Food Pathogen Testing Market

The Food Pathogen Testing Market is valued at USD 21.4 Bn in 2026 and is projected to reach USD 34.6 Bn, growing at a CAGR of 7% by 2033.

Prevalence of Foodborne Illnesses to Influence Food Pathogen Testing

Increasing occurrence of foodborne illnesses causing public health problems worldwide continue to fuel the need for testing of food. Albeit largely preventable, foodborne illnesses could be life threatening and costly. According to AMA (American Medical Association), CDC (Centres for Disease Control and Prevention) estimates that around 48 million cases of illnesses caused by food pathogens are recorded every year on the global front, with 3000 deaths and 128,000 getting hospitalized to treat foodborne illnesses. Till 2020, foodborne illnesses due to Salmonella, Campylobacter, Yersinia and Shigella increased at a rapid pace which called for effective testing of pathogens in food. This aspect is expected to bolster the growth of the food pathogen testing market, despite a slight slack during the pandemic. 

COVID 19 Pandemic’s Impact on Global Food Pathogen Testing Market

Prior to 2020, cases of individuals suffering from illnesses caused by food consumption were largely prevalent, however, during the pandemic, the incidence of illnesses and food-based infections reduced by a considerable level. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 26% reduction in incidences of illnesses due to food pathogens was witnessed in 2020. CDC predicts that SARS-CoV-2 has a significant contribution to the declining number incidences. Government interventions such as restrictions on international travels coupled with restaurant closures curbed the consumption of junk food and outside food products.

Moreover, with consumers being more cautious regarding the SARS-CoV-2 infection, their inclination towards homemade and healthy food increased considerably, thus contributing to the decrease in the number of foodborne illnesses. However, incidences of Cyclospora, Yersinia, and Salmonella Infantis infections did not change due to pre-pandemic aspects that led to a significant rise in these infections. Although, with the recent lifting of pandemic restrictions, the probability of foodborne incidences is likely to increase in the coming years. In this background, albeit an improvement apropos to reduction of food-based illnesses worldwide, a considerable impact was embossed on the food pathogen testing market.

Meat Product Testing to Largely Contribute to Market Growth

Demand for food pathogen testing methods and associated kits due to consumption of meat and poultry is expected to rise at a steady pace in the coming years. Food pathogen testing for common contaminants such as Salmonella and E. Coli and STEC (Shiga Toxin-producing E. Coli) is poised to grow due to their fatal after effects on consumers. According to WHO (World Health Organization), 10% individuals with STEC are likely to develop HUS (Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome), with mortality rate of 3%-5%. It also can cause neurological complications in about 25% HUS affected individuals and chronic renal sequelae in 50% of the survivors. Under such circumstances, food pathogen testing of meat products is expected to increase gradually worldwide.

North America Poised to Lead Food Pathogen Testing Market

Developed economies in North America are expected to showcase high potential for growth of the food pathogen testing market. This is mainly attributed towards incidences of foodborne illnesses in the region. According to CDC, around 9.6 million foodborne illnesses due to pathogens are witnessed every year in United States alone. Off those, round 1500 deaths and 57,500 hospital admissions are recorded. Each year, 1 in 6 US citizens are affected by consumption of contaminated food products and beverages and according to USDA (U.S Department of Agriculture), treatment of illnesses caused due to foodborne pathogens costs more than US$ 15.6 billion per year in the U.S., a significant increase as compared to the 2013-2018 timeline, where the cost estimation was around US$2 Bn.

With this backdrop, stringent government regulations with respect food safety have been in effect, in turn fuelling the growth of the food pathogen testing market. For instance, CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection Agency) has laid down new safety standards in a bid to take corrective actions such as issuing public notices and sampling and recalling of food products that are likely to cause health problems. For instance, in 2021, CFIA recalled various frozen mangoes and frozen mango chunks distributed by Nature’s Touch Frozen Food Inc., due to Hepatitis A.

Global Food Pathogen Testing Market: Competitive Landscape

Key players in the food pathogen testing market are focusing on partnerships and new launches of effective food pathogen testing kits to deal with the increasing demand on the global front. For instance, in 2021, Sanigen and Illumina entered into a partnership to work collaboratively towards development of NGS panels that can efficiently detect 16 foodborne pathogen types from 400 samples. In 2020, ThermoFisher Scientific launched SureTect PCR assays for food pathogen testing, particularly Salmonella, that offer a wide range of tests.

Few of the key players in the food pathogen testing market include:

• Eurofins Scientific SE
• SGS Société Générale de Surveillance SA
• Bureau Veritas
• Intertek Group plc
• Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.
• ALS Limited
• Mérieux NutriSciences
• Neogen Corporation
• Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.
• Merck KGaA
• bioMérieux SA
• Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• QIAGEN N.V.
• PerkinElmer Inc.
• AsureQuality Ltd.

Global Food Pathogen Testing Market is Segmented as Below:                                         

By Pathogen Type:
• Salmonella
• Campylobacter
• E. coli
• Listeria
• Other

By Technology:
• Traditional
• Rapid (Convenience-based
• Hybridization-based
• Immunoassay
• Other

By Food Tested:
• Meat & Poultry
• Fish & Seafood
• Processed Food
• Fruits & Vegetables
• Dairy Products
• Cereals & Grains
• Other

By Service Provider:
• Independent Third-party Testing Laboratories
• Contract Research Organizations (CROS)
• Other Providers

Regions Covered
• North America
• Asia Pacific
• Europe
• Latin America
• Middle East and Africa