Food Testing, Inspection and Certification Market By Test Type (Pathogen Testing, Pesticide Residue Testing, GMO Testing, Allergen Testing, Toxin Testing, Heavy Metal Testing, Nutritional Labeling Testing); By Technology (Chromatography, Spectroscopy, Immunoassay, Polymerase Chain Reaction - PCR, Culture Media, Biosensors); By Food Tested (Meat, Poultry, and Seafood, Dairy Products, Fruits and Vegetables, Processed Foods, Cereals and Grains, Nuts, Seeds, and Spices, Beverages); By End User (Food Manufacturers, Food Processing Industries, Retailers, Government and Regulatory Bodies, Laboratories); By Geography, Segment revenue estimation, Forecast, 2024–2032.

The food testing, inspection, and certification market was worth approximately USD 23.6 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 41.2 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 7.9% during the forecast period.

 

Food Safety Testing Laboratories and food companies always undertake food safety tests to understand whether the food produced and prepared can be consumed using Microbiological analysis. Food testing has become a critical component of the food industry in recent years. Food manufacturers and regulatory agencies now place a high premium on food testing due to the increase in foodborne illnesses and the growing customer demand for safe and healthful food items. According to the US Department of Agriculture, food safety is the state and procedures that guarantee the avoidance of contamination from potentially harmful substances, bacteria, and viruses that could cause illness, in addition to maintaining the quality of the food delivered to consumers. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the United States estimates that 15% of the nation's food supply is imported. Samples are collected and examined for different pesticides, additives, and pathogens to satisfy the FDA's stringent requirements because many food supplies are imported from outside the country.

 

Market Dynamics

The increased incidence of foodborne infections is a significant driver of the food safety testing business, as contaminated food has considerable health and economic consequences. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that each year, contaminated food causes 420,000 fatalities and 600 million cases of foodborne illnesses worldwide. For instance, regulatory agencies like the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have improved pathogen testing procedures in the chicken industry due to recent salmonella outbreaks in the United States.  These implemented safety measures are intended to minimize contamination and increase food safety, leading to increased adoption of robust food testing solutions to safeguard public health.

 

The market for food safety testing is mostly driven by strict food safety standards, which mandate thorough testing across the food supply chain to safeguard public health. The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), enforced by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the US, mandates that food manufacturers put strong testing procedures in place to guard against contamination and guarantee product safety. To meet changing safety regulations and shield consumers from hazards associated with allergies, this regulatory drive promotes rigorous safety procedures and increases the need for specialized food testing.

 

First, one of the major opportunities in the Food testing, inspection and certification market is the increasing need for rapid testing for handling contamination risks faster with increased precision. Due to enhanced food trade across the globe and diverse food distribution networks there is a need for rapid methods that can help to screen foods for pathogens. WHO estimates that every year, half of the global population – or 1 in 10 people suffers from foodborne illnesses, underlining the need for immediate action. One recent advance in this area is the new molecular detection system developed by 3M that quickly identifies pathogens, including Salmonella and E.coli, within food samples within hours rather than days.

 

Market Segmentation

By Test Type

• Pathogen Testing

• Pesticide Residue Testing

• GMO Testing

• Allergen Testing

• Toxin Testing

• Heavy Metal Testing

• Nutritional Labeling Testing

 

By Technology

• Chromatography

• Spectroscopy

• Immunoassay

• Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)

• Culture Media

• Biosensors

 

By Food Tested

• Meat, Poultry, and Seafood

• Dairy Products

• Fruits and Vegetables

• Processed Foods

• Cereals and Grains

• Nuts, Seeds, and Spices

• Beverages

 

By End User

• Food Manufacturers

• Food Processing Industries

• Retailers

• Government and Regulatory Bodies

• Laboratories

 

By Region

North America

• US

• Mexico

• Canada

• Rest of North America

 

Europe

• Switzerland

• Russia

• France

• Germany

• U.K

• Finland

• Turkey

• Netherlands

• Belgium

• Spain

• Italy

• Rest of Europe

 

Asia Pacific

• India

• China

• South Korea

• Japan

• Singapore

• Thailand

• Indonesia

• Malaysia

• Philippines

• Australia

• Rest of Asia-Pacific

 

LAMEA

• Brazil

• Argentina

• Uruguay

• Saudi Arabia

• Rest of LAMEA

 

Microbiological testing is the largest segment in the food testing, inspection and certification market, and it contributes 28.8% of the overall food testing, inspection and certification market revenue in 2023 since it plays a crucial role in detecting the pathogens that are the root cause of food-borne illnesses. WHO estimated that 600 million people suffer from food borne episodes annually and bacteria such as salmonella, E. coli and listeria are known to cause many food borne diseases. This type of testing is crucial in numerous food categories, such as meat products, dairy goods, and fresh produce, as they are prone to bacterial contamination.

 

Currently, North America is the leading region in the food testing, inspection and certification market primarily because of the stringent regulations and high customer awareness about food quality. The government of the USA, for example, has agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration FDA that observe strict safety laws such as the Food Safety, Modernization, and Act that need extensive testing along the food distribution channels to avoid or reduce instances of contamination. Currently, the United States’ food industry is worth about $1.5 trillion, which has created a demand for testing for food safety to meet the required quality standards. The stringent regulatory requirements and sophisticated food safety testing technologies make North America the largest global food testing, inspection and certification market.

 

Key Players

• SGS SA

• Eurofins Scientific

• Intertek Group plc

• Bureau Veritas

• ALS Limited

• Merieux NutriSciences

• Thermo Fisher Scientific

• Neogen Corporation

• Bio-Rad Laboratories

• 3M Food Safety

 

Recent Development

• In June 2024, the cutting-edge leader in food safety solutions, Neogen® Corporation, is assisting high-volume food safety testing labs in putting quality indicator test processing into a more effective manner. Building on 40 years of innovation across Petrifilm's portfolio, Neogen's Petrifilm® Automated Feeder will offer industry-leading indicator testing processing capabilities with its debut.

 

• In April 2024, In partnership with the Food Safety Department, Delhi, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) launched a comprehensive awareness campaign to improve food safety protocols and raise consumer and trader awareness.