The global food testing services industry is estimated to be worth USD 23.5 billion by 2024. It is projected to reach USD 53.2 billion by 2034, reflecting a CAGR of 8.5% over the assessment period 2024 to 2034.
The global food testing services market contains all industries that provide scientific testing and analysis services for food products concerning safety, quality, and compliance with various health and regulatory standards. Food testing services ensure that the products are safe, contain nutritional value, and are authentic before they reach consumers. These services include microbiological, chemical, allergen, and nutritional testing, all at specialized laboratories and third-party service providers.
The market trends include increased consumer awareness about food traceability and sustainable qualities. With increasing concerns regarding foodborne illnesses, demand for microbiological testing has increased tremendously, and advances in next-generation sequencing (NGS), and improved testing for rapid and accurate results have been major components in this fast-growing industry.
The emerging trend with companies into product claim validations such as organic, gluten-free, non-GMO, and absence of heavy metal particles, is the growing demand from consumers for clean-label foods.
For example, some large companies that handle food testing include Eurofins Scientific, SGS, Intertek, and Bureau Veritas. All these companies offer a comprehensive range of testing services for different sectors. Eurofins supplements services with microbiological testing, and also strategizes acquisitions and expands its genetic testing capacity. SGS extends its specialization in global representation for niche testing services to emerging markets.
| Attributes | Description |
|---|---|
| Estimated Global Food Testing Services Industry Size (2024E) | USD 23.5 billion |
| Projected Global Food Testing Services Industry Value (2034F) | USD 53.2 billion |
| Value-based CAGR (2024 to 2034) | 8.5% |
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The below table presents a comparative assessment of the variation in CAGR over six months for the base year (2023) and current year (2024) for the global food testing services market. This analysis reveals crucial shifts in performance and indicates revenue realization patterns, thus providing stakeholders with a better vision of the growth trajectory over the year. The first half of the year, or H1, spans from January to June. The second half, H2, includes the months from July to December.
| Particular | Value CAGR |
|---|---|
| H1 | 7.5% (2023 to 2033) |
| H2 | 7.9% (2023 to 2033) |
| H1 | 8.1% (2024 to 2034) |
| H2 | 8.3% (2024 to 2034) |
In the first half (H1) of the decade from 2024 to 2034, the business is predicted to surge at a CAGR of 7.5%, followed by a higher growth rate of 7.9% in the second half (H2) of the same decade. Moving into the subsequent period, from H1 2024 to H2 2034, the CAGR is projected to increase to 8.1% in the first half and remain considerably high at 8.3% in the second half.
Growing Attention Towards Food Safety and Quality Assurance Reducing Health Hazards
Rising awareness about foodborne diseases has further pressurized food systems for safety and quality assurance in the protection of public health. Consumer awareness is also on the rise of the adverse health effects linked to contaminated food such as food poisoning and allergies which is expected to boost demand for safety testing services. In response, the companies are revising their food safety testing standards to address the expected requirements.
SGS and Eurofins are large companies that offer food testing services in an extensive array of ranges from microbial testing to pesticide residue analysis adhering to stringent regulations. The existence of pathogens such as Salmonella and E. coli poses health risks with a major part of the danger coming from consumption of raw meats and dairy. To mitigate these contamination risks, companies are utilizing advanced methods such as PCR and mass spectrometry for fast identification of contaminants.
As consumers grow increasingly concerned about clean-label and allergen-free products, it has given rise to additional allergenic and GMO testing services which are also included now in some of the product labels.
This constant shift in consumer preferences has pushed food manufacturers to authenticate claims made on their organic or allergen-free products, with additional improved testing features for food products. As the demand for tested food products increases, food testing services are set to become an essential tool in boosting consumer confidence in the products while giving manufacturers an upper hand.
Growing Need for Eco-Friendly & Sustainable Approaches to Food Testing Services
A rise in consumer awareness of environmental matters has created a demand for sustainable food testing services. As environmentally concerned consumers continue to rise, companies must respond accordingly. A new generation of food testing providers is already stepping up to provide these necessary assurances through greener testing processes, as today’s consumers increasingly favour products that reflect their values - especially when it comes to limiting their environmental impact.
These providers are determined on negative environmental externalities featuring waste minimization, energy-efficient technologies, and eco-friendly testing materials. To confront both waste and the environmental costs of supply chains, companies like Intertek have made sustainable solutions as part of their offerings, which are now highlighted as environmentally friendly packaging and responsibly sourced ingredients.
The increase in clean label demand has led manufacturers to take up sustainable testing methods that would minimize processing and avoid artificial additives. For example, Bureau Veritas is verifying responsible sourcing of ingredients since consumers are demanding transparency in the products they purchase, especially concerning the ingredient source.
Sustainability has helped food manufacturing as an advantage to the testing service because this approach is set to further enhance the reputation of both cost-effective service providers and consumer confidence.
Technological Advancements Transforming Food Testing Thus Improving Efficiency and Precision
The breakthroughs in new-age technology have considerably transformed the food testing service market by revolutionizing the accuracy and speed of testing services and making them much more cost-efficient. As a result of all these complexities in food supply chains and tightened regulations, food testing companies have levelled up by adopting cutting-edge technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Blockchain.
Scientific labs have started utilizing AI to automate data analysis. Hence, it speeds up the time taken to process tests. Furthermore, AI also helps in predicting risks such as contamination. For example, Thermo Fisher Scientific and Eurofins Scientific use AI to speed up pathogen detection and improve testing accuracy, thus meeting consumer demand for safer products.
Companies are enhancing their techniques in traceability and transparency through the technology of blockchain, ensuring that the product contaminants can be tracked during the production process before they reach from farm to table. An example of such a principle would be IBM, which is investing significantly to gain its client's trust in the food design and testing platform.
Further, the incorporation of advanced methods such as PCR and mass spectrometry would facilitate the immediate identification of harmful substances for consumers. Therefore, these testing services not only enable companies' operations to run better but also help organizations comply with certain stringent regulations.
Principal Consultant
Global sales increased at a CAGR of 7.9% from 2019 to 2023. For the next ten years (2024 to 2034), projections are that expenditure on such products will rise at 8.3% CAGR.
Between 2019 and 2023, there was increasing concern regarding exposure to highly toxic contaminants in several food products. The presence of contaminants such as pesticides, heavy metals, and disease causing microbes that were tested to be toxic for the overall health and well-being consumers has raised concerns about its safety and consumption.
However, a significant shift in consumer preferences towards sustainable food testing services and its positive impact has led the many larger and regional companies to adopt these techniques to gain consumer trust. To purchase, and consume the food products without any fear of contaminations and incidences of allergy and food poisoning, consumers are constantly demanding food products which have undergone certified testing procedures without posing any negative environmental impacts.
ALS Limited is one of the leading testing, and consulting service provider for testing food and beverages. They have a wide range of services for detection of microbial pathogens, viruses, pesticides, agrochemicals, allergens and many more.
From 2024 to 2034, the sector is expected to accelerate due to several factors, including increased demand for more sustainable measures, that can provide quick and accurate services with precise detection. To safeguard the current food production and supply chain and promote efficient food standards and control measures, regular and certified testing is a necessity.
TÜV SÜD is another company which follows the food safety implementation standards, and provides testing, inspection and certification services over products such as tea, dairy, eggs, supplements, meat products, spices, seafood, and fish products. Integration of various lab techniques such as PCR, mass spectrometry, and chromatography, aligned with sustainable practices is set to boost the hold of the manufacturers in this market.
Tier 1 Companies consist of Eurofins Scientific, SGS SA, Intertek Group PLC, Bureau Veritas, and ALS Limited. These companies are referred to as the trendsetters and also are the major players in the industry as they are fully established worldwide with majority shares of the business ecosystem. These companies are the industry leaders who always lead the market with improved levels of creativity, research, and development.
Eurofins Scientific is a major company that offers a wide of services from food safety, quality, and sustainability solutions to testing processed food, beverages, additives, agricultural products, and much more.
Tier 2 Companies include Mérieux NutriSciences, NSF International, TÜV SÜD, UL LLC, AsureQuality, and Microbac Laboratories. These are the regional players with adequate market coverage and are known for offering niche products and are typically more localized and address specific issues of more general ones.
Tier 3 Companies are smaller players who are usually limited to the local or regional areas. These include Euro Consultants Group, Genon Laboratories, Fera Science Limited, Romer Labs, and Agri-Food Laboratories. They tend to service localized areas and do not possess the same level of R&D as bigger companies but are nonetheless helpful in satisfying local needs. These companies are smaller in size but still strong in their target industries due to their deep-seated innovations and customer service.
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The following table shows the estimated growth rates of the top three territories. China and Germany are set to exhibit high consumption, recording CAGRs of 8.4% and 8.0%, respectively, through 2034.
| Countries | CAGR 2024 to 2034 |
|---|---|
| USA | 7.4% |
| China | 8.4% |
| Germany | 8.0% |
The USA food testing services market has a well-established regulatory environment with a very advanced technological infrastructure. The industries are subjected to rigorous regulatory rules coupled with increasing concern from consumers regarding foodborne diseases, thus product safety is influencing a huge demand for food testing services. With allergen testing, pathogen detection, nutritional analysis, etc., Eurofins USA and Thermo Fisher Scientific are two of the most prominent market leaders in food testing applications.
To serve the increasing demand for trustworthy food safety testing, Eurofins USA uses the latest new-age technology to provide speedier and more accurate results. Thermo Fisher Scientific produces innovative scientific instrumentation and uses techniques like PCR and mass spectrometry through their processes for pathogen detection and product integrity. It improves food testing through the safety of products, especially against pathogens like Salmonella and Listeria.
A significant new trend is emerging in food testing services in the United States which is the increased incorporation of artificial intelligence into future models and data analytical operations. As a result, food manufacturers may be given the ability to analyse several datasets, forecast food safety risks, and know the forerunners of possible contamination threats.
In short, the use of AI will enable companies to speed up their testing processes with reduced time. To cater to the demand for products that are considered healthier, more transparent, and ethically sourced, SGS North America is operating to meet such demands of food processing for manufacturers through its testing services.
The food testing services market in China is rapidly changing due to increased awareness of food safety by consumers, advancing health awareness trends, and the growing emphasis on rules governing food safety by the state. The natural pressure to manage food safety, quality, and traceability is concerning China as one of the very largest producers and exporters of food in the world.
The massive investment of the country in technology integration goes towards addressing such challenges. Local companies such as SGS China and Eurofins China are prominent in this transformation. SGS China avails a one-stop testing service, including pesticide residue assessment, microbiological testing, and identification of heavy metals using advanced technology to refine accuracy and efficiency.
The company's drive is directed toward its automated systems, which meet the heightened demands for rapid tests and more consistent results. Eurofins China has well-designed easy-to-use AI test platforms in addition to the other technologies.
Besides, with the changing diet patterns of Chinese consumers to healthier and organic sustainable food options, food manufacturers now call for testing services to verify ingredient sourcing and compliance with environmental standards. Bureau Veritas China, for instance, provides companies with services enabling them to meet sustainability and ethical sourcing requirements, as the trend goes in the direction of eco-conscious food production.
Europe is said to hold a major share of the global food testing services market. The growing food and beverage industry in countries like Germany, Italy, and France is expected to push the demand for food testing services globally.
The use of food testing services in animal feed, functional food products, non-dairy beverage alternatives, and health segments to prevent many diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, immune modulating diseases, and weight management, is very popular due to the proven scientific research reports. Especially the incorporation of food testing services in the cosmetic industry to produce various formulations targeting skin and aging benefits is said to grow the hold of the food testing services market.
A rise in consumer awareness regarding the benefits of protein intake and the availability of different plant protein-based products locally is expected to further push the demand for protein-based products.
| Segment | By Testing Type |
|---|---|
| Value Share (2024) | 31.4% |
Residue testing for pesticides and genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in food products are the two major segments that constitute substantial growth areas in the emerging global food testing services. Increased demand for food safety, in convergence with a rise in consumer health awareness, has largely accounted for the significant growth of these segments.
The advent of pesticide residue testing has now evolved into a vast industry as the awareness of people about chemical effects in food has heightened. Governments have introduced and restricted significant factors regarding the use of these elements, like Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) by the European Union, and standards set by the USA Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
These limits have pushed food manufacturers and retailers to adopt advanced technology in the testing of food products and achieve high safety standards.
For instance, companies such as Intertek and Bureau Veritas employ methods like chromatography and mass spectrometry to assess pesticide residues in their entire product range. These technologies have added to the business potential for manufacturers and retailers, because of the regulations that uphold higher consumer confidence regarding the safety of products in the market.
GMO testing is another rapidly growing segment, with an increasing number of consumers favouring products that are labelled non-GMO or organic. As health and environmental awareness grows, consumers demand precise labelling and detection of genetically modified ingredients. Eurofins and SGS are well-known companies that employ GMO testing services, using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) to ensure the accuracy of food labels and regulatory compliance.
| Segment | By Technology |
|---|---|
| Value Share (2024) | 38.7% |
The rapid testing segment has been revolutionizing the world due to its unique advantage of providing fast and accurate results against the ever-increasing need for real-time food safety monitoring in manufacturing and retail. With increasing concerns about foodborne illness and contamination, rapid testing technologies have now become essential within the food supply chain. They allow for pathogen detection earlier, thereby reducing outbreak risks and costs from recalls.
Companies like 3M and Merck are considered leaders in the rapid testing area due to their new-age innovations such as the 3M Molecular Detection System, which identifies contaminants such as Salmonella and Listeria within hours. Thus, versatile use and easy modulation, make rapid tests one of the useful and appropriate tests for applications such as dairy, meat, and beverages on a very big operation scale.
The technology of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), is also widely used due to its excellent sensitivity and accuracy in detecting pathogens, allergens, and genetically modified organisms (GMOs) from food. The ability to amplify even small amounts of DNA makes PCR, one of the most efficient methods for food authenticity and safety.
Prominent players such as Thermo Fisher Scientific and Bio-Rad Laboratories are developing further advancements in PCR through innovations such as real-time PCR assays, to lessen the amount of time required, and more reliable results.
The food testing services market is growing with several companies leading the way such as Eurofins Scientific, SGS SA, Intertek Group PLC, Bureau Veritas, and ALS Limited. These companies invest significantly their resources to improve the research and development facilities which further elevates the strategies of producing various food testing services. The primary focus of such companies is to develop services that are modern, eco-friendly, and easily accessible considering the current market trends.
Companies such as Eurofins Scientific, have introduced a wide range of food safety solutions to gain confidence among consumers and improve efficiency and sustainability at every node of the value chain. For instance:
As per testing type, the industry has been categorized into Microbiological Testing (e.g., Salmonella, E. coli, Listeria), Chemical Testing (e.g., Pesticide, Heavy Metals, Mycotoxin), Allergen Testing (e.g., Gluten, Diary, Nuts, Soy), and Molecular Testing (e.g., GMO).
As per technology, the industry has been categorized into Traditional Methods (Culture-Based Techniques, and Chemical Titration), Advanced Methods [Rapid Testing, PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction), Chromatography (HPLC, GC-MS), Spectroscopy (NMR, FTIR), Immunoassays (ELISA), Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS), Biosensors, and Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy].
This segment is further categorized into Dairy Products, Meat and Seafood, Fruits and Vegetables, Cereals and Grains, Beverages, Processed and Packaged Foods, Infant and Baby Food, Animal Feed and Pet Food.
Industry analysis has been carried out in key countries of North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, East Asia, South Asia & Pacific, Central Asia, Russia & Belarus, Balkans & Baltic Countries and the Middle East & Africa.
The global industry is estimated at a value of USD 23.5 billion in 2024.
Sales increased at 7.9% CAGR between 2019 and 2023.
Some of the leaders in this industry include Eurofins Scientific, SGS SA, Intertek Group PLC, Bureau Veritas, ALS Limited, Mérieux NutriSciences, NSF International, TÜV SÜD, UL LLC, AsureQuality, Microbac Laboratories, EMSL Analytical, Inc., Food Safety Net Services (FSNS), QIMA, and Symbio Laboratories.
The Western European territory is projected to hold a revenue share of 24.8% over the forecast period.
The industry is projected to grow at a forecast CAGR of 8.5% from 2024 to 2034.
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