Food Safety Testing Market Size, Share, Growth, Report 2024 to 2033

Food Safety Testing Market Size and Growth 2024 to 2033

The global food safety testing market size was valued at USD 23.16 billion in 2023 and is expected to be worth around USD 48.27 billion by 2033, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.62% from 2024 to 2033.

Food safety testing is an important market segment that is chiefly concerned with safety testing of food products at every stage from the production to consumption. This market covers several testing facilities incorporating microbiological tests for pathogens, chemical tests for contaminants and allergens and residues testing for pesticides and toxins. The major strains stimulating the development of this market include rising consumer awareness for food safety, governmental regulations towards eradicating food borne diseases, and incorporation of molecular diagnostic techniques and rapid testing kits

Further, the application of automation and artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming significant in the food testing laboratories. Technologies in the field of food safety testing are being used across segments like meat & poultry, dairy products, processed foods & fresh produce. Many leaders of governments around the world are insisting on even more stringent measures regarding compliance and building of improved traceability systems in food chains today.

• The 2019 World Bank report on the economic burden of foodborne diseases indicated that the total productivity loss associated with foodborne disease in low- and middle-income countries was estimated at US$ 95.2 billion per year, and the annual cost of treating foodborne illnesses is estimated at US$ 15 billion.
• According to the World Health Organization (WHO), every year about 600 million – almost 1 in 10 people in the world – fall ill after eating contaminated food; and more than 400,000 die every year because of food borne diseases.

Report Highlights

• North America has held leading position in the market, accounted 32.20% in 2023.
• Europe has lead second position and captured revenue share of 28.80% in 2023.
• By test, the pathogen testing segment has generated revenue share of 46.10% in 2023.
• By application, the meat, poultry, & seafood products segment has recorded revenue share of 30.20% in 2023.

Food Safety Testing Market Growth Factors

• Increasing Incidence of Foodborne Illnesses: Foodborne diseases are on the rise globally; it is crucial that food safety testing should be well understood and exhaustive at the same time. With pathogens such as Salmonella, E. Coli and Listeria contaminating foods, it has become mandatory to test foods oftentimes especially with food producers of meat, poultry and dairy products.
• Stringent Regulatory Requirements: International governments have continued to raise the integer baselines on food safety and quality. Bodies such as FDA, USDA, EFSA, and FSSAI are gradually insisting on the more comprehensive testing methods in food production chains. This actual demand has led its management towards adapting more professional testing methods as per safety specifications in order to reduce the inherent hazards.
• Technological Advancements in Testing Methods: Advancements in food testing include fast-tracking methods of pathogen identification, various molecular variations, and food allergens. Technological advancements, such as automation of test laboratories, which has cropped up in the market, is enhancing the effectiveness of food safety testing.
• Globalization of Food Trade: High risks of contamination systems are brought in by globalization hence increased complexity of the food supply chains. With food being bought and supplied in different regions or sometimes even countries, there is need for high- competitive health checks and food hygiene before supply to the market.

Food Safety Testing Market Trends

• Growth in Pathogen and Allergen Testing: Current emphasis is placed on such testing protocols as pathogen, allergen, and hazardous contaminant detection. Increasing consumer consciousness of food allergy and possibility of cross-contamination with relevant allergens, such as gluten, nuts, and dairy proteins, food manufacturers are focusing on these particular tests in addition to standard tests for presence of bacteria, and prohibited chemicals, toxins etc.
• Integration of Smart Technologies: AI, IoT and blockchain technologies which are being adopted in the food safety testing market are emerging as a revolution. The use of artificial intelligence technologies has enhanced the timeliness and correctness of test outcomes, meanwhile, IoT connections assess food quality in the supply chain continually. Chain provides additional trackability, makes information made transparent, and guarantees that a contaminated product will be quickly identified and removed from circulation.
• Shift Toward Rapid Testing and Automation: In order to improve the flow of sample results to food testing laboratories and subsequent handling of results, many laboratories are adopting methods that produce fast results yet are equally accurate. Test automation is also being adopted in testing processes so that the laboratory can address increasing numbers of tests without compromising quality and safety compliance.
• Increased Focus on Sustainability and Clean Labeling: This has favored clean labeling and sustainability because consumers want to know where their food comes from and what it has been through. Testing of foods is now an essential requirement for producers to certify that their foods do not contain unwanted chemicals or contaminants, or which are mislabeled to meet these consumer demands.

Report Scope

Food Safety Testing Market Dynamics

Drivers

Rising Global Focus on Food Safety

• Consumers’ awareness of food risks has increased, they, along with governments, have been eager to seek reliable testing approaches. The recent cases of food contamination, food recall, and food borne illnesses have made customer and regulatory agencies to require strict food safety measures and quality examination at every point of the supply chain.

Increased Investments in Testing Technologies

• The food industry is experiencing increasing trend in the investment in better and faster techniques in the testing phases. These designations are enabling faster, more accurate, and more economical molecular and chemical pathogen and chemical detection across food products.

Restraints

High Costs of Advanced Testing Methods

• Advanced food safety testing is more costly initially and even in later stages of installation and management. The high costs of implementation are also likely to present a significant challenge to most small businesses, especially those in the developing world threatening to slow down the pace of using modern testing techniques.

Complex Regulatory Landscape

• Due to this, there are a lot of variations in the type of food safety regulations that may be daunting to food producers and testing laboratories. Difference in the laws of various countries and having to deal with local laws of countries they operate in or International laws, which they have to obey could easily slow down growth of the market.

Opportunities

Expansion in Emerging Markets

• This is especially the case as developing regions progressively urbanize and globalize: it is sorrowful to say that there is a need for more stringent food safety requirements, not to mention testing. With the intensification of food exports, particularly within Asia-Pacific and Latin America, food safety testing services’ demand continues to grow.

Growing Demand for Organic and Clean-Label Products

• Current consumer demand is embracing organic, clean-label, and non-GMO foods there is a growing opportunity for food safety testing services to ascertain the truth in the claims made. Food testing for pesticide, antibiotic, and chemical content is also proving increasingly essential in satisfying the growing global demand for vegan foods with minimal use of these chemicals.

Challenges

Infrastructure Development in Developing Regions

• Less developed regions may take long before they develop proper testing infrastructure, available and accredited laboratories, and competent personnel to serve the Food safety testing market. Additional investment in the testing infrastructure, technology, and human capital is required so as to meet the increasing need for food safety testing in these regions.

Public Awareness and Trust in Testing Methods

• Public acceptance of food safety testing methodologies forms the key to market success. Most consumers may have no clue of the kind of tests that their foods go through or they may deny the usefulness of such processes. The general public will want to know how their products are being tested and so, improving consumer awareness and the testing regimes will be paramount to winning their confidence.

Food Safety Testing Market Seegmental Analysis

Test Analysis

Pathogen Testing: The pathogen testing segment has accounted revenue share of 46.10% in 2023. Detection of Pathogens such as Salmonella, E. coli and Listeria is an essential test regularly performed in the analysis of foods. It serves as a safety net because it points where contamination could be originating in order to prevent any food from being consumed. This type of testing is used extensively in sectors like meats, poultry as well as dairy products because of the high risk of BSE orFood borne diseases for consumption.

Pesticide Residue Testing: The pesticide residue testing segment has held revenue share of 10.20% in 2023. Residues analysis includes checking pesticide deposits that could be left on the fruits, vegetables, and other producer that we get from farms. It is crucial that residues of pesticides applied are kept to minimum to address legal requirements within export markets, most especially within the organic and clean label foods categories.

GMO Testing: The GMO testing segment has accounted revenue share of 16.70% in 2023. GMO testing detects genetically modified organisms in food products so that manufacturers are able to satisfy labeling conditions and legal constraints. This type of testing is especially significant in those countries where labeling of GMO is required and, in the markets, where people want clear information about the product they are consuming.

Allergen Testing: The allergen testing segment has accounted revenue share of 5.90% in 2023. Food allergen testing guarantees that products containing allergic compounds such as gluten or nuts or dairy have no traces of allergens that could trigger allergic reactions in allergic customers. Because more consumers and regulatory agencies pay attention to the labeling of products containing these ingredients, such testing plays an important role in the protection of consumer rights and avoiding product recalls.

Product Analysis

Microbiological Testing: Microbial analysis deals with identification and counting of pathogenic bacteria that may interfere with food during processing, handling or storage. It is mandatory for food safety and is used broadly in risky food categories such as meat and dairy products to control the occurrence of foodborne diseases.

Chemical Testing: Hazardous chemical analysis is employed in the identification of the chemical substances including toxins, heavy metals and pesticide residues on foods. Such type of testing is crucial in meeting both national and international safety standards and meeting the requirements of safety regulations.

Immunoassays: Allergen and pathogen detection are the most usual immunoassays, which use antibodies to detect certain proteins or pathogens in food samples. They are a fast and effective testing method that has become common with the food producers to identify the contaminants at different processing levels.

PCR-Based Testing: PCR is a molecular biomolecular method for amplifying target sequences of nucleic acids which also excellently suits pathogen and GMO identification. Due to its specificity and ability to provide positive results within a short duration, the method can be widely used in food safety testing.

End-Users Analysis

Food Manufacturers: Food manufacturers apply safety tests to investigate the safety of foods before they are released to the market. This pathogen, allergen, and chemical residues testing allows maintaining compliance with regulatory laws and regulations, preventing product recalls, and retaining customer confidence.

Food Processing Companies: The analysis of contamination hazards is critical to food processing companies, and that is why they conduct food safety testing throughout the production process. Evaluations can also be done at every possible level right from the raw materials and intermediaries to the final products; this is done to prevent the entries of the nasty from the finished products.

Retailers: The interests of the public have made the retailers who sell food products to invest in food safety testing service to confirm that their food products are safe for the consumer. Due to heightened customer awareness, retailers employ food allergen, pathogen and contaminants investigation for quality and safe foods available in their stores.

Laboratories: Third party testing/assay labs are agencies that offer testing services to individuals or companies that produce, process or sell food merchandise. These state of art Labs offer microbial analysis test, chemical test, genetic test, etc., which involved safety features to meet food safety standard at international level.

Food Safety Testing Market Regional Analysis

Why is North America hit dominant poision in the food safety testing market?

The North America food safety testing market size was estimated at USD 7.46 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach around USD 15.54 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 7.54% from 2024 to 2033. North America is expected to be the largest market because of such regulations, developed technology usage, and consumer protection quality. The United States especially takes the lead having strict laws on food safety which are implemented through the FDA and USDA that compel regular testing within value chains. It is also a fact that Canada plays its role in market growth by stepping up investment in food safety and having an ever-increasing number of people understanding the dangers of foodborne diseases.

Europe presents the second largest market growth

The Europe food safety testing market size is projected to grow from USD 6.67 billion in 2023 to USD 13.90 billion by 2033. Europe presents the second largest market growth due to increased regulation and standardization by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) coupled with high requirement of food safety in different food segments. The advanced testing methods particularly for allergens, pathogen and chemical contaminants have being developed most by countries Germany France and the UK. SWOT analysis – The regions demand for sustainable and clean label products also is fast increasing the need for food safety testing.

Why is Asia-Pacific region expected to boom in the near future?

The Asia-Pacific food safety testing market size was accounted for USD 5.88 billion in 2023 and is projected to surpass around USD 12.26 billion by 2033, with a CAGR of 8.81% from 2024 to 2033. The Asia-Pacific region is expected to boom in the near future because of the factors such as increasing urbanization, increasing disposable income of consumers and growing issues and concerns related to food safety. China, Japan and India for instance are putting their resources in sophisticated food testing methods to meet the standards of safety because the region is becoming a leading exporter of food production. The government’s efforts to enhance strict measures regarding food safety is also driving the market growth.

LAMEA food safety testing market is in growing phase

The LAMEA food safety testing market was valued at USD 3.15 billion in 2023 and is projected to hit around USD 6.65 billion by 2033. LAMEA market is relatively in its growing phase for as the awareness regarding foodborn illness is increasing and the globalization of food industry is increasing at a significant rate. For instance, Brazil is paying much attention to the enhancement of food safety regulations to enhance its agricultural exports, and the Middle East region especially the UAE is investing in the infrastructure to address the standards required in food safety. Africa, like most other regions, has challenges with infrastructure and is slowly moving in the right direction with regards to the food testing capabilities.

Food Safety Testing Market Top Companies

• Eurofins Scientific
• Intertek Group plc
• Bureau Veritas
• Thermo Fisher Scientific
• Neogen Corporation
• Bio-Rad Laboratories
• Merieux NutriSciences
• ALS Limited
• AsureQuality
• Romer Labs
• 3M Company
• Microbac Laboratories
• TÜV SÜD
• R-Biopharm AG
• Covance Inc.
• NSF International
• Symbio Laboratories
• Silliker Inc.
• Campden BRI

Among the new entrants into the food safety testing industry, Neogen Corporation is making a concerted effort to carve a niche by coming up with equipment and kits that provide real time effects of pathogens and allergens on food, in order to help firms guarantee their products’ safety. On the other hand, Eurofins Scientific is growing its international network of highly skilled chemical and microbiological testing services and positively revolutionising food safety benchmarks in various parts of the world. On the other hand, large experienced leaders such as SGS and Bureau Veritas with years of experience in food testing and certification services maintain dominance by covering most testing services and providing solutions that comply with the required international standards.

Thermo Fisher Scientific always employs biotechnology in offering state of the art testing solutions and services while MNSC combines the ability in testing, advisory and consulting services all related to food safety. These industry advancements are prompted by innovation and partnership mechanism where new entrants to the food safety testing industry have equal important roles to play as those that have subscribed to the historic traditions of the business.

CEO Statements

Ganji Kamala Vardhana Rao, CEO of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)

"Encouraged states/UTs to increase the regular surveillance, monitoring, inspections and random sampling of food products and their compliance with the laid down standards."

Dr. Gilles Martin, CEO ofEurofins

"We are extremely pleased to welcome LabCorp’s Covance Food Solutions and its talented teams to the Eurofins Group. Its competencies, reputation for scientific excellence and complementary geographic footprint, client focus and service offerings further strengthen Eurofins’ global offering in the very competitive food testing market. We look forward to working together as an integrated network of independent state-of-the-art laboratories providing our customers access to the full range of services and technological capabilities of the combined Group."

Recent Developments

The food safety testing market is moving towards great innovative strides in the sense of quality and safety of food products through technologies such as pathogenic detection, allergenic detection, and chemical residual analysis. These companies are trying the introduction of new technologies such as the quick diagnostic tools, automation, and even data driven-testing in line with global food safety requirements. In the case of Food Safety Testing Market, the following can be pointed out as market developments include:

• In October 2024, Global food safety firm Mérieux NutriSciences acquired the food testing business of Bureau Veritas for €360 million. The deal will enhance Mérieux NutriSciences’ global footprint, extending its operations to 32 countries, and doubling its presence in Canada and the Asia Pacific regions.
• In June 2024, Neogen Corporation has launched the Petrifilm Automated Feeder, which helps labs process microbial tests and meet food safety standards. It automatically feeds and counts up to 300 Petrifilm Plates in 33 minutes, improving lab productivity and integrating with existing workflows and systems.
• In May 2024,FSSAI came up with plans for a survey across the country to begin making quality checks on foods and items such as dairy products and spices. This nonprofit venture is to check food adulteration while at the same time undertaking various tests on different categories of foods and raising awareness of food safety standards among consumers in India.

These events have clearly pointed towards a sharper rise in the food safety testing sector through growth in strategic collaborations, rising investments and changes in regulatory policies. Currently, key players are more interested in enhancing the testing programme, employing better diagnostic methods for food products, and enhancing the laboratory framework in order to fulfil the growing need in the field of food safety. These endeavours can be made to guarantee food quality, lower and safeguard the consumer as well as meet the emergent standards and safety measures within different parts of the world.

Advancements in RT-LAMP, l later generation molecular diagnostic systems, and automation are also helping to spread food safety testing across the supply chain of food products making them safer and more standard for consumers across the globe.

Market Segmentation

By Test

• Pathogen Testing
  • Salmonella
  • Listeria
  • E. coli
  • Campylobacter
• Pesticide Residue Testing
• Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) Testing
• Allergen Testing
• Others

By Product

• Microbiological Testing
• Chemical Testing
• Immunoassays
• PCR-Based Testing

By Application

• Meat, Poultry, & Seafood Products
• Dairy & Dairy Products
• Processed Food
• Beverages
• Cereals & Grains
• Others 

By End-Users

• Food Manufacturers
• Food Processing Companies
• Retailers
• Laboratories

By Region

• North America
• Europe
• APAC
• LAMEA