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:

Validation of Eurofins GeneScan BACGene Mplex STEC Screen Kit Using MicroTally™ Enrichment Cloths

New validated methods are here at Eurofins! Check out this white paper written by Joelle Mosso on our new method for faster and more cost efficient pathogen analysis on beef trim using MicroTally® cloths!

Keywords: Scientific Research Microbiology Meat Beef

Uses of Whole-Genome Sequencing

Whole-Genome Sequencing aids in tracking foodborne illnesses and drug resistance in food pathogens. Read on to learn how WGS ensures food safety and quality.

Keywords: Blog Microbiology Probiotics Food Beverages Meat DNA Sequencing

Understanding STEC: Information You Need to Know

Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), in particular, is a group of E. coli strains most associated with foodborne outbreaks. As food producers, you have the responsibility to ensure your consumers don't become a statistic. Read on to learn more about STEC and other food pathogens and how to eliminate them from your products.

Keywords: Microbiology Blog Food Meat Pathogens

Hazard Analysis and Risk-Based Preventative Controls Program Development and Validation

The FDA’s Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), requires domestic and foreign food facilities registered with section 415 of the Food, Drug, & Cosmetic (FD&C) Act to enact risk-based preventive controls. This document provides information on the required analysis of hazards and risk-based preventive controls to minimize or prevent identified hazards.

Keywords: Blog Regulatory Food Safety FSMA HACCP Food Beverages Meat

Crude Fat Analysis Frequently Asked Questions

Wondering which method is most appropriate for testing crude fat in your samples. Read through the answers to these frequently asked questions for guidance.

Keywords: Blog Nutritional Food Infant Formula Meat

New Ideas and Prevailing Paradigms in Fish and Seafood Industry

One of the oldest and richest sources of nutrition, fish and seafood are today a critical topic in food integrity and safety. Whether shipped fresh, frozen, canned or as a key ingredient in prepared food, these products are particularly and uniquely sensitive to foodborne illnesses. Caught wild or raised in aquaculture farms, fishery products are high moisture, making these particular susceptible to pathogens.

Keywords: Blog Meat Authenticity

Pork Carcass Sampling Guide

Eurofins Microbiology works closely with members of the pork industry to ensure safe food production from farm to fork. Download our guide for Pork Carcass Sampling.

Keywords: Blog Microbiology Meat Sampling Guide

Rancidity and 5 Tests You Need to Know

Not all rancidity tests are equally appropriate. Here are some helpful hints regarding how each test is performed, what it reveals, limitations and which may be more important for a given scenario.

Keywords: Blog Nutritional Shelf Life Food Meat Pet

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