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:
The demand for shelf-stable beverages continues to grow across categories, from juices and ready-to-drink teas to dairy-based and plant-based protein drinks. However, ensuring both safety and product integrity requires a clear understanding of processing methods, particularly as they relate to high-acid vs. low-acid beverages. This white paper outlines best practices for processing high-acid and low-acid beverages, common formulation challenges, and key factors for ensuring a safe, high-quality final product.
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.
The FDA’s guidance to control the amount of lactose in food and supplements states lactose must not be present, so manufacturers are dependent upon the level of detection for analytical methods. Eurofins Food Chemistry Testing Madison, Inc. has recently optimized our High-Performance Anion Exchange Chromatography method for low lactose determination to improve upon the accuracy and specificity obtained across a variety of different product types when quantifying at low concentrations.
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.
This poster evaluates the microbiological safety of immersion method concentrated coffee, and single strength cold brew coffee processed by UHT. The results were used to determine if temperature controls for safety (TCS) should be required for these products during retail.
Eurofins Microbiology Laboratories, Inc. of Milwaukee, WI is proud to announce the development of a new test method for acetic acid bacteria enumeration, intended for utilization by clients in the beverage industry.
Watch this on-demand webinar featuring industry experts, as they explore the analytical considerations for non-routine investigations of failures and losses in the wine, spirits, and beverage industry. Original airdate May 22, 2024.
Do you need microbial testing for your food products? Learn the importance of microbial challenge testing to ensure food safety and quality.
This white paper will provide a brief overview of both prevention and investigation of spoilage. By focusing on principles, it will not be able to answer every question, but rather will illustrate questions to ask during product design and failure investigations.
Beginning Nov 9, 2023, Eurofins Food Chemistry Testing Madison will include Allulose testing as an optional component of its primary sugar profile analysis, at no additional charge to its valued customers.
