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:
October 2024 - Eurofins Botanicals is proud to announce the first-of-its-kind partnership with LeafWorks to launch the industry’s first Mushroom DNA Species Identification Tests. The first DNA ID tests will focus on Shiitake and Cordyceps species, with additional mushroom tests being released in 2025.
In this on-demand webinar Cris Amarillas will guide you through the essentials of botanical identity testing. Original Air Date October 16, 2024.
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.
October 3rd, 2023
Eurofins is excited to announce that Dr. Cris Amarillas has joined the team as the Chief Science Officer, Botanicals.
Eurofins Central Analytical Laboratories (CAL) offers unrivaled expertise and an ISO 17025:2017 accreditation for all aspects of tea testing, including dried and fresh tea analysis, brewed service testing, and pesticide analysis. This flyer provides an overview of ECAL's tea offerings and the benefits of testing with Eurofins.
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.
Botanical supplement contamination can be dangerous, and preventing contamination starts with understanding its sources. This infographic explains different sources of contamination in a botanical supplement's life cycle - from growing in the soil to packaging and storage.
Gummy supplements continue to trend among consumers, but this matrix can be challenging to test. How does Eurofins address these challenges? Read about the answer from Jeff Stassi, Sr. Analytical Services Manager with Eurofins Food Chemistry Testing in Madison, WI.
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.
USP <561> Articles of Botanical Origin details testing for raw materials used in pharmaceuticals. Eurofins Chemistry has expanded their methods to include raw materials, dietary supplements, and Cannabis (spp.). This brochure describes methods for measuring aflatoxins, elemental contaminants (heavy metals), and multiresidue pesticides.
