Food Pathogen Testing Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Type (E. Coli, Salmonella, Listeria, Others), By Technology (Conventional, Rapid), By Application (Meat and Poultry, Fruits and Vegetables, Dairy, Others) And Regional Forecast, 2024-2032

Food safety is the main health goal, and foodborne diseases take a major crisis on health. Hence, the detection of microbial pathogens in food is the solution to the prevention and recognition of problems related to health and safety. This aforementioned reason is expected to drive the global food pathogen testing market in the forthcoming years. The key companies operating in the industry are embarking on the innovation and advancement in existing conventional and rapid food pathogen testing methods to increase their prominence in the global market.

There are many causes for foodborne disease remaining a global public health challenge. Though some diseases are controlled, others arise as new threats. The proportions of the population who are immunosuppressed, elderly, or otherwise disproportionately susceptible to severe outcomes from foodborne diseases are rising in many countries. For instance, according to a report from the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC), Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli infections cause 73,000 illnesses annually in the United States, resulting in more than 2,000 hospitalizations and 60 deaths, despite the United States has the safest food supplies in the world. The increasing prevalence of foodborne diseases and rising concerns regarding human health and wellness are anticipated to support the steady growth of the industry.

Globalization of the supply chain has led to the widespread and rapid international dispersal of foods. Hence, pathogens can be inadvertently introduced into new geographical areas. Travelers and immigrants may be exposed to unfamiliar foodborne hazards in new environments, which can be life-threatening for the individual. The increase in the outbreak of foodborne illness and on-going research activities for the development of less time-consuming, sensitive, and even cheaper food pathogen testing methods are expected to have a positive impact on the overall market growth. For instance, in March 2018, Romer Labs has launched a new pathogen testing system, RapidChek Listeria monocytogenes. Targeting the food industry, RapidChek has been developed for detecting the pathogen on environmental surfaces and ready-to-eat foods. Nowadays people are more inclined towards food prepared outside the home, which can lead to the growing prevalence of foodborne disease due to poor hygiene in commercial foodservice settings. Therefore, various governments have proper rules regarding the hygiene standards of the street-side food stall to prevent or minimize food infection cases. The rising awareness regarding the importance of high-quality food is predicted to drive the global food pathogen testing market.

The high initial investment required for the installation of rapid food pathogen testing equipment is predicted to restraint the growth of the global market. However, the on-going research activities for the development of cost-effective equipment are expected to encourage the niche market players to expand in this market.

Key Players Covered:

The key players operating in the global food pathogen testing market are, SGS S.A., Roka Bioscience, Bureau Vertitas S.A, Eurofins Scientific, Intertek Group Plc., Silliker, Inc., IFP Institut Fr Produktqualitt GmbH, ALS Limited, Microbac Laboratories, Inc., Genetic Id Na Inc., and Others.

The incidence of foodborne diseases caused due to salmonella spp. has increased over the years and has resulted in major public health problem globally. Salmonella spp. is one of the most frequently testified reasons of the foodborne disease in many other countries around the world. The presence of Salmonella species in some food represents a serious danger for the consumers. Henceforth, Salmonella testing is predicted to dominate the global food pathogen testing market.

Conventional methods are the most reliable and accurate techniques for foodborne pathogen detection. But, their labor intensiveness and time-consuming nature as it takes 2–3 days for initial results, and up to 7–10 days for confirmation are gravitating market players towards rapid food pathogen testing methods. Recent advancements in rapid food pathogen testing methods, based on the biotechnology tools underlying modern medical diagnostics, are changing the ability of food manufacturers to measure food safety. Although real-time results for specific pathogens are still in the future, these tests offer better information in a shorter time and at a low cost. Rapid food pathogen tests allow food buyers to more easily specify desired food safety levels and food sellers to more easily certify their products' safety. 

The meat and poultry segment is predicted to hold a considerable share in the global market followed by fruits and vegetables. The increasing prevalence of foodborne diseases through meat and poultry products and rising contamination of meat products during processing or packaging are expected to positively impact the segment growth. Moreover, food pathogen testing of meat and poultry will ensure the high quality of the product, which can further drive the segment growth.

Regional Analysis:

North America is predicted to hold a significant share in the global market. The increasing export of agricultural products within the region can rise the potential for outbreaks and consequently, health risks posed by microbial pathogens in food. The rising occurrence of foodborne diseases in the region is expected to drive the market. Moreover, the presence of prominent players within the region and on-going research activities for the development of more accurate and less time-consuming tests are likely to support the steady growth of the regional market. For instance, in July 2018, the U.S. based, Clear Labs has announced the launch of an NGS-based food safety platform for high-volume routine pathogen testing. This safety platform combines state-of-the-art NGS sequencing, robotic automation, data science, and software analytics to significantly lower costs while achieving 99.9 percent accuracy.

The market in Asia-Pacific is predicted to grow at a healthier pace owing to the increasing investments from various multinational food manufacturers, especially in countries such as India, China, and Southeast Asian countries. The demand for food pathogen testing can increase due to strict food safety rules and regulations and the rising volume of trade between Asia-Pacific and the rest of the world.

Segmentation

Key Industry Developments:

• In February 2020, Crystal Diagnostics announced that the US Patent and Trademark Office issued the company a second patent related to proprietary liquid crystal technology for rapid and accurate detection of foodborne pathogens.


• In February 2019, Biotech start-up Lexagen announced the launch of a genetic testing technology which can detect a broad range of food pathogens in less time and at low cost.