Food Pathogen Testing Market by Type (E.coli, Salmonella, Campylobacter, Listeria), Technology (Traditional, Rapid), Food Type (Meat & poultry, Dairy, Processed food, Fruits & Vegetables, Cereals & Grains), & by Region - Global Forecasts to 2028

Food Pathogen Testing Market by Type (E.coli, Salmonella, Campylobacter, Listeria), Technology (Traditional, Rapid), Food Type (Meat & poultry, Dairy, Processed food, Fruits & Vegetables, Cereals & Grains), & by Region - Global Forecasts to 2028

The global market for food pathogen testing is estimated to be valued at USD 15.1 Billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 22.7 Billion by 2028, at a CAGR of 8.4% during the forecast period. Incidences of foodborne illnesses occur primarily due to the consumption of food contaminated with mycotoxins, pathogens, or the growth of yeasts and molds. The presence of pathogens such as Salmonella, Campylobacter, E. coli, and Listeria could compromise the microbiological safety of food, thereby resulting in foodborne illnesses. According to a new report from the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention 2020, there were more cases of potentially dangerous foodborne illnesses in 2019 compared to the preceding three years due to common bacteria in the food supply in the US.

“The dairy sub-segment in the food tested segment is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 8.4% during the forecast period.”

The presence of foodborne pathogens in milk occurs due to its direct contact with contaminated sources, such as milk containers in dairy farms, and the excretion of an infected animal. Inadequate pasteurization of milk is also one of the major causes of pathogenic presence in milk. Furthermore, some pathogens, such as Listeria, can survive post-pasteurization techniques and result in re-contamination of the products. Unpasteurized milk is used in cheese manufacturing, and hence, contaminated dairy products may be consumed by a considerable section of the population. Consumption of unpasteurized milk and unsanitary handling of dairy products has increased the demand for dairy product testing, which in turn is anticipated to significantly increase the food pathogen testing market.

“Traditional technology is estimated to be valued at USD 8 billion by 2028 for food pathogen testing market growing at a CAGR of 5.4%.”

Traditional culture methods involve isolating and identifying contaminants by growing them in specific culture media. While quick microbiological techniques have been adopted, culture methods remain effective in identifying bacteria and other dangerous foodborne organisms. Recent advancements in culture media have led to more precise and sensitive formulations, particularly when using chromogenic chemicals. This method is widely used worldwide. However, the traditional process is labor-intensive as it requires trained lab technicians to prepare culture media or use large volumes of pre-prepared media.

Traditional technology is utilized in microbial assays, visual inspections, and culturing methods. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and culturing methods typically require a minimum of two to three days to obtain results. The main drawback of these methods is their time-consuming nature. The time required for food safety testing depends on the quality assessment and examination of the food. Since food products are perishable, using traditional methods can pose challenges due to the extended testing duration. This also increases overall testing costs, as the food must be stored during the testing period, which can be burdensome for small-scale food producers. However, the traditional segment is expected to grow steadily as regular tests remain an essential component of common food safety testing laboratories.

“Asia Pacific to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period, in food pathogen testing market to reach a value of USD 5.6 billion by 2028.”

Japan is the largest market for food pathogen testing in the Asia-Pacific region. It is also estimated to be a mature market with a steady growth rate; however, concerns for food safety are still important to the country, owing to which the enforcement of stringent food sanitation laws has become mandatory. The Japanese scrutiny system has revealed food poisoning through pathogens to be the largest outbreak across Japan. E. coli was the major pathogen that caused severe foodborne diseases in Japan.

Foodborne disease outbreaks are mostly caused due to consumption of meat and poultry products, in lieu of which the Japanese government has taken more stringent safety standards for meat processors. Strict hygiene practices are demanded for implementation in slaughterhouses and meat processing plants. However, food safety systems, certification, and standardization in Japan are still in their emerging stage and will grow at a rapid pace.

The break-up of the profile of primary participants in the food pathogen testing market:

By Company: Tier 1 – 50%, Tier 2 - 40%, Tier 3 – 10%

By Designation: Manager level – 60%, and C-Level- 40%

By Region: North America -9%, Europe – 73%, Asia Pacific – 18%

SGS Société Générale de Surveillance SA (Switzerland), Bureau Veritas (France), Intertek Group Plc. (UK), Eurofins Scientific (Europe), ALS (Australia), JBT (US), TÜV NORD GROUP (Germany), AsureQuality (New Zealand), Mérieux NutriSciences Corporation (US), Microbac Laboratories, Inc. (Pennynslavia), IFP Institute for Product Quality GmbH (Germany), EMSL Analytical, Inc. (US), Q Laboratories (US), Symbio Laboratories ( Australia), and Hill Laboratories (New Zealand) are the key players in food pathogen testing market.

Research Coverage:

This research report categorizes the food pathogen testing market by Type (Salmonella, Campylobacter, E.coli, Listeria, and other types), by Technology (Traditional & Rapid), by Food Tested (Meat & Poultry, Dairy, Processed foods, Fish & Seafood, Fruits & Vegetables, Cereals & Grains, & other food tested) and by region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, South America, RoW). The scope of the report covers detailed information regarding the major factors, such as drivers, restraints, challenges, and opportunities, influencing the growth of the food pathogen testing market. A detailed analysis of the key industry players has been done to provide insights into their business overview, services, key strategies, contracts, partnerships, and agreements. New service launches, mergers and acquisitions, and recent developments associated with the food pathogen testing market. Competitive analysis of upcoming startups in the food pathogen market ecosystem is covered in this report.

Reasons to buy this report:

The report will help the market leaders/new entrants in this market with information on the closest approximations of the revenue numbers for the overall food pathogen testing market and the subsegments. This report will help stakeholders understand the competitive landscape and gain more insights to position their businesses better and plan suitable go-to-market strategies. The report also helps stakeholders understand the pulse of the market and provides them with information on key market drivers, restraints, challenges, and opportunities.

The report provides insights on the following pointers:

Analysis of key drivers (Cross-contamination of food products due to complex processes, Stringent food regulations, availability of advanced rapid technology, increase in demand for convenience and packaged food products, rising food recalls due to non-compliant food products, rise in consumer awareness about food safety), restraints (Lack of coordination between market stakeholders and improper enforcement of regulatory laws and supporting infrastructure, Complexity in testing techniques, Varying test results with test methods), opportunities (Technological advancements in testing industry, Spike in food safety concerns after COVID-19), and challenges (Lack of harmonization of food safety standards, High cost associated with procurement of food safety testing equipment) influencing the growth of the food pathogen testing market.

New Service Launch/Innovation: Detailed insights on research & development activities and new service launches in the food pathogen testing market.

Market Development: Comprehensive information about lucrative markets – the report analyses the food pathogen testing market across varied regions.

Market Diversification: Exhaustive information about new services, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments in the food pathogen testing market.

Competitive Assessment: In-depth assessment of market shares, growth strategies, and service offerings of leading players like SGS Société Générale de Surveillance SA (Switzerland), Bureau Veritas (France), Intertek Group Plc. (UK), Eurofins Scientific (Europe), ALS (Australia), and others in the food pathogen testing market strategies.