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:
HPTLC is more than just a laboratory technique; it’s a cornerstone of quality assurance in botanical testing. This article delves into the information that should accompany your sample, explaining its scientific significance and role in meeting regulatory standards, in order to ensure accurate analysis.
Discover the crucial role of botanical reference materials (BRMs) in supplement quality and regulatory compliance. Learn how BRMs help ensure product integrity and support industry standards.
As the popularity of the natural mood-enhancing properties of sceletium alkaloids increases, the volume of products containing these compounds will increase, and therefore also the need for robust and selective methods for determining the concentration of alkaloids within these products. Watch our webinar about an innovative HPLC-DAD method for the determination of sceletium alkaloids in powders, capsule fills, and tablets. Originally Aired May 15, 2025
When the analysis performed on a client's green tea extract sample was deemed inconclusive, the client was left unable to confirm the extract’s quality and consistency. Learn how the team of botanical experts at the Eurofins Botanical Laboratory solved this challenge.
The botanical industry’s unprecedented surge in popularity brings exciting possibilities, but it also invites a serious challenge: adulteration. This blog explains how to identify adulterated botanicals and the role of third-party testing in protecting consumer health and trust.
Ensuring high-quality ingredients and finished botanical products requires a precise and reliable analytical method. This webinar introduces a fundamental approach to botanical analysis: High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography (HPTLC), a powerful tool for maintaining accuracy and consistency in botanical raw materials and final formulations. Originally Aired on April 21, 2025
A client approached Eurofins with an urgent need for testing to support their Investigational New Drug (IND) application for an orally delivered botanical drug product. Read to learn how Eurofins helped to client move forward with their phase 2 clinical trials and meeting critical development milestones.
Contaminants like ochratoxin A in botanicals and aflatoxins in raw materials pose serious risks to product quality and consumer health. Targeted mycotoxin testing for supplements is critical to meet global compliance standards and protect your brand from costly recalls or regulatory action. Click to learn more.
Testing complex botanical matrices using HPTLC goes beyond simply running a sample through a machine—it requires a deep understanding of both the plant material’s unique properties and the strengths and limitations of HPTLC. In this article, we’ll explore the intricacies of testing complex botanical samples using HPTLC, highlighting the challenges involved and how this technique can effectively overcome them—even in the most complex matrices.
(HPTLC) has established itself as the preferred analytical tool for identification of botanical samples. As with any analytical method, validating the HPTLC method is crucial to ensure that it produces reliable, accurate, and reproducible results. In this article, we will explore the process of HPTLC method validation, why it is necessary, and the critical parameters to consider.
