Food Safety Testing Market Size (2025 – 2030)

The Food Safety Testing Market was valued at USD 24.38 Billion in 2024 and is projected to reach a market size of USD 38.45 Billion by the end of 2030. Over the forecast period of 2025-2030, the market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 7.89%.

Key Market Insights:

The 2025 National Trade Estimate Report issued by the Office of the United States Trade Representative identifies food safety standards and technical trade restrictions as major challenges in international food trade. Countries across the globe continue to implement diverse sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) protocols, many of which require comprehensive scientific substantiation through uniform testing methods.

Increasingly complex regulatory frameworks have led to enhanced scrutiny of imported products. As a result, both exporting and importing nations have strengthened their testing and certification procedures.

Reflecting this global trend, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) plans to establish seafood safety regulatory partnerships with India, Ecuador, and Indonesia in 2025.

These initiatives are designed to align inspection methodologies and ensure compliance with U.S. food safety requirements, particularly in sectors considered high-risk, such as seafood.

These efforts exemplify the international movement toward harmonized regulatory practices and risk-based assessment, highlighting the essential function of food safety testing in facilitating global trade and safeguarding public health.

Market Drivers:

Rising Incidents of Food Fraud and Adulteration Expected to Drive Growth in Food Safety Testing Demand.

In recent years, there has been a notable surge in food safety breaches and adulteration incidents worldwide. The growing scale and complexity of the global food supply chain have introduced increased uncertainty throughout the journey of food products—from origin to retail distribution. Consequently, consumers are becoming more skeptical about product labeling, authenticity, and the integrity of listed ingredients. These heightened concerns around food safety have led to the enforcement of more stringent regulatory frameworks in numerous countries and have compelled leading entities in the food processing industry to advocate for more robust and efficient food surveillance and quality control systems.

Rising Prevalence of Foodborne Illnesses Expected to Propel Growth in the Food Safety Testing Market.

The market is experiencing notable growth, largely driven by the increasing global incidence of foodborne illnesses. These illnesses are primarily linked to the consumption of food contaminated with various pathogens and harmful toxins, leading to heightened concern among consumers. In response, rising consumer awareness regarding food safety and product quality is encouraging governments worldwide to enforce more stringent regulatory measures.

Market Restraints and Challenges:

Shortage of Skilled Professionals and Limited Technical Expertise Impede Growth of the Food Safety Testing Market.

The food testing industry is currently facing a significant shortage of professionals proficient in advanced analytical techniques. Modern testing approaches—such as genomic analysis, advanced chromatography, and mass spectrometry—necessitate specialized expertise that remains scarce. The integration of next-generation sequencing (NGS) into food safety testing further demands bioinformatics capabilities, which are insufficiently available in many regions.

This skills gap is particularly pronounced in emerging economies, where limitations in educational infrastructure and training resources hinder workforce development. For instance, countries across Southeast Asia face considerable challenges in establishing robust training programs for food testing personnel due to financial constraints and inadequate facilities. The pace of technological innovation exacerbates this issue, highlighting the critical need for ongoing professional development. While the adoption of artificial intelligence and automation in testing processes helps mitigate the shortage by enhancing operational efficiency and reducing manual dependency, the need for skilled personnel remains. Tools such as automated liquid handling systems and AI-driven data analysis platforms enable laboratories to function effectively with leaner, highly trained teams. Despite industry efforts to invest in workforce training and collaborate with academic institutions, these capacity-building initiatives require significant time and resources to yield measurable outcomes.

Market Opportunities:

Rising Consumer Preference for Clean-Label Food Products Presents New Growth Opportunities in the Food Safety Testing Market.

Clean-label food products are characterized by minimally processed, natural ingredients that align with the growing consumer preference for healthier dietary choices. As individuals increasingly adopt health-conscious lifestyles, the demand for clean and transparent food options continues to rise, subsequently driving the need for rigorous food safety testing. Consumers are showing a strong inclination toward products free from artificial additives and preservatives, further fueling interest in clean-label offerings. Additionally, heightened awareness around environmental sustainability and ethical consumption is contributing to the expansion of the clean-label segment during the forecast period. To meet this demand and reassure consumers of product safety, manufacturers are intensifying efforts to verify that clean-label foods are free from harmful contaminants such as pathogens, mycotoxins.

FOOD SAFETY TESTING MARKET REPORT COVERAGE:

Food Safety Testing Market Market Segmentation:

Food Safety Testing Market Segmentation By Test Type:

• Pathogen
  • E.Coli
  • Listeria
  • Salmonella
  • Others
• Genetically Modified Organism
• Chemical and Pesticides
• Mycotoxin
• Allergen
• Others

The pathogen segment holds the largest share of the food safety testing market. Pathogenic microorganisms are among the primary contributors to foodborne illnesses worldwide, creating a significant need for their detection to mitigate food-related health risks.

Among all pathogens, Salmonella remains the most extensively tested due to its status as a leading cause of foodborne illnesses globally. Regulatory authorities prioritize routine screening of food products to detect and eliminate the presence of this microorganism. Escherichia coli (E. coli) ranks as the second most frequently tested pathogen, followed by several other harmful microorganisms.

Testing for Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in food items such as cereals, fruits, and vegetables has seen a steady rise. As the global cultivation of GMO crops continues to expand, many countries are strengthening their GMO testing frameworks to ensure regulatory compliance and consumer safety.

The chemicals and pesticides segment is anticipated to witness significant growth during the forecast period. The widespread use of chemical agents and pesticides in agriculture and animal husbandry to enhance productivity often leads to residual contamination in food products. This raises concerns over long-term health impacts, thereby increasing the demand for chemical residue and pesticide testing on a global scale.

Food Safety Testing Market By Food Tested:

• Fruits & Vegetables
• Meat
• Poultry
• Processed Foods
• Dairy Products
• Others

The meat, poultry, and seafood segment is projected to retain the largest share of the food safety testing market throughout the forecast period. These food categories are among the most rigorously tested for contaminants such as chemicals, pathogens, and allergens to guarantee their safety for human consumption.

Testing of processed food products is also witnessing rapid growth in various regions and is expected to register the second-fastest expansion during the forecast period. Factors such as rising disposable incomes, evolving dietary habits, and increasing urbanization have significantly boosted the consumption of packaged foods in recent years. In response, regulatory authorities worldwide are intensifying focus on chemical contaminant testing, microbiological safety assessments, allergen screening, and other evaluations to ensure that processed and packaged foods comply with stringent labeling and packaging standards.

Fruits and vegetables represent another key food category experiencing rising global consumption. Including nuts, these products are favored for their high fiber and nutritional benefits and are particularly popular among vegan and vegetarian consumers. Since chemicals and pesticides are commonly used to enhance crop yields and control pests, the demand for testing residues in these products is increasing. Additionally, the growing consumer preference for natural food products has prompted numerous countries to implement rigorous testing protocols, which is expected to drive significant market growth in the coming years.

Food Safety Testing Market By Technology:

• Traditional
• Rapid
  • Rapid PCR
  • Rapid ELISA
  • Lateral Flow Immunoassay (LFIA)
  • Rapid Resolution Liquid Chromatography
  • Others
• Molecular
• ELISA Test
• PCR Test
• NGS
• Others

The traditional testing segment holds the largest share of the food safety testing market. These methods are typically time-intensive and require costly equipment to produce definitive results. They generally involve the use of culture media to isolate and cultivate bacteria present in food samples. Despite the extended duration of these procedures, conventional tests are preferred for their higher accuracy compared to rapid testing methods.

Rapid testing techniques are increasingly gaining traction in various countries due to their cost-effectiveness and faster turnaround times relative to traditional methods. However, a notable limitation of rapid tests is their comparatively lower accuracy. In response, manufacturers of food testing equipment are investing heavily in the development of innovative, expedited testing methods to improve detection capabilities. Consequently, rapid testing technologies are anticipated to experience the fastest growth within the global food safety testing market.

Molecular testing technologies, an essential segment within food safety testing, are also witnessing significant growth and are projected to be the second fastest-growing category. These techniques excel at detecting emerging pathogens with high sensitivity and specificity to a broad range of microorganisms in food samples. As a result, advanced molecular approaches such as Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS), and others are gaining widespread adoption in the market.

Food Safety Testing Market Segmentation: Regional Analysis:

• North America
• Europe
• Asia-Pacific
• South America
• Middle East & Africa

North America commands the largest share of the food safety testing market. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) recently launched Human Foods Program in October 2024 has outlined ambitious objectives for 2025, including enhancing traceability systems, increasing surveillance of foodborne pathogens, and establishing regulatory partnerships focused on imported seafood. The region’s advanced laboratory infrastructure and sophisticated analytical capabilities further reinforce its leadership position in food testing. High-profile foodborne outbreaks, such as E. coli contamination in fast-food onions, underscore the critical importance of rigorous testing protocols. Meanwhile, Canada and Mexico are strengthening their food safety regulations, with Canada implementing new monitoring standards for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and Mexico tightening import and export testing requirements.

The Asia-Pacific region is anticipated to be the fastest-growing market segment, fueled by increasing regulatory scrutiny, expanding food trade, and rising consumer awareness regarding food safety. In Europe, the robust food testing infrastructure, supported by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) alongside national agencies, continues to enforce stringent testing mandates to maintain food safety standards.

Food Safety Testing Market COVID-19 Impact Analysis:

While the COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted the food and beverage industry, the adoption of advanced technological solutions to ensure food safety emerged as an effective means of mitigating the crisis. The pandemic heightened consumer awareness and concern regarding food safety, consequently increasing the demand for food safety testing services and positively contributing to market revenue growth. As the pandemic evolved, food testing facilities faced escalating operational challenges.

Latest Trends and Developments:

Food safety testing companies are increasingly prioritizing the development and deployment of rapid, on-site testing kits capable of delivering results within minutes to a few hours. With supply chains accelerating, businesses are emphasizing real-time testing solutions to improve operational efficiency and mitigate the risk of widespread product recalls. The key advantage of these rapid tests lies in their ability to reduce turnaround times, allowing for immediate corrective measures at food processing facilities, retail locations, and during field inspections.

Key Players in the Market:

1. Eurofins Scientific
2. PerkinElmer Inc.
3. Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.
4. Shimadzu Corporation
5. Invisible Sentinel
6. Romer Labs Division Holding GmbH
7. Ring Biotechnology Co Ltd.
8. Agilent Technologies Inc.
9. Neogen Corporation
10.  

Market News:

April 2025: QIAGEN introduced the innovative QIAsymphony Connect, an advanced instrument designed for sample preparation and expanded consumer accessibility. The product is applicable in oncology and genomics testing, enhancing laboratory workflow efficiency.

March 2025: Gold Standard Diagnostics Horsham, a leading test kit manufacturer, launched the ABRAXIS Dicamba ELISA Plate Test Kit. This new kit is designed to analyze water, durum wheat, and soil samples by quantifying specific antibodies, supporting environmental and agricultural testing needs.

September 2024: AREX Biosciences released a novel ELISA series aimed at detecting pathogen proteins, offering improved accuracy and reliability in sample assessment.

March 2025: Bio-Rad launched the XP-Design Assay Salmonella Serotyping Solution, which utilizes real-time PCR technology with fluorescent probes for rapid and precise identification of Salmonella serotypes in food and environmental samples. This ready-to-use assay facilitates swift decision-making during outbreaks and strengthens ongoing food safety monitoring, seamlessly integrating into existing laboratory workflows.