The Microbiologist chats with AMI’s Food Security Advisory Group member Karin Goodburn, Director General of the Chilled Food Association in the UK.
Karin Goodburn specialises in chilled food science, microbiology, technology and regulatory affairs, as Director General of the Chilled Food Association and as a consultant, advising government on policy, safety and supply chain issues, providing technical guidance to manufacturers and representing industry in the UK and around the world.
She has overseen development of numerous industry and other guidelines and standards from farm to fork with regulators, industry and researchers, and works with the EU/EC, UN FAO/WHO, GFSI, UK Government, its agencies, European federations and food professionals’ organisations’ steering groups.
Karin chairs the Industry Listeria Group and the Food & Biocides Industry Group, and is involved in the negotiation, interpretation and implementation of European law including the Microbiological Criteria for Foodstuffs Regulation 2073/2005, being one of the authors of a range of industry guidance thereon. She is an enforcer trainer including on 2073/2005 and high risk foods.
She also chairs the SPS Certification WG representing food and feed trade associations and professional organisations working together to minimise trade friction in EHC/SPS products between GB and the EU/NI by identifying issues and proposing solutions to Government and its Agencies.
What first sparked your love of microbiology?
A Blue Peter item about Antonie van Leeuwenhoek and the first microscope. (Blue Peter is a British children’s TV magazine show)
What’s the microbe that most fascinates you and why?
Listeria monocytogenes. It’s ubiquitous in the environment, colonises niches easily, pretty heat resistant, doesn’t mind freezing/low oxygen/vacuum/lowish pH and laughs in the face of salt/aW. Also causes real harm if not controlled effectively and the final step of the chill chain (domestic refrigeration) is not performing or used as well as it should be to limit its growth. Quite a few challenges.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever been given?
“Always do your best, work hard and don’t forget a thing” - a quote from ABBA’s manager Stig Anderson, which worked for them! I’d say find something that fascinates, is challenging and where one can make a positive difference.
What real-world problem would you eventually love to solve with microbiology?
Foodborne and waterborne disease.
What keeps you awake at night?
So many things to do…
What do you do to relax in your spare time?
Play lead guitar in indie/pop/rock bands
Why did you join an AMI Scientific Advisory Group and what would you like to do in this role?
I would like to be able to support AMI in its food chain work in particular as it is critical from a food safety and also sustainability perspective.
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