Europe is a substantial market for food safety microbiology testing. The population of the 27 countries of the European Union is 500 million, nearly 60% greater than the US population. Altogether, EU countries performed an estimated 275m food micro tests in 2011.
In comparison, there were 213m such tests conducted in the US in 2010. Food Micro, Sixth Edition: Food Microbiology Testing in Europe from Strategic Consulting (SCI) is the first definitive report focusing exclusively on the European food microbiology testing market. Food Micro—6 reviews the important markets, methods, technologies and trends shaping food safety testing in Europe.
In addition to size, European food safety testing differs from the US market in areas such as methods used, organisms tested, and current and pending regulations. As a result, says Thomas Weschler, president of SCI and lead author of Food Micro—6, “Europe must be examined and understood as a separate entity as it relates to food microbiology testing, and not simply thought of and treated as ‘like the US.”
A strong global link between the European and US food markets remains however, Weschler says. Key global food companies such as Nestle and Kraft have a significant presence in both geographies. European consumers, like their American counterparts, want access to all types of food year-round and as a result draw increasingly from a global food supply. At the same time, there is a growing public awareness of food safety issues, with the recent E. coli outbreak in Germany only one of the incidents heightening concern about contaminants in the food supply.
Weschler says: “While oversight in the EU is evolving and inter-country cooperation is expanding, the systems for reporting and tracking are not yet as integrated and effective as in the US. Growing public concern about food safety could ramp up change in Europe, and increased regulations and testing volumes should follow suit.”
In preparing this new and comprehensive review of the European food microbiology testing market, Strategic Consulting (SCI) conducted more than 175 detailed interviews in 11 European countries representing more than 75% of all food production in the EU.
Through this primary research at food-processing plants throughout Europe, Food Micro—6 is able to offers new market data on European food safety testing practices including overall test volume, cost per test, and methods used for routine and pathogen testing. Differences in testing practices within food segments and countries also are detailed, and expected changes in future testing practices are discussed.
Source: Strategic Consulting
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