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:
As a food manufacturer, you have several options for adding sweetness to your product, including sugars, sugar alcohols, and artificial sweeteners. But how do they compare, and how do they impact the caloric content of your final product?
Navigating the testing options and regulatory requirements for pet foods and treats gets confusing, even for long standing companies. This infographic provides an overview of the key components of a testing plan for pet foods, including nutritional analysis, microbial testing, and product formulation.
Beginning Nov 9, 2023, Eurofins Food Chemistry Testing Madison will include Allulose testing as an optional component of its primary sugar profile analysis, at no additional charge to its valued customers.
Launching a pet food or pet treat company can be an exciting journey, but ensuring the safety, quality, and compliance of your products is crucial for success. Not sure where to start? There's where we can help.
Eurofins Craft Technologies has a broad range of service offerings, including phytochemical analysis, carotenoid profiles, vitamin testing, and various biological analyses. This flyer highlights the current offerings and details how Craft can support your testing needs.
As the global leader in food testing, Eurofins has a few tips as you prepare your sample for submission to our laboratories. These tools will inform you how to expedite the testing process, ensure sample integrity and keep your samples on track. Connect with us today to get started!
Are you incorporating novel or upcycled protein materials in your products? This handout describes a key issue surrounding traditional determination, calculation, and labeling of two compulsory nutrients (protein & carbohydrates) in the US Nutrition Facts Panel.
Are you incorporating novel or upcycled protein materials in your products? If so join Mollie Van Alst for this webinar to learn more about the determination of protein and carbohydrates from that material. Original airdate March 30, 2023
Manufacturers and marketers of dietary supplements often have questions about what testing is required for Supplement Facts labels. This white paper is intended to provide information to help companies make informed choices about the testing and claims made on dietary supplements.
The Stakeholder Program on Infant Formula and Adult Nutrition is an AOAC group dedicated to approving methods for testing the formulation and purity of infant formulas and nutritional products. Eurofins has always played a large role in SPIFAN, and continues to contribute new methods and expertise. Infant formula manufacturers can turn to Eurofins for all SPIFAN testing needs.
