating to food safety.

I am involved with the organisation of research conferences, contribute to television and radio, and I am on the editorial board for two international food safety journals.


Previous Experience

Prior to commencing my academic career, I trained as a professional chef and worked at one of the best restaurants in Wales. My skills were recognised and awarded by the Culinary Association of Wales. I hold a first class honours degree in Food and Consumer Science from the University of Wales. 

I was the 2009 recipient of the Vice Chancellor's Doctoral Award to conduct my PhD research, which investigated older adults' domestic food handling and storage practices associated with the risk of listeriosis. Subsequent post-doctoral research expanded into other 'at-risk' and vulnerable consumer groups including pregnant women and people receiving chemotherapy treatment. 


Qualifications and Professional Memberships

Qualifications

  • PhD "Older adults' domestic food handling and storage practices associated with the risk of listeriosis" Cardiff School of Health Sciences, Cardiff Metropolitan University.

  • BSc (Hons) Food and Consumer Science, University of Wales Institute, Cardiff (UWIC).

  • NVQ Level 3 Professional Cookery, Coleg Menai, Further Education College, Bangor.

Professional Memberships

  • 06/2021 – current Institute of Food Science and Technology – Group member
  • 11/2020 – current Journal of Food Protection Editorial Board
  • 01/2020 – current International Commission on Microbiological Specifications for Foods – Specialist Consultant  
  • 11/2019 – current Food Protection Trends Editorial Board
  • 01/2019 – current  United Kingdom Association for Food Protection – President 
  • 11/2017 – current SALUS food safety culture science research group – Invited Member 
  • 12/2014 – current Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol (Member of the Welsh National College community of scholars)
  • 09/2014 – current United Kingdom Association for Food Protection (affiliate of IAFP) – Committee Member
  • 06/2012 – current International Association for Food Protection (IAFP) – Full Member
  • 03/2010 – current Society for Applied Microbiology (SfAM) – Ordinary Member

I am particularly active in my roles with learned societies. As a committee member of the Food Safety Education PDG, I regularly plan and organise research symposia and roundtable sessions with international food safety peers for the IAFP annual meeting. 

 

Journals and Publications

Conferences

I am a frequent contributor to international research conferences.  All conference presentations can be viewed here.

Publications

I regularly publish my research findings in peer-reviewed journals. All research publications can be accessed here and Conversation articles summarising research findings can be seen here.