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 a recent webinar, experts answered some FAQs about probiotic enumeration, with a focus on the applications of flow cytometry to probiotic products. This blog provides an overview of the questions and answers, including the benefits of flow cytometry, how it compares to plate counts, and considerations for testing.
This OOS Response Guide breaks down best practices for preparation before an OOS result is received, environmental monitoring program OOS actions, product OOS actions, and follow-up actions to prevent the reoccurrence of contamination.
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.
Eurofins explores the considerations for Salmonella identification, techniques, and guidance.
One way to improve profitability is to reduce waste by not placing more of the valuable components in your products than is necessary. In the dairy industry, shrink may be seen when producing products with more protein and/or fat than may be required based on industry-determined minimum values.
This blog explores botanical fraud, differences between fraud and adulteration, and the use of mitigation plans to prevent fraudulent ingredients and products. Learn about the common types of fraud and steps to take to ensure safe and accurately labeled products.
This informative blog post covers the basics of probiotic testing for new brands. Learn about federal regulations, formulation, and testing options, including plate counts and flow cytometry, surrounding the efficacy and safety of probiotic supplements. This article contains valuable information for anyone involved in probiotic manufacturing, formulation, or branding!
Ensure food safety of fresh produce to avoid a Cyclospora outbreak. Learn more about Cyclospora in commercial produce and how to detect and mitigate risk of contamination.
Learn how mushrooms can become contaminated with bacteria and what you can do to protect your consumers. Eurofins provides comprehensive food testing services.
