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 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.
Human milk oligosaccharides are a key component of infant formula. Recent trends, including combining multiple HMOs in a single formula, have complicated analytical testing. Eurofins has an AOAC first action method for testing up to seven HMOs at a time. This blog outlines the benefits and trends of HMOs in infant formula, and Eurofins methods for testing.
This webinar will provide insights on how a manufacturer validates Bioengineered removal processes and verify compliance with the rule. Original airdate September 15, 2022.
This method tests for all of the specific illegal adulterants that Amazon requires of its sellers of Sports Nutrition (Body Building) supplements.
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.
Learn more about the origins of the Global Seafood Alliance (GSA) and Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) safety standards and how testing with a ISO 17025 accredited laboratory like Eurofins, can help you meet them.
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.
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.
The USDA establishes a new standard for disclosing bioengineered food. Does the mandate apply to you? Read to learn more.
Which food labeling rule applies to your food product? Learn more about USDA and FDA Food Labeling guidelines, coverage, and differences.
