01 Expansion of Automation in Food Testing Laboratories Food testing laboratories are increasingly adopting automated sample preparation systems, laboratory robotics, and digital workflows to improve testing accuracy, reduce human error, and increase operational efficiency. Automation enables laboratories to process larger testing volumes while maintaining compliance with food safety standards. For instance, leading testing laboratories are investing in automated microbiology and pathogen detection systems to accelerate testing procedures and improve result consistency.
02 Growing Demand for Clean-Label and Transparency Verification Testing Consumers are increasingly seeking clean-label food products with transparent ingredient declarations and minimal additives. This trend is encouraging food manufacturers to invest in ingredient verification, food authenticity testing, and contaminant screening to support product claims and strengthen consumer trust. As a result, testing providers are expanding capabilities related to ingredient validation, allergen detection, and label compliance verification.
01 The food safety testing market forecasts strong investment inflows driven by increasing regulatory scrutiny, rising incidences of foodborne illnesses, and growing demand for safe, traceable, and high-quality food products across global supply chains. Expanding food processing industries, stricter compliance requirements from food safety authorities, and the adoption of rapid testing technologies are encouraging investments in laboratory infrastructure, analytical instruments, and digital testing platforms.
02 Key Investment and Funding Activities in Food Safety Testing Market, 2025–2026 Company/Organization Recent Activity Timeline Investment Amount (USD) Details bioMérieux New PCR Diagnostics Manufacturing Facility (France) May 2026 USD 285 million To build a manufacturing facility in France dedicated to BIOFIRE PCR diagnostic tests, strengthening testing capacity and supply resilience across Europe Government of India (MoFPI) National Food Testing Laboratory Expansion Program December 2025 USD 55.6 million To support the establishment and upgrading of NABL-accredited food testing laboratories across the country, expanding national food safety infrastructure
01 Rising Incidence of Foodborne Diseases and Growing Consumption of Processed and Packaged Foods Drive Market The increasing incidence of foodborne diseases is driving demand for food safety testing across the global food supply chain. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 600 million people fall ill and approximately 420,000 die each year due to contaminated food. Pathogens such as Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, and Escherichia coli remain major causes of foodborne outbreaks. In 2025, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) investigated a multistate Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak linked to eggs that affected more than 130 people, highlighting the need for robust pathogen detection and contamination monitoring systems.The growing consumption of processed, packaged, and ready-to-eat foods is further increasing the need for food safety testing. Expanding food processing activities and increasingly complex supply chains raise the risk of microbial contamination, allergens, and chemical residues. As a result, food manufacturers are investing more in testing and quality assurance programs to ensure regulatory compliance and consumer safety. Companies such as Eurofins Scientific and Mérieux NutriSciences continue to expand their testing capabilities to meet growing global demand for food safety and quality services.
01 Shortage of Skilled Laboratory Professionals and Lack of Standardized Testing Procedures Restrain Market Expansion The shortage of skilled laboratory professionals continues to limit the expansion of food safety testing capabilities. Advanced testing techniques such as PCR, chromatography, and mass spectrometry require specialized expertise, yet many countries face shortages of qualified laboratory personnel. According to the WHO, the global health workforce is projected to face a shortfall of around 11 million workers by 2030, with laboratory and diagnostic services among the affected areas. This talent gap increases testing turnaround times, raises operational costs, and constrains laboratory capacity, particularly in emerging markets.The lack of standardized testing procedures across regions creates additional compliance and operational challenges. Food exporters must often meet different regulatory requirements established by authorities such as the US FDA, European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), and national food safety agencies. According to the World Trade Organization (WTO), sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures remain among the most frequently reported non-tariff barriers affecting global food trade. These varying testing protocols increase compliance costs, require repeated product testing, and prolong market entry timelines, limiting efficiency across the global food supply chain.
01 Expansion of Third-party Testing & Certification Services and Growth of E-commerce Food Delivery Platforms Offer Growth Opportunities for Market Players A key food safety testing market growth opportunity stems from the expanding demand for third-party testing and certification services. Food manufacturers are increasingly relying on independent laboratories to verify product safety, quality, and regulatory compliance before products enter domestic and international markets. According to the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), certification programs such as BRCGS, FSSC 22000, and SQF continue to see growing adoption among food producers and retailers worldwide. This trend is encouraging testing providers such as Eurofins Scientific and SGS to expand laboratory networks and analytical testing capabilities, creating significant opportunities for outsourced food safety testing services.The rapid growth of e-commerce grocery platforms and online food delivery services is creating new growth opportunities for food safety testing across storage, packaging, and distribution stages. According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), global e-commerce sales exceeded USD 30 trillion in recent years, while online food and grocery purchases continue to rise across major markets. The increasing movement of perishable foods through complex delivery networks is driving demand for microbiological testing, shelf-life validation, and packaging integrity assessments. Consequently, food businesses and delivery platforms are investing more in food quality monitoring and compliance testing to ensure consumer safety and maintain brand reputation.
01 Emergence of New Food Contaminants and Need to Maintain Testing Accuracy Challenges Food Safety Testing Market Growth The emergence of new food contaminants and novel food ingredients is creating significant challenges for food safety testing laboratories. Growing use of plant-based ingredients, alternative proteins, and complex food formulations has increased the need to detect contaminants such as microplastics, PFAS, and emerging pathogens. Regulatory agencies are continuously updating safety requirements, requiring laboratories to invest in advanced testing technologies and frequently adapt analytical methods, increasing operational complexity and costs.Maintaining testing accuracy across diverse food matrices is another key challenge affecting laboratory efficiency and reliability. Food products such as dairy, meat, beverages, infant formulas, and plant-based foods require different sample preparation and testing procedures. Variations in composition can impact detection sensitivity and result accuracy, making method validation more complex.
March 2026 SGS acquired Murray-Brown Laboratories, a U.S.-based food testing laboratory specializing in microbiological, pesticide, mycotoxin, and analytical chemistry testing. The acquisition expanded SGS's food safety and nutraceutical testing capabilities across North America.
September 2025 Mérieux NutriSciences completed its global acquisition of Bureau Veritas’ food testing business, adding laboratories and technical expertise across 15 countries and significantly expanding its worldwide food testing, inspection, and certification network.
June 2025 Mérieux NutriSciences and AsureQuality officially launched the Mérieux NutriSciences AQ (MNAQ) joint venture following the completion of Bureau Veritas' food testing business acquisition in Australia and Southeast Asia, strengthening food testing and assurance services across the region.
June 2025 Mérieux NutriSciences completed the Australian phase of its EUR 360 million acquisition of Bureau Veritas’ worldwide food testing business, significantly expanding its global laboratory network and reinforcing its position in food safety testing.