Packaged Food Shelf Life Testing Market Report 2025

The packaged food shelf life testing market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $5.26 billion in 2024 to $5.75 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.4%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to regulatory compliance, consumer demand for quality assurance, globalization of food supply chains, increasing complexity of packaged food products, brand protection and reputation management.

The packaged food shelf life testing market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $8.39 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.9%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to stringent food safety regulations, rising demand for natural and fresh products, increased emphasis on sustainability, globalization challenges and supply chain risks, e-commerce growth and changing retail landscape, public health concerns. Major trends in the forecast period include expansion of global supply chains, integration of IoT and smart packaging, stringent regulatory requirements, customization of testing protocols for different foods, growing demand for plant-based and functional foods.

The increasing demand for packaged foods is anticipated to drive the growth of the packaged food shelf-life testing market in the future. Packaged foods refer to items that are entirely covered to safeguard them from damage, contamination, spoilage, pest infestations, and tampering during transport and storage, using either permeable or impermeable packaging. Shelf-life testing for packaged foods is crucial for assessing food safety and ensuring that it is free from physical, chemical, and biological hazards, thereby protecting consumers from foodborne illnesses. For example, in June 2024, the National Center for Biotechnology Information, a US-based organization that provides access to biomedical and genomic information, reported that in Australia, consumer demand for packaged food is consistently rising, with four major supermarkets controlling nearly 85% of the market share. More than 20,000 products are monitored annually using a specialized Data Collector App, indicating a growing preference for convenience, variety, and quality. Consequently, the high demand for packaged foods is driving growth in the shelf-life testing market.

The rising incidence of foodborne illnesses is projected to drive the growth of the packaged food shelf-life testing market in the future. Foodborne illnesses are defined as ailments resulting from the consumption of contaminated food or beverages. Packaged food shelf-life testing is crucial in preventing these illnesses by ensuring that products remain safe for consumption throughout their designated storage periods, reducing the risk of microbial contamination, and protecting consumer health by upholding quality and safety standards. For example, in August 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a US-based government agency, reported that approximately 48 million people became ill due to foodborne illnesses, with 128,000 requiring hospitalization and 3,000 fatalities occurring in the United States. Thus, the increasing occurrence of foodborne illnesses is driving the growth of the packaged food shelf-life testing market.

Technological advancements are a significant trend gaining traction in the packaged food shelf-life testing market. Leading companies in this sector are introducing cutting-edge technologies to secure a competitive advantage. For example, in May 2022, SAVRpak, a US-based food technology innovation firm, launched SAVRpak Drop-In, which utilizes moisture control technology to minimize excess moisture, condensation, and bacteria, thereby extending the shelf life of packaged produce such as berries, leafy greens, grapes, and mini cucumbers. This technology regulates the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in packaged produce to keep them fresh for up to four times longer.

Companies in the packaged food shelf-life testing market are increasingly concentrating on the introduction of advanced solutions like Novamyl BestBite to enhance their market position. Novamyl BestBite is an enzyme solution aimed at improving the texture, freshness, and shelf life of baked goods by optimizing starch conversion for better quality and consumer appeal. For instance, in May 2023, Novozymes, a Denmark-based biotechnology company, launched Novamyl BestBite. Incorporating Novamyl BestBite into the baking process results in baked goods that are fresher than fresh and extends the product's shelf life without sacrificing the consumer's eating experience. This innovative enzymatic baking ingredient helps to reduce food waste in the industry by prolonging the shelf life of baked products. The emphasis on fresh texture and recipe optimization in Novamyl BestBite allows manufacturers to decrease their reliance on added sugars in their offerings, providing a no-compromise solution for enhancing the qualities of baked goods while extending their shelf life.

In October 2024, Mérieux NutriSciences, a US-based food safety company, acquired the food testing division of Bureau Veritas for EUR 360 million. Mérieux NutriSciences intends to bolster its global presence and enhance its capabilities in food safety and quality, thereby promoting safer and more sustainable food systems around the world. Bureau Veritas is a France-based certification company that specializes in testing services, including shelf-life testing for packaged food products.

Major companies operating in the packaged food shelf life testing market are SGS SA, AES Laboratories Pvt. Ltd., Agrifood Technology, ALS Ltd., AsureQuality Limited, Bureau Veritas, EMSL Analytical Inc., Eurofins Scientific SE, Intertek Group PLC, Mérieux NutriSciences Corp., Premium Analytical Services, RJ Hill Laboratories, SCS Global Services, Symbio Laboratories Pty. Ltd., Microbac Laboratories Inc., Silliker Inc., Covance Inc., TÜV SÜD AG, NSF International, Underwriters Laboratories LLC, DNV GL, Lloyd's Register Group Limited, Kiwa NV, Q Laboratories Inc., Romer Labs Diagnostic GmbH, 3M Food Safety, Accugen Laboratories Inc., Advanced Analytical Testing Laboratories Inc., Analytical Food Laboratories, Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc., CEM Corporation, Certified Laboratories Inc., Charles River Laboratories International Inc., EAG Laboratories.

Europe was the largest region in the packaged food shelf life testing market in 2024. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the packaged food shelf life testing market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the packaged food shelf life testing market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

Packaged food shelf-life testing involves evaluating various factors affecting food quality to determine its stability during storage and distribution. This comprehensive process assesses the speed of microbiological, chemical, and physical changes occurring in food products over time.

Parameters evaluated in packaged food shelf-life testing encompass microbial contamination, rancidity, nutrient stability, and organoleptic properties. Microbial contamination refers to the unintended presence of infectious agents like bacteria, yeast, molds, or viruses, along with their by-products. These evaluations apply to a wide range of food types, including packaged foods, beverages, bakery items, meats, dairy products, processed fruits and vegetables, employing technologies such as equipment and kit-based testing, manual tests, real-time shelf-life testing, and accelerated shelf-life testing methods.

The packaged food shelf-life testing market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides packaged food shelf-life testing market statistics, including packaged food shelf-life testing industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with packaged food shelf-life testing market share, detailed packaged food shelf-life testing market segments, market trends, and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the packaged food shelf-life testing industry. This packaged food shelf-life testing market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenarios of the industry.

The packaged food shelf-life testing market includes revenues earned by entities by testing bacterial contamination, food additives, acidity, and pH value in packed food or beverages using static testing methods. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. Only goods and services traded between entities or sold to end consumers are included.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD, unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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