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:
Because of the potential consumer health and economic risks associated with mycotoxin contamination, it’s critical to fully understand the food production and safety challenges presented by mycotoxins. Our infographic answers the following frequently asked questions to provide insight into addressing these concerns.
Iodine is an essential trace element found in many food sources as well as the environment. AAFCO recognizes iodine as an essential nutrient for both dogs and cats at differing, species specific levels. This infographic explains explores considerations for iodine in pet food and reasons to test for it.
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.
California Bill 899 aims to safeguard public health by strengthening regulations around product safety. Its potential impact on baby food testing is particularly critical, as it addresses the need for heightened scrutiny in this vital industry. Check out our infographic to learn about the new requirements and why they matter.
Two Notices of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRMs) were published on January 17th, 2025 regarding labeling of alcoholic beverages regulated by the federal Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) under the Federal Alcohol Administration Act. Check out our infographic to learn about the proposed rules' components and exemptions.
Historically, testing for chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine has been done via HPLC-UV analysis via methods from AOAC or USP-NF monographs, which are not suitable for complex matrices such as pet food. Check out our infographic about an innovative solution developed specifically for pet foods and supplements.
For most US Foods, protein claims are based on a protein quality measurement, called PDCAAS. PDCAAS stands for Protein Digestibility Corrected Amino Acid Score. Check out our infographic to learn more about protein quality measurement.
The goal of the FDA's proposed rule for Front-of-Package (FOP) nutrition labeling is to require easily noticeable and obvious nutrition information. Check out our infographic about the FDA's proposed rule for front-of-package (FOP) nutrition labeling.
When you submit a sample to the laboratory for microbiology testing, what happens? Follow a Listeria spp. sample through the lab workflow in this infographic.
As part of an effort to promote public health, the FDA has updated the requirements that food must meet in order to use the “healthy” claim on their labels. Our infographic gives background on the update and a high-level view of the criteria.
