Global Market Poised to Reach USD 38.45 Billion by 2030, Driven by Rising Foodborne Risks, Regulatory Pressure, and Clean-Label Demand
The global food safety testing market continues to expand rapidly as governments, industry stakeholders, and consumers place heightened emphasis on ensuring the safety and integrity of food products. The market, valued at USD 24.38 billion in 2024, is projected to reach USD 38.45 billion by 2030, advancing at a CAGR of 7.89% during 2025–2030.
This growth is propelled by increasing food fraud incidents, rising prevalence of foodborne illnesses, evolving global trade policies, and accelerated adoption of rapid testing technologies.
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Regulatory Environment Shaping Global Food Trade
The 2025 National Trade Estimate Report highlights food safety standards and technical barriers to trade as key obstacles in global commerce. Nations continue to implement varied sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures that require uniform testing protocols and scientific validation.
To address surveillance gaps and enhance food import controls, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) plans to establish seafood safety regulatory partnerships with India, Ecuador, and Indonesia in 2025. These alliances aim to harmonize inspection methodologies, strengthen compliance for high-risk categories such as seafood, and improve traceability in cross-border trade. Such initiatives underscore the global movement toward risk-based assessment and harmonized regulatory practices, reinforcing food safety testing as an essential pillar of international trade and public health.
Key Market Drivers
1. Rising Incidents of Food Fraud and Adulteration
The expanding global food supply chain has heightened vulnerability to mislabeling, contamination, and adulteration. These fraudulent practices, coupled with consumer skepticism about authenticity and ingredient integrity, have accelerated demand for rigorous testing. Governments are enforcing stricter regulations, and food producers are investing in advanced testing systems to prevent fraud and ensure product transparency.
2. Increasing Prevalence of Foodborne Illnesses
Contamination from pathogens such as Salmonella, Listeria, and E. coli continues to drive the need for advanced testing solutions. Growing public awareness about health hazards and improved surveillance systems are prompting authorities to enforce stricter food safety standards. This has boosted investment in molecular diagnostics, real-time screening technologies, and rapid testing kits.
Market Restraints
Shortage of Skilled Professionals
A major challenge facing the food safety testing industry is the lack of skilled personnel trained in advanced techniques such as genomic analysis, mass spectrometry, chromatography, and next-generation sequencing (NGS). Emerging markets particularly struggle due to limited training infrastructure. Although AI-enabled tools and automation mitigate the workforce gap, skilled expertise remains essential for data interpretation, regulatory compliance, and validation processes.
Market Opportunities
Growing Demand for Clean-Label Products
The surge in consumer preference for natural, minimally processed foods is accelerating the need for stringent testing to validate purity, absence of additives, and contaminant-free status. As clean-label products gain popularity across global markets, manufacturers are prioritizing quality assurance and safety verification, creating new opportunities for testing service providers and technology developers.
Market Segmentation Overview
1. By Test Type
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Pathogen Testing (Largest Segment)
Salmonella remains the most widely tested pathogen globally, followed by E. coli and Listeria. -
Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) Testing
Rising GMO crop production is prompting stricter regulatory oversight. -
Chemical & Pesticide Testing (Fastest-growing)
Concerns regarding chemical residues and long-term health impacts are fueling demand. -
Mycotoxin, Allergen, and Other Tests
2. By Food Tested
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Meat, Poultry & Seafood (Largest Share)
High-risk categorization and susceptibility to microbial contamination make this segment heavily regulated. -
Processed Foods (Second-Fastest Growing)
Urbanization and rising consumption of packaged foods drive testing for chemical contaminants, allergens, and microbiological safety. -
Fruits & Vegetables
Increased testing demand due to pesticide usage and growing preference for natural foods. -
Dairy Products and Others
3. By Technology
Traditional Testing (Largest Segment)
Despite being time-consuming, traditional culture-based methods remain widely adopted due to high accuracy levels.
Rapid Testing (Fastest Growing)
Includes:
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Rapid PCR
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Rapid ELISA
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Lateral Flow Immunoassay (LFIA)
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Rapid Liquid Chromatography
These techniques are favored for fast turnaround and cost efficiency, especially in fast-moving supply chains.
Molecular Testing (Second Fastest Growing)
Advanced methods gaining adoption:
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PCR
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ELISA
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Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS)
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Other molecular platforms
These tools offer superior sensitivity and can identify emerging pathogens quickly.
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Regional Insights
North America (Largest Market)
The region benefits from advanced laboratory infrastructure, stringent regulations, and high public awareness. The FDA’s Human Foods Program (2024) emphasizes improved traceability, increased pathogen surveillance, and stronger seafood import controls. Canada and Mexico are also tightening testing and monitoring frameworks.
Asia-Pacific (Fastest Growing Market)
Rapid urbanization, expanding food trade, and heightened regulatory scrutiny are fueling demand. Countries such as China, India, Japan, and South Korea are investing heavily in modern testing technologies.
Europe
Known for its strict regulatory oversight under EFSA, Europe continues to enforce rigorous food safety standards and maintain robust testing frameworks.
COVID-19 Impact
While the pandemic disrupted supply chains across the food industry, it heightened consumer concerns about food hygiene and safety. This led to increased testing across all food categories. Laboratories faced operational challenges, but innovations in automation, remote monitoring, and digital diagnostics helped sustain testing volumes.
Latest Industry Trends
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Rapid adoption of on-site testing kits delivering results in minutes to hours
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Increased integration of AI and automation in sample analysis and workflow management
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Rising demand for real-time pathogen detection in fresh produce, meat, and processed food
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Growing use of NGS and genomic tools for comprehensive microbial profiling
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Key Market Players
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Eurofins Scientific
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PerkinElmer Inc.
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Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.
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Shimadzu Corporation
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Invisible Sentinel
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Romer Labs
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Ring Biotechnology Co Ltd.
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Agilent Technologies Inc.
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Neogen Corporation
Recent Market Developments
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April 2025 – QIAGEN launched QIAsymphony Connect, enhancing lab automation and sample prep efficiency.
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March 2025 – Gold Standard Diagnostics Horsham introduced the ABRAXIS Dicamba ELISA Plate Test Kit, supporting pesticide detection in food and environmental samples.
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September 2024 – AREX Biosciences released a new ELISA series specialized in pathogen protein detection.
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March 2025 – Bio-Rad launched the XP-Design Assay Salmonella Serotyping Solution, a rapid PCR-based solution enabling swift identification of Salmonella
