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:
Implementing an Effective Listeria Control Plan for Fresh Produce
Do you work with animal veterinary products? Join Kari Nichols and Leo Schilling as they help you navigate the process for animal veterinary product development. Original airdate March 29, 2023.
Are you incorporating novel or upcycled protein materials in your products? If so join Mollie Van Alst for this webinar to learn more about the determination of protein and carbohydrates from that material. Original airdate March 30, 2023
In this webinar FREMONTA & Eurofins discuss cloth sampling method validation for microbial testing on beef trim. Original airdate November 10, 2022.
In this webinar attendees will learn why choosing the right method means accurate results and accurate label claims, and understand which methods to choose for Howaru strain identification and enumeration tests. Original airdate October 25, 2022.
In this webinar attendees will learn about the technical, instrument, and regulatory considerations for chromatographic method feasibility, development, optimization, verification, validation also method transfer considerations. Original airdate October 20, 2022.
This webinar will provide insights on how a manufacturer validates Bioengineered removal processes and verify compliance with the rule. Original airdate September 15, 2022.
During this webinar, Dr. Katerina Mastovska and Dr. Lukas Vaclavik will discuss the importance of third-party testing to ensure your products are safe, compliant with applicable regulations, and trustworthy for consumers! Chemical safety and authenticity of dietary supplements and ingredients used in their production are of paramount importance when it comes to the protection of consumers’ health and compliance with applicable regulatory requirements. Reliable testing performed by a qualified and experienced laboratory that covers all relevant residues and contaminant groups plays a key role in ensuring the above. Original airdate September 13, 2022.
This webinar outlines the concept, design and execution of appropriate validation strategies and procedures intended to mitigate microbiological hazards in Low-Water Activity Foods. In the context of FDA regulations, low-water activity foods (LWAF) are those products with a water activity (aw) of less than 0.85. For many decades, these products were believed to present a low microbiological hazard risk. Various food related illness outbreaks, starting with a massive outbreak of salmonellosis due to peanut butter consumption in 2008-2009, raised awareness of the risk resulting from extended survival of pathogens in these products even in the absence of active growth. Original airdate August 23, 2022.
This webinar discusses the risks of foreign materials in food, beverages, ingredients, dietary supplements, and ways to mitigate risks in your supply chain and production process. Also, analytical techniques for foreign material, unknown object isolation, and positive identification. Original airdate August 17, 2022.
