J. David Legan

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:

Case Study: High-Protein Yogurt – Tailoring Innovation to Consumer Demographics

Explore how The National Food Lab, Eurofins’ Product Development Center of Excellence, helped a start-up successfully launch a new Greek yogurt product line—blending innovation with tradition to meet evolving consumer demands.

Keywords: Case Study Product Development Food National Food Lab

Case Study: New Platform Development for Functional Herbal Teas

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.

Keywords: Case Study Product Development Beverages National Food Lab

From Kitchen to Commerce: Perfecting Restaurant-Style Simmer Sauces for Everyday Consumers

Discover how we helped a client reformulate their restaurant-crafted simmer sauces for retail success—reducing sodium from 2,000 mg to 200 mg per serving while preserving the bold, authentic flavors that made them a customer favorite.

Keywords: Case Study Food National Food Lab

Balancing Taste and Wellness: Strategies for Sodium Reduction in Food Innovation

Discover how to reduce sodium without sacrificing taste or functionality in food and beverage products. This white paper explores formulation strategies, technical insights, and best practices for achieving sodium reduction while maintaining consumer appeal.

Keywords: Blog Product Development Food National Food Lab

Better-for-You Product Development: Sugar Reduction Best Practices

Sugar reduction is a growing priority in product development as consumers seek to address concerns related to sugar consumption. Removing sugar from a formulation presents several challenges beyond just replacing its sweetness. This article walks through considerations that must be made for a successful sugar reduction strategy.

Keywords: Blog Sugar Sugar Reduction The National Food Lab

Pilot Scale and Small Batch Production: Ensuring Success in Product Development

Pilot-scale and small-batch production play a critical role in food, beverage, and dietary supplement development. These early stage runs allow companies to fine-tune formulations, troubleshoot production challenges, and test market viability before full-scale commercialization. However, without proper planning, pilot production can lead to costly setbacks. This paper outlines key considerations—including food safety, quality control, production troubleshooting, and packaging—to ensure your pilot runs set the stage for a successful market launch.

Keywords: Blog Food Beverage Supplements National Food Lab