U.S. Food Pathogen Testing Market Grows By 18%

Testing for microbial contamination by the U.S. food industry is on the rise according to a new report from Strategic Consulting, Inc. (SCI). Thomas Weschler, president and report author, says that while the food safety testing market has shown solid growth in the last decade, recent concerns about contaminants such as E. coli 0157 and Salmonella have driven 18% average growth in the pathogen testing market for the past three years.

The food safety testing market is changing quickly: Recalls, regulations, new test methods, company acquisitions, and a range of other factors are shifting priorities for U.S. food producers and altering the competitive landscape for food diagnostic testing companies.

The report, Food Micro, Fifth Edition: Microbiology Testing in the U.S. Food Industry (Food Micro—5), tracks changes to microbiology testing practices in the U.S. food industry as it strives to produce safe and wholesome foods in an increasingly global market. The report is based on research including more than 100 food processing plants in the meat, dairy, fruit/vegetable, and processed food segments, and senior quality and food safety officers at the top 30 food companies..

In 2010, 213.2 million microbiology tests were collected in the US food processing industry, a 14.4% increase since 2008.

“After a decade of solid but quiet growth, the microbiology testing requirements of the food processing industry—especially in pathogen testing—have been thrust into the public spotlight again, driving healthy growth in food diagnostic testing,” says Weschler. “Overall market value growth has averaged 13.0% over the past three years and pathogen testing market value growth has averaged 18.0% during the same time.”

U.S. food producers routinely conduct microbiology testing of raw materials, the food production plant, and finished food products to look for indicators of microorganisms in the food and/or processing facility. The volume of these routine/indicator tests went up by just over 10% between 2008 and 2010. During that same three-year period, however, the volume of tests that look for specific pathogens such as Salmonella, Listeria, Campylobacter, and E. coli O157 increased by more than 30%.

“While food companies continue to make investments in their overall food safety programs, new regulations, outbreaks, and public concern drive even more pathogen-specific testing,” Weschler explains. “Pathogens are everyone’s focus.” As a result, Weschler says, new diagnostic technologies and new players are entering the market, and the business landscape continues to change through acquisitions, partnerships, and new product offerings.

For more information on Food Micro—5, visit http://www.strategic-consult.com.