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 part of an effort to promote public health, the FDA has proposed a rule to change the definition of “healthy” on food labels. Our infographic gives background on the proposed rule and a high-level view of the proposed criteria.
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.
Is your Astaxanthin natural or synthetic? Review this infographic to learn more about astaxanthin.
Mushroom toxicity comes from many sources, including the soil, processing, and the mushrooms themselves. This infographic outlines sources of contamination, as well as steps to take to minimize the risk of toxins entering the food chain.
IR spectroscopy, including NIR and mid-IR, is a useful technology for food and beverage analysis. The experts at Eurofins QTA recently answered five common questions about IR spectroscopy to help you determine if it is right for you and your products. This infographic provides an overview of how IR spectroscopy is helpful for product analysis.
Navigating the testing options and regulatory requirements for pet foods and treats gets confusing, even for long standing companies. This infographic provides an overview of the key components of a testing plan for pet foods, including nutritional analysis, microbial testing, and product formulation.
With so many steps in dietary supplement production, the responsibilities for regulatory compliance quickly becomes complicated. This infographic provides an overview of responsibilities for each stage, including manufacturing, holding, packaging, and for brand owners.
Eurofins Craft Technologies has a broad range of service offerings, including phytochemical analysis, carotenoid profiles, vitamin testing, and various biological analyses. This flyer highlights the current offerings and details how Craft can support your testing needs.
PFAS limits and allowances in food contact materials, food products, and the environment are increasing. The FDA banned some PFAS compounds and has strict regulations on others. This flyer provides an overview of PFAS regulationsand how Eurofins can support your PFAS monitoring programs.
Eurofins Central Analytical Laboratories (CAL) offers unrivaled expertise and an ISO 17025:2017 accreditation for all aspects of tea testing, including dried and fresh tea analysis, brewed service testing, and pesticide analysis. This flyer provides an overview of ECAL's tea offerings and the benefits of testing with Eurofins.
