Food Safety Testing - Market Share Analysis, Industry Trends & Statistics, Growth Forecasts (2026 - 2031)

According to Mordor Intelligence, the food safety testing market size was USD 23.98 billion in 2025, is valued at USD 25.79 billion in 2026, and is forecast to reach USD 37.13 billion by 2031, rising at a 7.56% CAGR.

This report is Segmented by Contaminant Type (Pathogen, Pesticide and Residue, Mycotoxin, GMO, Allergen, and Other), Technology (Polymerase Chain Reaction, Immunoassay-Based, Chromatography and Spectrometry, Others), Application (Pet Food and Animal Feed, Food), and Geography (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa). Market Forecasts are Provided in Terms of Value (USD).

Global Food Safety Testing Market Trends and Insights

Stringent global food-safety regulations and enforcement

Global regulatory frameworks are becoming increasingly stringent, driving the demand for advanced and frequent food testing solutions across the food safety testing market. The FDA's Human Foods Program (HFP), launched in October 2024, has outlined strategic priorities for fiscal year 2025, focusing on microbiological food safety, chemical safety, and nutrition. Governments are shifting from periodic audits to continuous digital monitoring. Under FSMA Section 204, U.S. suppliers of leafy greens, nut butters, and finfish are now required to electronically record lot-level PCR results, effectively mandating testing at every stage. This regulation ensures traceability and enhances food safety by identifying contamination risks early in the supply chain. In 2025, the European Food Safety Authority tightened its standards, reducing the Listeria monocytogenes threshold in ready-to-eat foods from 100 CFU/g to 10 CFU/g, which spurred a surge in demand for high-sensitivity PCR assays. This change reflects the growing emphasis on minimizing health risks associated with foodborne pathogens. That same year, India mandated third-party testing for packaged foods in modern retail, hastening the push for ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation. This move aims to standardize testing protocols and improve consumer trust in food quality. These regulations now require a turnaround time of 24 hours or less, leading laboratories to automate sample preparation and implement cloud-based LIMS. The adoption of these technologies not only improves efficiency but also ensures compliance with stringent timelines. Overall, these stringent regulations are providing a significant boost to the food safety testing market.

Rising food-borne illness incidence and costly recalls

In 2025, the U.S. CDC reported more than a thousand outbreaks. Salmonella and E. coli were responsible for the majority of these cases. These outbreaks highlight the growing public health and economic challenges posed by foodborne pathogens. A 2025 report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) highlighted the urgency, estimating the annual economic toll of foodborne illnesses on the United States at around USD 75 billion, factoring in medical costs, lost productivity, and premature deaths. A significant dairy recall in Europe that year further emphasized the financial stakes, with costs amounting to EUR 180 million. In response, retailers have begun incorporating indemnity clauses into their contracts, effectively shifting recall responsibilities upstream to suppliers and manufacturers. This shift underscores the growing importance of pathogen screening before shipment to mitigate risks. A 2025 report from WHO highlighted that while low- and middle-income countries grapple with a disproportionate disease burden, they often lack the necessary testing capacities to address these challenges effectively. Consequently, multinational exporters are increasingly investing in third-party validations and certifications to ensure compliance with global safety standards, thereby protecting their global brands, maintaining consumer trust, and safeguarding profit margins.

High capital costs for advanced test equipment and labs

LC-MS/MS systems and high-throughput PCR platforms come with a price tag of USD 150,000-500,000, and users can expect to pay an additional 10-15% annually for service contracts. An ILAC survey revealed that 62% of laboratories in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia identify equipment costs as the primary hurdle to achieving ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation. While leasing and pay-per-test subscriptions offer a more accessible entry point, Eurofins introduced a sequencing subscription in 2025, allowing costs to be distributed over monthly payments. However, method validation remains a lengthy process, taking 6-12 months and costing between USD 50,000-100,000 in consumables, which in turn delays technology refresh cycles. As a result, the capital-intensive nature of these systems constrains expansion efforts in regions sensitive to pricing.

Other drivers and restraints analyzed in the detailed report include:

1. Expanding cross-border food trade and complex supply chains
2. Whole-genome sequencing and predictive analytics adoption
3. Shortage of trained food-microbiology professionals

For complete list of drivers and restraints, kindly check the Table Of Contents.

Segment Analysis

In 2025, pathogen assays led the food safety testing market, accounting for 51.50% of total revenue. This dominance stemmed from mandatory checks for Salmonella, Listeria, and E. coli across meat, dairy, and fresh-produce supply chains. The segment's growth is bolstered by regulators tightening microbial thresholds and retailers demanding same-day certificates to ensure compliance with food safety standards. Laboratories are streamlining operations, automating enrichment and PCR processes, and reducing turnaround times from two days to a mere eight hours. These advancements not only enhance efficiency but also help businesses meet the increasing demand for rapid and reliable testing. Consequently, the pathogen detection market is set for consistent growth, driven by these stringent compliance requirements and the need for robust food safety measures.

While GMO screening occupies a smaller niche, it boasts the fastest growth rate, with an anticipated 8.35% CAGR through 2031. This surge is largely attributed to EU importers enforcing a strict 0.9% labeling threshold and Asia-Pacific exporters eyeing the premium European grocery market, where compliance with stringent regulations is critical for market entry. Varied global regulations on gene-editing technologies keep the demand for multiplex PCR kits high, as they can identify both approved and unintended genetic events, ensuring adherence to diverse regulatory frameworks. Additionally, while second-tier segments like pesticide residue testing are evolving, utilizing LC-MS/MS suites to cover over 700 compounds thanks to Codex limit reductions, mycotoxin screenings see a spike during cereal droughts, which increase the risk of contamination. Allergen verifications are broadening, especially with new mandates for sesame and mustard in Canada and Australia, reflecting the growing emphasis on consumer safety. Furthermore, testing for heavy metals and veterinary drug residues ensures steady revenue from seafood and livestock export certifications, offering a buffer against policy fluctuations and supporting the global trade of safe and compliant food products.

Complete Report Scope:

• By Contaminant Type
  • Pathogen Testing
  • Pesticide and Residue Testing
  • Mycotoxin Testing
  • GMO Testing
  • Allergen Testing
  • Other Contaminant Testing
• By Technology
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Immunoassay-based
  • Chromatography and Spectrometry
  • Others
• By Application
  • Pet Food and Animal Feed
  • Food
    • Meat and Poultry
    • Dairy
    • Fruits and Vegetables
    • Processed Food
    • Crops
    • Other Foods
• By Geography
  • North America
    • United States
    • Canada
    • Mexico
    • Rest of North America
  • South America
    • Brazil
    • Argentina
    • Colombia
    • Chile
    • Peru
    • Rest of South America
  • Europe
    • Germany
    • United Kingdom
    • Italy
    • France
    • Netherlands
    • Poland
    • Belgium
    • Sweden
    • Spain
    • Rest of Europe
  • Asia-Pacific
    • China
    • India
    • Japan
    • Australia
    • Indonesia
    • South Korea
    • Thailand
    • Singapore
    • Rest of Asia-Pacific
  • Middle East and Africa
    • South Africa
    • Saudi Arabia
    • United Arab Emirates
    • Nigeria
    • Egypt
    • Morocco
    • Turkey
    • Rest of Middle East and Africa

Geography Analysis

In 2025, North America accounted for 33.91% of global revenue, bolstered by FSMA enforcement and a USD 300 million USDA initiative funding advanced PCR and LC-MS/MS systems. The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) has driven significant investments in food safety technologies, ensuring compliance with stringent regulations. Canada's push for digital traceability in meat, seafood, and dairy is accelerating the adoption of cloud-based LIMS, enabling better tracking and quality assurance across the supply chain. Meanwhile, Mexico's expansion of accredited labs aims to enhance fresh-produce exports by meeting international safety standards and boosting competitiveness in global markets. While growth persists, it's tempered as installed capacities mature and consolidation curtails price competition, leading to a more stabilized market environment.

Asia-Pacific is poised for an 8.45% CAGR through 2031. In 2025, China introduced 1,200 new inspection stations, transitioning from culture methods to PCR, which significantly improved the speed and accuracy of pathogen detection. Concurrently, India mandated quarterly pathogen audits for dairy cooperatives targeting export markets, ensuring compliance with international safety standards and enhancing the reputation of Indian dairy products globally. Japan's blockchain-driven traceability trials for imported seafood, which mitigate recall risks by providing end-to-end visibility, are now being emulated by South Korea and Singapore, showcasing the region's focus on leveraging technology for food safety. In China, local instrument manufacturers are gaining traction by offering PCR systems at half the price of their Western counterparts, creating a competitive landscape and increasing accessibility to advanced testing solutions. Additionally, mergers, like SGS's lab acquisitions in 2025, are hastening scale in India, enabling better service coverage and operational efficiency. Southeast Asia's enhancements to cold-chain infrastructure are driving a surge in demand for portable rapid tests at border checkpoints, ensuring the quality and safety of perishable goods during transit.

Europe's adherence to stringent EFSA standards is pushing retailers to take on upstream liabilities, leading to a rise in on-site rapid testing at logistics hubs to ensure compliance and minimize risks. The post-Brexit landscape sees U.K. exporters navigating dual testing requirements, a challenge turned advantage for multi-jurisdictional entities like Eurofins and Intertek, which are well-positioned to offer comprehensive testing solutions. Eastern European nations are channeling EU cohesion funds to modernize laboratories, with notable capacity expansions in Poland and the Czech Republic, enhancing their ability to meet growing demand for food safety testing. In South America, labs focusing on pesticide residues and mycotoxins are scaling up to bolster Brazil's soy and beef exports, ensuring compliance with international standards and strengthening their position in global markets. The Middle East is establishing centralized hubs, highlighted by Dubai Municipality's 40% expansion of LC-MS/MS capacity in 2025, which enhances the region's ability to conduct high-throughput testing and support its growing food trade. Africa's growth story is mixed; while South Africa's citrus export checks fuel demand for advanced testing solutions, Nigeria and Egypt remain reliant on externally funded initiatives, limiting their ability to independently scale food safety infrastructure.

1. Eurofins Scientific
2. SGS SA
3. Bureau Veritas Group
4. Intertek Group plc
5. Institut Merieux
6. ALS Global
7. TUV SUD
8. NSF International
9. AsureQuality Limited
10. UL LLC
11. Neogen Corporation
12. Microbac Laboratories, Inc
13. Dsm-Firmenich (Romer Labs)
14. Charm Sciences, Inc.
15. Fera Science Limited
16. FoodChain ID
17. Cotecna Group
18. AGQ Labs Group
19. Agilent Technologies
20. Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.

Additional Benefits:

• The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format
• 3 months of analyst support