Freedonia Market Research Analyzes Food Safety Products

US demand for food safety products will increase 6.5 percent per year to $3.2 billion in 2012.  Strong gains will result from increased spending on food safety initiatives, as consumer -- and industry -- concerns rise following several well-publicized foodborne illness outbreaks, nationwide food product recalls and the discovery of contaminants in a variety of imported food products.  Disinfection and diagnostic products are expected to provide the best overall opportunities.  However, the fastest growth will be in smart labels and tags due to improvements to the traceability infrastructure in companies and advances in technology, while more moderate growth in preservatives will restrain aggregate gains. These and other trends, including market share and company profiles, are presented in Food Safety Products, a new study from The Freedonia Group, Inc., a Cleveland-based industry market research firm.

Disinfection products will continue to account for the largest portion of demand.  Disinfectants and sanitation chemicals are used at all levels of food production, though disinfection equipment will see more rapid gains, boosted by the increasing popularity of relatively new technologies such as ultraviolet and ozone disinfection. 

Diagnostic products will also see strong opportunities.  In particular, rapid diagnostic testing tools will continue to gain market share over conventional products.  Diagnostic testing tools for pathogens will remain the most important category, especially following several foodborne outbreaks related to pathogens.  Tests for residues and allergens will also post strong growth, boosted by consumer concerns regarding the presence of pesticides and drugs (e.g., antibiotics) in food, and FDA regulations, such as new allergen labeling requirements. 

Smart labels and tags will experience double-digit annual growth due to rising demand for the added security and efficiency they can provide.  Demand for preservatives will advance at a below-average rate, due to market maturity, the growing popularity of organic food, and new pasteurization and packaging technologies, such as high-pressure post-packaging pasteurization, that minimize the need for preservatives.

The Freedonia Group is a leading international business research company, founded in 1985, that publishes more than 100 industry research studies annually. This industry analysis provides an unbiased outlook and a reliable assessment of an industry and includes product segmentation and demand forecasts, industry trends, demand history, threats and opportunities, competitive strategies, market share determinations and company profiles.