Food Safety Testing Market

Market Overview

The global food safety testing market size was valued at USD 19.50 billion in 2022. It is estimated to reach 36.76 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 7.31% during the forecast period (2023–2031). Due to people consuming tainted food, there has been an increase in food-borne illnesses globally in recent years. Due to this, there is now a greater need for food safety testing, which is driving market expansion. Furthermore, chances for the expansion of the food safety testing market have been provided by technical advancements made by experts in this industry.

Food safety testing is the procedure of analyzing food products to identify and eliminate potential health risks. It tests the chemical, physical, and microbiological properties of food, including various analytical techniques that ensure food products are safe, nutritious, and high-quality. The importance of food safety testing stems from the fact that it helps to identify these dangers and prevent their occurrence or spread.

Food safety testing is also essential for ensuring regulatory compliance and preserving consumer confidence. Food testing ensures that food products are labeled accurately, including nutritional information, allergens, and country of origin. Research and development utilizes food testing to create new products, enhance existing ones, and evaluate new ingredients and technologies. Therefore, food testing is vital in maintaining consistent quality in food products and enhancing flavor, texture, and appearance.

Market Dynamics

Global Food Safety Testing Market Drivers

Rising Food-Borne Illnesses

The rising cases of food contamination worldwide have increased the food-borne illnesses. Most food-borne illnesses are contagious or poisonous and are brought on by bacteria, viruses, parasites, or chemical agents that enter the body through contaminated food. Several food-borne illnesses have the potential to be fatal or cause permanent disability. According to WHO, an estimated 600 million, or nearly one in ten people worldwide, become ill after consuming contaminated food, and 420 thousand die annually, culminating in the loss of 33 million healthy life years.

In a similar vein, the World Bank's 2019 report on the economic burden of food-borne diseases estimates that the annual cost of treating food-borne illnesses is USD 15 billion, and that the total annual productivity loss brought on by food-borne illnesses in low- and middle-income countries is USD 95.2 billion. As a result, the market is anticipated to be driven over the forecast period by the rising number of illnesses and fatalities brought on by contaminated food.

Rising Government Initiatives

The food supply chain is susceptible to heightened food safety hazards due to the accelerated globalization of the food sector. Governments in several countries are working on and enforcing new food safety laws and regulations to reduce the prevalence of such threats in the food supply chain. For example, the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act launched in 2011, is an endeavor by the US government to reform the food safety approach of US industries. Several sections of the law address the unique concerns of each food industry sector. It seeks to mitigate the potential effects of food-borne illnesses and safeguard the food system's economic health. Such government initiatives mandate food safety testing, driving global market growth.

Global Food Safety Testing Market Restraint

Lack of Infrastructure

The lack of infrastructure facilities in food testing laboratories hinders the global market for food safety testing. In developing nations, where food contamination is a major concern, food safety tests are neither easily accessible nor affordable. The implementation process is hindered by insufficient infrastructure and manpower within regulatory departments, namely those located in Delhi, India.

Maintaining hygienic conditions is essential for accurate food testing results; however, the laboratories lack adequate infrastructure, safe water, staff training, modern quality assurance technologies, packaging operations, and standard sanitization procedures. Because of inadequate or insufficient plant conditions, it is unquestionable that microbiological controls be implemented in a GMP or HACCP program.

Global Food Safety Testing Market Opportunities

Technological Developments

Researchers in food safety testing are continuously striving to develop fast and reliable food test technologies that can be used in the food industry. For instance, in May 2023, Researchers at McMaster University developed a swift, low-cost test for detecting Salmonella contamination in poultry and other foods. The test produces precise results in less than an hour without needing extra hardware or a power source. The rapid test has advantages over the conventional technique for monitoring pathogens, which requires at least one day and lab cultures.

Similar to this, in October 2023, a research team led by Professor Hiroshi Shiigi at the Graduate School of Engineering at Osaka Metropolitan University created a technique for employing the water-soluble molecule tetrazolium salt (MTT) to electrochemically determine the quantity of live bacteria in food products. Regardless of the type of bacteria, this method reliably detects live bacteria in food in an hour as opposed to two days. Vendors in the market for food safety testing can benefit from these changes.

Regional Analysis

Based on region, the global food safety testing market is bifurcated into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa.

North America Dominates the Global Market

North America is the most significant global food safety testing market shareholder and is expected to expand substantially during the forecast period. The primary driver for the regional market's growth is the growing prevalence of food-borne illnesses in the region. For instance, according to recent statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 6 Americans (about 48 million people) get sick from food-borne illnesses yearly, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die. This prominent public health burden is largely preventable by applying practices like food safety testing. This is expected to boost the market growth. In addition, global market participants have a substantial presence in the North American market by providing specialized product lines and higher-quality food safety testing services while employing innovative marketing and production strategies.

The major players are also enlarging their labs in order to do a lot of tests quickly. For instance, the third microbiological laboratory in the United States is set to open in May 2022, according to Bureau Veritas, a Reno, Nevada-based certification, laboratory testing, and inspection organization. For the agri-food industry, the facility will conduct pathogen testing and microbiology indicator analysis. Such advancements encourage the expansion of local markets.

The Asia-Pacific region is primarily boosted by the growing incidences of food-borne and government initiatives to promote food safety testing. For instance, according to FAO 2019 estimate, the number of food-borne illnesses in the Asia-Pacific region is estimated to increase to 275 million cases annually. Similarly, the Health & Family Welfare Department, under the Nagaland Food Safety Project scheme "Strengthening of Food Safety Ecosystem in the State," launched two modified food safety on wheels (MFSW). The Commissioner of Food Safety & Secretary, H&FW. V Kezo, stated that MFSW is not only to be used for testing food samples but also to focus on inculcating safe food habits and creating a food safety mindset among the general public.

Additionally, the main function of Food Safety on Wheels is to execute testing of surveillance samples, train and create awareness among food business operators (FBO) and consumers on food safety in urban as well as rural areas, and provide on-the-spot test facilities on common food adulterations FSW can also be used to transport samples picked from remote areas to the nearest Food Testing Laboratory. All these factors drive the market in the Asia-Pacific region.

In the Middle East and Africa, multiple studies and polls demonstrate that consumers have high confidence in food and beverage companies; therefore, governments in these regions are taking steps to reassure local consumers about the safety of food products and supply chains. During the past several years, the Department of Trade and Industry, the National Department of Health, and other leading food safety organizations have implemented strict laws to prevent food-borne outbreaks, contributing to the expansion of the South African food safety testing industry. Therefore, the region's market has expanded during the study period due to rising consumer concerns about food safety.

Segmental Analysis

The global food safety testing market is segmented by test and application.

Based on tests, the global food safety testing market share is divided into allergen testing, chemical and nutritional testing, genetically modified organism (GMO) testing, microbiological testing, residues and contamination testing, and others. 

Allergens pose a significant health hazard, impacting around 5% of the global population. The identification and quantification of food allergens, as well as proteins and protein residues, are crucial for ensuring food safety and accurate labeling. ELISA and PCR techniques are frequently employed in allergen testing. Food manufacturing laboratories use efficient, user-friendly, and cost-effective procedures with a wide range of commodities. In addition, the progression of technology has revealed that identifying specific proteins in processed food items such as eggs and milk might pose challenges, rendering their detection arduous or unattainable. Multiple allergens can be detected with fewer false negatives and greater sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and reliability using analytical techniques such as LC-MS/MS (liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry).

Based on application, the global food safety testing market share is segmented into meat, poultry, and seafood products, processed food, beverages, dairy and dairy products, cereals and grains, and others.

Thousands of everyday goods, such as cheese and bread or ready-to-eat meals, fall under the category of processed food. Processed food product selection continues to grow due to growing consumer desire for variety in food products. To ensure that each component retains its quality and safety across all manufacturing stages and that completed products are packaged and stored safely, more advanced quality control techniques are therefore needed. A set of test requirements for nutritional labeling, contamination testing, and microbiological safety are used by the Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSAI) to regulate processed foods according to product categories.

Recent Developments

• June 2023- Neogen Corporation launched two new histamine detection assays, Reveal for Histamine and Reveal Q+ for Histamine, the company announced. "These two new tests are an excellent addition to our portfolio of food safety testing solutions, assisting to keep consumers safe and healthy," said the CEO of Neogen.

• April 2023- Salus Scientific Inc. ("Salus") announced that the FoodChek Laboratories Inc. Science Team has perfected the innovative Actero™ Multiplex Enrichment Media ("Actero™ Multiplex"). Actero™ Multiplex is a medium that represents a technological advancement that enables the simultaneous detection of multiple types of pathogenic bacteria.