REPORT HIGHLIGHTS
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The U.S. market for food safety testing was valued at $276.7 million in 2004 (31.339 million tests) and should increase to $415.6 million in 2009 (40.309 million tests), rising at an average annual growth rate (AAGR) of 8.5%.
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The largest share of sales will be for tests to detect pathogens ($171.4 million in 2004 and $259.6 million in 2009), because of the threat they pose to consumer health and safety
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Tests for pesticide residues represent a significantly smaller market, but will see a similar growth rate.
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The desire to preserve foreign markets and for food processors to protect themselves at every stage is propelling the 13.7% AAGR for testing for GMOs. Sales of $29.9 million should climb to $56.7 million in 2009.
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For other contaminants, testing is expected to continue at a sustained pace (5.1%) through 2009.
REPORT SCOPE
Various market forces shape consumer demand for certain foods that have the potential to be contaminated. The continuing need for food processors to deliver a safe product to consumers creates a corresponding need for more advanced testing procedures. Testing ensures safety throughout the production process and expands market opportunities.
This updated BCC technical market study explores the opportunities that advancements in the field are projected to bring over the next five years. The report describes the various types of tests that can detect pathogens, pesticides, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and other contaminants in food samples, how food processors are using them, and what market and regulatory forces are influencing processors’ choices on what to test and what type of test works best.
The report discusses trends and developments taking place for specific types of contaminants and examines how they influence development and marketing of tests that help food processors deliver products that are free of contamination. It further describes the trends and developments for each type of test and test technology in terms of how each is meant to satisfy the needs of processors as they, in turn, try to satisfy consumer demands for minimally processed convenience foods and plant-based, health ful foods. Finally, the study analyzes markets and the types of companies that are the most active test makers.
The report contains:
- An examination of the problem of food borne illnesses, the types of contaminants that cause them, and regulatory influences
- Analysis of the industry’s structure that discusses the most active test makers and their testing systems, as well as forces that promote or hamper growth of specific tests
- Detailed historical, current and projected (through 2009) market values for testing systems for specific contaminants, testing technology and application
- Profiles of the companies that are the most active test makers and suppliers and exploration of the various ways they respond to the needs of food processors who want and need reliable, sensitive and cost-efficient tests.
The methodology employed to obtain the data found in The Growing Food-Testing : report_highlightsing Pathogens, Pesticides, and GMOs comes from extensive telephone interviews with key executives of the leading U.S. companies involved in testing for food-borne contaminants. The expert and reasoned comments of these sources, combined with information gleaned from trade journals, patents, company reports, press releases, product literature, and government documents germane to food testing, provide the basis for the contents of this report. Where precise information was not available, a consensus was made using a formulation of reasonable assumptions and estimates based on historical data.
The author of this report, Norma Corbitt, has 18 years of experience as a BCC editor and project analyst. Ms. Corbitt has written several other BCC reports, including Separations in Biotechnology, Advanced Drug Delivery Systems and Advanced Inorganic Membranes. She is the editor of BCC's monthly newsletter, Food Ingredient News, and is the past editor of two others, Flame Retardancy News and Waste Technology News. She has also served as an assistant editor on High Tech Separations News (now Analytic Separations News), Membrane & Separations Technology News, and Battery and EV Technology News.
