J. David Legan

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:

Ethylene Oxide Testing and Analysis

Ethylene oxide is gaining attention in the food regulatory space. EtO was banned as a food fumigant in 1991 in the EU. While ethylene oxide is not banned for use in foods in the United States, it is important to understand the allowed tolerances in the US and EU, especially as regulations continue to evolve and online sales contribute to increasing overseas exports. This article outlines the uses and toxicity of EtO, US and EU regulations, and EtO analysis at Eurofins.

Keywords: Blog Contaminants Food Ingredients Botanicals Supplements Dairy Infant Formula Regulatory

VIDEO: Food Fraud

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.

Keywords: Video Authenticity Food Beverages Ingredients Botanicals Supplements

All you need to know about ISO 17025:2017 accredited laboratories

This article outlines what ISO 17025:2017 is, and why it is important to choose an accredited lab for testing. An FAQ section details the process and technicalities of ISO accreditations and emphasizes the role of accreditations in providing reliable results.

Keywords: Blog Regulatory Botanicals Supplements Hemp & CBD

Multiresidue Pesticides Analysis for Dietary Supplements and Raw Materials (USP 561(565) and EP 2.8.13)

We are pleased to present the attached method summary for multiresidue pesticide analysis. This method is in accordance with USP 561 and EP 2.8.13. Click to learn more about the pesticides covered with this method and their limits according to USP monographs.

Keywords: Scientific Research Contaminants Supplements Botanicals Ingredients Pesticides

Are Your Products at Risk for Food Fraud?

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.

Keywords: Infographic Authenticity ID & Purity Botanicals Supplements Food Beverages Ingredients Meat

Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids and Dietary Supplements. Are Your Products At Risk?

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids are a wide group of natural toxins that present a potential risk to consumers. Find out more if your dietary supplements or herbal supplements are at risk and how to test and verify your product's safety for consumers.

Keywords: Blog Contaminants Regulatory Supplements Botanicals LVaclavik

Addressing Risks and Challenges in Plant-Based Cosmetics and Supplements

The botanical supplement and cosmetic industries are rapidly changing, and the increase in consumer demand calls for upscaling raw material sourcing. This means there is higher pressure for scientifically-valid contaminant testing, including screens for pesticides and heavy metals, while maintaining a fast turn-around time. Watch this webinar to learn modern approaches to contaminant detection, with an emphasis on market trends, broad dietary supplement applications, and OTC cosmetics.

Keywords: Webinar Contaminants Dietary Supplements Plant Based Cosmetics Botanicals OTC

Method Development and Validation in Dietary Supplement Testing

Validated methods are essential to reliable botanical testing. Method validation and development ensures analytical approaches are applicable to specific ingredients and provide accurate results. The process of method development and validation are outlined.

Keywords: Blog ID & Purity Botanicals Supplements

The role of botanical reference materials in herbal product testing

Botanical reference materials play a critical role in herbal product testing. Learn about the importance of botanical reference materials, and how choosing a lab with a large reference material library impacts analytical outputs.

Keywords: Blog Authenticity ID & Purity Botanicals Supplements Reference Standards

Analytical strategies to determine the labelling accuracy and economically-motivated adulteration of “natural” dietary supplements in the marketplace: Turmeric case study

Turmeric has faced authenticity issues as instances of economic-adulterations to reduce the cost. We used carbon-14 and HPLC analyses as complementary methods to verify “all-natural” label claims of commercial dietary supplements containing turmeric ingredients.

Keywords: Case Study Supplements Botanicals Ingredients Authenticity

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