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:
February 20, 2025 - We are excited to announce the promotion of Dan Brouman to President of the National Food Laboratory (NFL), effective immediately.
February 17, 2025 – In response to increasing global demand for high-phenolic olive oils, Eurofins Craft Technologies Inc. has developed an innovative method for quantifying Valuable Olive Polyphenols (VOPs) in olive oil, olive leaf extracts, and other olive-derived products. Read more about the new method and applications for olive oil products.
Nestled in the heart of California’s San Joaquin Valley, Fresno is a thriving agricultural hub renowned for its diverse produce, dairy farms, and food manufacturing operations. Strategically positioned within this bustling industry, Eurofins operates three specialized laboratories in Fresno, each dedicated to providing cutting-edge testing and support tailored to the region’s needs.
The southwest leafy green industry has once again completed its migration south and Eurofins Microbiology Laboratories Yuma is ready. This year the lab has upgraded to better support the industry.
November 2024 - Eurofins DQCI and Eurofins Microbiology Laboratories, Inc. are excited to announce the launch of an innovative new test for Avian Influenza A in raw milk, designed to safeguard dairy herds and ensure the health and safety of milk production. This test offers dairy farmers and processors a crucial tool to detect and manage avian flu outbreaks efficiently.
October 2024 - Eurofins Botanicals is proud to announce the first-of-its-kind partnership with LeafWorks to launch the industry’s first Mushroom DNA Species Identification Tests. The first DNA ID tests will focus on Shiitake and Cordyceps species, with additional mushroom tests being released in 2025.
Explore Eurofins Microbiology events and presentations that were featured at the 2024 annual meeting of the International Association of Food Protection (IAFP) in Long Beach, CA. The focus of the event was Eurofins science and its scientists who once again demonstrated their technical dominance of the food industry through a variety of poster presentations and technical symposia, as well as leadership of professional development groups.
Eurofins Microbiology Laboratories in Salinas has met this industry demand for quality, and as a result has expanded the Eurofins presence within the produce market.
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.
Eurofins Microbiology Laboratories, Inc. is pleased to announce the promotion of James Darney to Business Unit Manager for the Eurofins Fresno Microbiology Laboratory.
