Food Authentication Testing Market - Growth, Trends, COVID-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2021 - 2026)

The global food authentication testing market (henceforth, referred to as the market studied) is projected to register a CAGR of 6.95% during the forecast period, 2021 - 2026.

With the consumer aiming to purchase more authentic, healthy and branded food products during the COVID-19 period, due to the risk of COVID-19 and other viruses in them, therefore the application of services such as food authentication, had further propelled in the year 2020 as compared to other previous years.

Amid the growing prevalence of food fraud in the industry, including the deliberate substitution of ingredients, misleading consumers with false claims, and disruptive labeling, consumers have become skeptical about the authentication of food products meant to serve specific demands, such as vegan, free-form, organic, and others. This, in turn, has led the food manufacturers to opt for food authentication techniques as the most effective way to differentiate their products from conventional offerings, to capture substantial shares in the market.

However, the complexity to maintain the authenticity of the end product, considering identification and management from each stakeholder of the supply chain, makes the food manufacturers opt-out of authentication testing. Moreover, testing, primarily being a voluntary adoption, is perceived to be an extra expense for small manufacturers of the developing regions, like Asia-Pacific and Africa. The testing method poses a budget constraint for the food companies, further posing a restraint to the market.

Key Market Trends

Shielding from the Increasing Cases of Food Frauds

The growing competition among the food manufacturers has helped the global food fraud cases prevail, giving rise to deliberate substitution, tampering, misrepresentation of food products, faulty packaging, or misleading statements about the products. Small players, in order to aid their economic gains, are tampering common food products, such as milk, by using melamine, urea, and other elements.

According to the Ministry of Health, in 2017, about 143,598 kg of fraudulent food was seized by the financial police in Italy, which majorly constituted fruits, pasta, and legumes. Some of the common products that are susceptible to food frauds are olive oil, milk, honey, and saffron. About 16% of the olive oil consumed, worldwide, is fraudulent in its composition, as indicated by the Food Fraud Database. The acknowledgement of such instances has developed a sense of skepticism among the consumers, regarding the purchase of items based on mere claims.

Europe Dominates the Global Food Authentication Market with Asia-Pacific being the Fastest Growing

Based on geography, Europe has led the global market, owing to the presence of highly-active food companies in the region, which are willing to comply with the stringent regulations in the market. For instance, the Food Standard Agency (FSA) in the United Kingdom is the regulatory body for assuring best food standards in the country. FSA has established the National Food Crime Unit and Food Fraud Unit to monitor any kind of food frauds related to adulteration or mis-labeling of both imported and local products, and the unit is alert in reporting any illegal non-compliance for immediate action.

There have been several instances of food fraud in China and India in the recent years. The fishery and dairy industries in India are highly prone to such cases. Five thousand kilograms of fish preserved with formalin were found in a truck in India. Electronic ID for traceability of products was issued to the aquaculture farmers to prevent the highly prevalent food fraud. Therefore, these cases have led to increased food authentication in these Asian countries.

Competitive Landscape

The market studied is a competitive market with key players looking for greater market penetration, especially in the developed markets, where regulatory compliance is strict and public awareness regarding food authentication is also high. Eurofins, Intertek PLC, SGS SA, and Thermo Fisher Scientific are some of the major players in the market studied. Expansions, mergers and acquisitions are some of the most preferred strategies adopted in the food authentication testing industry, globally. Due to the swift nature of the food authentication industry, expansion is the most important strategic approach adopted by these companies.​

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