J. David Legan, PhD
Director of Science
David earned his Ph.D. in Food Technology from the University of Reading in the UK by modeling the ecology of mixed microbial populations, and then moved to Campden BRI in a variety of microbiological food safety research and client service roles. During that time, he was project lead for the Bacillus component of the UK’s pathogen modeling program. He moved again to Nabisco Research in New Jersey where he ran the corporate microbiology lab and developed a program of preservation technology development and microbial modeling. After the Kraft Foods acquisition, he moved to Chicago to work on Food Safety and Preservation research, and through modeling and validation studies:
- Optimized Oscar Mayer’s use of lactate and diacetate and their naturally cultured alternatives as Listeria-control agents in Ready to Eat meats
- Specified process conditions central to Oscar Mayer’s commercial launch of High Pressure Pasteurization of naturally cured RTE meats
David had responsibility for the Kraft cultures R&D group, developed a partnership to explore microwave sterilization leading to several patents, and led a program that developed an internal proprietary natural antimicrobial commercialized in several Kraft products. Technologies from his group supported approximately $4 billion in annual sales.
After years as a microbiology "client", he is now back in the "provider" role as Director of Science at Eurofins Microbiology Laboratories, Inc., by way of the Covance Food Solutions group based in Madison, WI, which he joined in 2016. In this role, he ensures appropriate method validation, explores new testing technologies, and fields multiple complicated food microbiology questions.
Products that his team has evaluated or developed and launched include:
- The 3M MDS platform in the Madison microbiology laboratory
- Flow cytometry for enumeration of probiotics
- Strain-level confirmation of probiotic identification using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
- Next-generation sequencing using the Oxford Nanopore Technologies GridION sequencing platform for microbial identification and microbiome analysis
Below are resources from David:
Eurofins Central Analytical Laboratories, Inc., a leading provider of analytical testing services, proudly announces that it has been re-certified as an approved testing laboratory by the International Olive Council (IOC) for the 2024 season. This recognition further solidifies our commitment to maintaining the highest standards in olive oil chemistry testing.
HPTLC is a popular method for botanical identification. Click the image below to open a video and learn the basics of HPTLC and how it can benefit your products.
This blog explores botanical fraud, differences between fraud and adulteration, and the use of mitigation plans to prevent fraudulent ingredients and products. Learn about the common types of fraud and steps to take to ensure safe and accurately labeled products.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) monitors drug manufacturers' compliance with its current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) regulations in order to ensure the quality of drug products. These regulations are designed to assure products are safe for use and contain the ingredients, strengths, and efficacies of claims made by the product. Learn what tests your OTC products need to be compliant.
Phytochemicals are chemicals derived from plants used to test the purity, composition, adulteration, and potency of botanical products. Discover how plant chemistry shapes and motivates botanical product authentication.
Food fraud is a widespread and worldwide problem. Watch this video to learn more about which products are most frequently impacted, and how it can impact your business.
Natural and synthetic food dyes are used in almost all industries. Understanding the potential for dye adulteration is critical to knowing how and why products are affected. Furthermore, testing with a third-party lab can lead to standardized product coloration and reliable ingredient claims. This White Paper introduces the types of food dyes, the benefits of testing, types of tests, and considerations for choosing a third-party lab.
This method tests for all of the specific illegal adulterants that Amazon requires of its sellers of Sports Nutrition (Body Building) supplements.
Food fraud can result in serious public health consequences and damage to your brand's reputation. Learn about products at risk for food fraud and steps you can take to protect your company.
Products marketed for bodybuilding, energy enhancement, and weight loss are sometimes adulterated with anabolic agents, stimulants, or pharmaceuticals. The industry has found that more than 14% of these supplements are adulterated. Find out more why adulteration in sports nutrition is so prevalent and what can be done to help prevent adulteration in your products.
