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:
When developing a new food ingredient or product does it mean to be FDA-compliant? Food grade vs. food-safe, what's the difference? And how is a product generally recognized as safe? Learn more about these FDA terms and if they apply to you.
This webinar discusses current analytical trends, focusing on low level cannabinoids testing and meeting stringent limits for pesticide residue testing. We briefly review navigating API and OTC testing to meet GMP requirements. Finally, we share updates related to hemp and feed, as well as the certification process of the USHA.
Ethylene oxide is a highly reactive gas used in some countries to inhibit microbial contamination in certain food products.
Learn more about the similarities and differences between the terms: fraud, defense, authenticity, and adulteration when it comes to foods, ingredients, and supplements.
Both Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) can apply to testing needed for your raw materials and products. Learn how they apply during different phases of the product development process.
Is Front-of-Package Labeling right for you? Learn how Front-of-Package Labeling affects nutritional value and market sales, and how Eurofins can help with testing your products and generating nutritional and dietary supplement facts panels.
NSF Certified for Sport and Informed Sports Certification Program both certify supplements as free of banned substances and other harmful components. Learn which is right for you.
Learn about new trends in sustainable and environmentally friendly animal-based proteins. See what it takes to be One Health Certified and show your commitment to the environment as an animal-based protein producer.
Do your products need a nutritional label? Do you ever find yourself facing confusion around nutritional labeling requirements?
Let us help with those questions! Listen to our informational webinar presented by Mollie Hammerschmidt, Analytical Services Manager, Eurofins Nutrition Analysis Center. She answers the most common questions and pain points we receive, from customers just like you, with nutrition labeling requests.
In this blog article Jeff Stassi discusses the importance of designing a meaningful, comprehensive testing program for dietary supplements.
