Global Food Authenticity Testing Market

Food Authenticity Testing Market: Insights

Food authenticity testing is carried out to ensure that the product and its ingredients are authentic as described by the seller. Food fraud has been an issue since ancient times when often a cheaper variant is misrepresented as the more expensive version. In recent years, modern scientific breakthroughs have increased the chances of contamination through adulterants often called Economically Motivated Adulteration (EMA). Undeclared EMAs can be toxic and put the consumer’s life at risk from the consumption of these adulterants. Countries across the globe have faced this issue as food producers try to maximize gains either by replacing more expensive variants with cheaper variants, improving shelf life through methods that are harmful upon consumption, adulterants that add volume or color to the product through unapproved enhancements, dilution, and counterfeiting. There have been instances where extra virgin olive oil was mixed with lower grade oil so that producers can sell more to the unaware consumer, the addition of harmful substances like sawdust to spices to increase volume, among many other fraudulent tactics. Such food fraud is often economically motivated and has been found in every corner of the world as food producers try to maximize profit. This has forced the hands of governments around the world to introduce stringent laws regarding food safety. Food authenticity testing helps regulators and consumers to understand what exactly is in the product and whether it is safe to consume and they are not being cheated by the seller into overpaying through misrepresentation. In the current age, there is a growing awareness amongstend-usersabout the importance of food safety. There is a growing awareness about the various food frauds that have previously occurred and the dangers it poses to the human body. Technological advancements have increased testing capabilities. Food authenticity testing allows products to be tested for known adulterants as well as unknown adulterants, and whether the labeling is true to the product being sold. Governments across the world have invested heavily in food authenticity testing technology both laboratory-based testing and point-of-use testing methods that can be carried out by consumers.

The food authenticity testing market is driven by the increasing incidences of food fraud, growing awareness about it among the public, rising government spending on food testing technology research, stringent regulations on food, and increasing competition among food producers. The food authenticity testing market is hampered by the costs of tests, the complex nature of such tests, and a lack of strict enforcement of food quality standards, especially in developing nations.

Food Authenticity Testing Market: By Target Testing

Based on the target to be tested, the food authenticity market can be segmented as country of origin and aging,false labeling,meat speciation, and adulteration tests. The meat speciation segment is expected to show the fastest growth rate among the others. The rising incidences of cases where the type of meat labeled and what is present in the actual product vary drastically. Adulterants like ammonia are added to fish to give the buyer a sense of freshness which is misleading and extremely harmful to the human body. Increasing global meat consumption and demand for packaged meat are expected to drive up the demand for meat speciation testing.     

Food Authenticity Testing Market: By Technology

Based on the technology used to authenticate food products, the food authenticity testing market can be segmented into PCR, LC-MS/MS, isotope methods, immunoassay, and others. The PCR testing segment held the lion's share of the market owing to its wide range of applications in identifying various kinds of adulterants even at the tiniest fraction of the product.

Food Authenticity Testing Market: By Food Tested

Based on the food to be tested, the food authenticity testing market can be segmented into meat & meat products, dairy & dairy products, processed foods, ingredients, and cereals, grains, & pulses segments. The fastest-growing segment will be the processed food segment from 2021 to 2026. The growing demand for processed foods in the markets has increased the need for better testing methods to authenticate the quality of processed foods in the market. The government regulations especially in developed nations regarding processed foods are extremely stringent. These factors are will help to contribute to the segmental growth.

Food Authenticity Testing Market: By Region

The European region will be the largest segment as per the regional analysis. The European region has the strictest regulations on the quality of food products sold within the region. With various safety measures in place to prevent food producers from misinforming the public, the government carries out a lot of food authenticity testing. European regulations prevent the sale of products that may be allowed in other regions but are banned within Europe owing to their stringent regulations. The Asia Pacific region is expected to grow at the fastest rate due to the increased demand for processed foods within the region, increasing government regulations on food safety, growing incidences of food fraud in the region, and the rising public awareness about the importance of food authenticity testing. The changing consumer habits and the increased trade of food products within the region have also increased the demand for food authenticity testing in the region.

Food Authenticity Testing Market: Share & Competitor Analysis

SGS S.A., Intertek Group PLC, Eurofins Scientific SE, ALS Limited, LGC Science Group Ltd.,MérieuxNutrisciences Corporation,Microbac Laboratories Inc., EMSL Analytical Inc., Romer Labs Diagnostic GmbH, Genetic Id Na Inc.,among others,are the majorvendors competing in the food authenticity testing market.

Please note: This is not an exhaustive list of companies profiled in the report.