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:
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.
How is protein quality determined and how is protein content assessed for food labeling? What is an Amino Acid Score? These questions are all answered in our blog about how PDCAAS shapes nutritional claims.
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
Join us as we explore key test methods designed to evaluate a protein ingredient’s application potential—its functionality fingerprint. This webinar showcases how these tests can drive product innovation and includes real-world examples and case studies to demonstrate how this approach has brought insights to life. Originally Aired on May 29, 2025
Explore the food safety concerns surrounding Bisphenol A (BPA) in packaging, its potential health risks, and emerging alternatives like BPAF, BP, BPF, and BPS.
Effective risk assessment is essential for ensuring dietary supplement safety, regulatory compliance, and brand integrity. Learn how to protect quality and consumer trust.
Explore the critical role of vitamin K in health and the importance of accurate testing for infant formula, food, beverage, and supplement industries. Learn about the latest techniques and troubleshooting strategies to ensure reliable measurement.
Creatine is one of the most extensively studied and widely used ingredients in sports nutrition, prized for its well-documented ability to enhance strength, increase lean muscle mass, and improve performance during high-intensity, short-duration exercise. Learn about its benefits, biological role, and the importance of rigorous testing for quality and compliance.
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
Bringing food and beverage ideas to market takes more than creativity—it demands technical expertise, strategic planning, and cross-functional collaboration. This roadmap infographic highlights the seven stages from idea to product launch.
