Strong growth expected in pathogen testing

Prepared Foods, March, 1999

The market for food pathogen analyzers will increase from about $97 million in 1998 to nearly $140 million in 2003 - an average annual growth rate of 7.6%, according to a recent study by Business Communications Co. (BCC), Norwalk, Conn.

Bacteria testing (including salmonella, E. coli and campylobacter) is expected to have the largest share (84%) of pathogen testing sales. Testing for toxins in grains and seafood is forecasted to grow at an annual rate of 14.6%.

BCC also forecasts that the market for pesticide analysis will grow from nearly $8 million in 1998 to about $11 million in 2003 - an annual growth rate of 6.9%. Most of the pesticide analysis will be for detecting organophosphates-chlorinated hydrocarbons. Carbamates, however, are projected to have the fastest growth as growers begin to employ these pesticides as alternatives to organophosphates.