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 winter melts away and the promise of spring invites renewal, it's the perfect time to think about new beginnings, especially when it comes to nurturing our bodies. Join us as we embark on a journey exploring plants that promote women’s health and well-being.
Eight percent of children under age 5 and four percent of adults are allergic to food1. Food allergies trigger immune system responses that can have severe consequences, even in the presence of small amounts of an allergen. For individuals with food allergies, avoiding allergens entirely is crucial, making accurate food testing and labeling by manufacturers essential. The correct identification of allergens ensures consumer safety and prevents life-threatening reactions.
The demand for low- and non-alcoholic beverages is booming, driven by evolving consumer preferences for healthier, more mindful drinking options. But behind this innovation lies a complex challenge: without alcohol’s natural antimicrobial properties, these beverages face a higher risk of spoilage and contamination. Ensuring product safety, shelf stability, and regulatory compliance requires more than careful brewing—it calls for the expertise of a qualified process authority. Here is a look at the key risks, essential testing protocols, and proven strategies to keep your low- and no-alcohol products safe, high-quality, and market-ready.
In the evolving landscape of biotechnology, genetically modified organisms (GMOs) play a significant role in agriculture and food production. In this blog, we’ll explore key insights into GMO screening and testing, with a focus on GMO testing methods and applications.
Here we highlight the best practices in process validation that pet food manufacturers may use to scientifically demonstrate that a given process, or “kill step,” in the manufacture of pet food and pet food products can deliver the required microbial reductions to ensure the safety of their product.
As a manufacturer of specialty pet food or pet food products, how will Pet Food Label Modernization (PFLM) affect your business? In this blog, we help you decipher high-level changes coming with PFLM, including how to prepare for the updated guidelines.
This article describes the basics of flow cytometry in its application to probiotic enumeration, including a comparison between flow cytometry and traditional plate count methods, afu vs cfu, advantages and disadvantages of flow cytometry, marketplace examples and investigative case studies.
Understand what an acidified food is, the regulations associated with acidified foods, and different sterilization techniques (thermal processing and cold-fill-hold) for various food products. This guide will help you to determine the classification of a food, and provide resources to aid in processing, FDA filing, and where to go to with further questions.
The effectiveness of a preservative or antimicrobial product is critical in ensuring the safety of a food product and extending its shelf life. This article helps you to understand the basic considerations of preservative and antimicrobial efficacy testing, including determining a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), giving you the background needed to select the best test methods for your food product evaluation.
In this blog, we help you decipher high-level changes coming with Pet Food Label Modernization (PFLM), as well as how to be prepared for the updated guidelines for pet food products.
