The food allergen testing market involves testing of raw as well as processed food products for allergen detection, quantification and identification. Food allergen testing helps ensure the safety of food products for consumers with food allergies. It also helps food manufacturing companies comply with labelling regulations and avoid legal liability. Some of the common food allergens tested include milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat and soy among others. Rapid advancements in test technologies have increased the efficiency of allergen testing in terms of getting quick and reliable results.
The Global Food Allergen Testing Market is estimated to be valued at US$ 957.88 Mn in 2024 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 5.3% over the forecast period 2024 To 2031.
Key Takeaways
Key players operating in the food allergen testing market are Fable & Mane, Henkel AG, Procter & Gamble Co., Unilever Corporation, Kao Corporation, Aveda Corporation, Avon Products Inc., L€TMOreal S.A., Revlon, Inc., Johnson & Johnson, Natura & Co., and Coty Inc.
The increasing consumer awareness about food sensitivity and stringent regulations regarding food labeling are fueling the demand for Food Allergen Testing Market Size. Investments have increased in R&D to develop faster and more accurate testing technologies.
Technological advancements are allowing quicker testing with lower detection limits. New PCR and immunoassay-based methods offer improved accuracy over traditional ELISA testing methods. Biosensor technology is being researched for point-of-use testing.
Market trends
Consumers are increasingly scrutinizing ingredient labels owing to rising health consciousness. This drives the need for comprehensive and reliable food allergen testing. Manufacturers are adopting preventive allergen management and testing programs to ensure product safety.
Advanced DNA-based testing methods are gaining ground over traditional antibody-based testing due to superior precision and ability to identify concealed allergens. Miniaturized devices allow portable, on-site testing reducing turnaround time.
Market Opportunities
Growing demands from emerging countries with rising incomes present significant opportunities. Rapid test kits suited for on-site testing present an opportunity to expand offerings. Development of affordable, user-friendly self-testing devices can help address undiagnosed food allergies. Adoption of integrated databases can help harmonize testing standards globally.
Impact of COVID-19 on Food Allergen Testing Market Growth
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the growth of the food allergen testing market. During the initial outbreak, restrictions on travel and lockdowns negatively affected the supply chain and disrupted production activities. This led to a decline in testing volumes as manufacturing slowed down significantly. However, as the pandemic intensified consumer awareness about food safety increased manifold. Demand for testing of ingredients and finished food products rose sharply to ensure products are free of allergens that can severely impact at-risk consumers.
Food companies stepped up testing to regain consumer confidence and trust. Strict testing of ingredients at receiving, in-process, and final product stages became the new norm. Rapid screening methods witnessed higher adoption to enable timely detection of allergens. The pandemic highlighted the critical importance of reliable testing for the safety of immunocompromised consumers. Government agencies increased regulatory stringency and enforcement of labeling laws for pre-packaged foods. Although short-term prospects were subdued, in the long-run the pandemic is expected to accelerate market growth by driving higher compliance.
Going forward, the industry will need to focus on developing standardized testing protocols, expanding reference materials and certified reference materials offerings. Automating workflows, expanding laboratory capacities, and shorter TATs will be critical for the market to cope with increased testing demands in the post pandemic environment. Digitalization and remote proctoring solutions can help enable business continuity. Wider adoption of multiplex immunoassay-based techniques can boost throughputs and support cost effectiveness.
Fastest Growing Region for Food Allergen Testing Market
The Asia Pacific region is expected to be the fastest growing market for food allergen testing. With rising incomes and growing health awareness, the demand for certified quality and safe foods is increasing rapidly across developing nations. Stringent regulations and import controls pertaining to food safety and labeling are being enforced.
Countries like China, India and other Southeast Asian markets offer immense growth potential driven by their huge population bases and rapidly expanding food manufacturing industries. Local food companies are boosting investments in capacity expansions and quality certifications to serve expanding domestic demand as well as gain access to global export markets. The proliferation of supermarkets and organized retail is also driving higher compliance needs for pre-packaged foods.
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