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:
Eurofins Microbiology Laboratory (EML) New England adds Alicyclobacillus spp. testing to its ISO 17025:2017 scope of biological services. This is an expansion to their existing scope that includes routine pathogen and indicator organism testing for food, food products, beverages, environmental samples, and pet food.
Botanical innovation is reshaping how companies approach sourcing, formulation, and delivery. Learn how forward-thinking brands are aligning strategy, ensuring scalability, and meeting rising consumer and regulatory demands.
Explore the fast-evolving world of functional beverages with insights on formulation trends, innovation challenges, and scale-up strategies from The National Food Lab.
June 24th, 2025– In response to evolving regulatory expectations and growing public health concerns for Bisphenol A (BPA), Eurofins Food Chemistry Testing Madison, Inc. (EFCT) has expanded its advanced testing capabilities to detect and quantify BPA. Read our press release to learn more.
You believe in your ingredient. You’ve seen the research, tested the science, and refined the story. But for buyers, belief isn’t enough—it needs to be experienced. That’s where a pilot plant makes all the difference. Read our blog to learn about the value of a pilot plant for ingredient suppliers.
There are many ways to sell and distribute authorized food packaging materials on the US market. One pathway for introducing new food contact substances to the U.S. market is by submitting a Food Contact Notification (FCN) to the FDA for premarket approval. Watch our webinar exploring the FDA’s authorization process for new food contact substances, focusing on migration testing and safety evaluation. Originally Aired on June 4, 2025
Regulatory agencies such as the FDA and the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) have recently proposed and/or finalized several regulations pertaining to the labeling of food & beverages. Read our blog for a straight-forward explanation of the latest updates.
Discover how The National Food Lab, Eurofins Product Development Center of Excellence, helped an entrepreneur turn an idea into a successful wellness brand, developing and commercializing functional herbal teas in just 10 months.
With rising demand for A2-type dairy, precise A1/A2 testing is essential. Eurofins' advanced LCMS technology ensures product integrity and consumer confidence in a transparent food supply chain. Learn about the structure of A1/A2 and the importance of testing.
Join us for an informative session focused on understanding and solving common food packaging failures. Whether you're dealing with leaking, corrosion, or unexpected damage during distribution, identifying the root cause is essential to maintaining product quality, safety, and brand trust. Originally Aired on May 14, 2025
