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:
In this on-demand webinar, you will learn essentials of FDA Form 483 observations, compliance responsibilities, and the dietary supplement regulatory landscape. Original airdate November 16, 2023.
The current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMPs) regulations for dietary supplements in the US were implemented in 2007, but there is still a great deal of enforcement activity by FDA. This white paper will provide an overview of the regulations, but more importantly will highlight some of the most commonly cited issues in FDA Form 483 observations.
To support compliance with state regulations, Eurofins SF Analytical now offers a validated GC-MSMS method for the analysis of 1,4-dioxane with a reporting limit of 1 ppm. The method has been validated for use in solids, surfactant-containing solids, liquids, surfactant-containing liquids, solvent-based liquids, and oil-based liquids.
Developing a new animal veterinary product is a complex, time-consuming process. What should you expect from the development process? What does the typical timeline look like? Get the answers to these questions and more in Part 2 of our Ask an Expert series on developing new veterinary products.
Developing a new animal veterinary product is a complex, time-consuming process. What should be your key considerations? What about guidelines and regulatory bodies? Get the answers to these questions and more in Part 1 of our Ask an Expert series on developing new veterinary products.
Watch this on-demand webinar to learn about the significant organic food industry growth. The webinar provides an overview of the impact of SOE on certified entities, and a discussion on how to build risk management systems to meet regulatory and consumer expectations for your products' organic integrity. Original airdate April 19, 2023.
Do you work with animal veterinary products? Join Kari Nichols and Leo Schilling as they help you navigate the process for animal veterinary product development. Original airdate March 29, 2023.
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.
The regulations and requirements surrounding bioengineered foods are confusing, especially when navigating federal regulations and the voluntary non-GMO Project verification. This FAQ answers common questions surrounding the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard, the non-GMO Project, and testing options at Eurofins.
Pathogenic organisms, like Salmonella and E. coli, can grow in low water activity foods, leading to foodborne illness outbreaks. Thermal processes inhibit microbial growth and ensure only safe ingredients and products reach the shelves. Thermal processes must be validated to make sure they fully prevent pathogen growth. This blog outlines what foods may need an LWAF thermal process, what a validation study looks like, and the results the experts at Eurofins provide.
