Salmonella Testing Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Testing Method (Culture-based Methods, Molecular-based Methods, and Immunoassays), By Sample Type (Food, Water, and Environmental Surfaces), By End User (Food Producers and Manufacturers, Contract Testing Laboratories, and Government and Regulatory Bodies, Others), By Region and Competition, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 3.31 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	6.09%
Fastest Growing Segment	Molecular-Based Methods
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 4.72 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Salmonella Testing Market will grow from USD 3.31 Billion in 2025 to USD 4.72 Billion by 2031 at a 6.09% CAGR. The Global Salmonella Testing Market encompasses diagnostic technologies, consumables, and methods used to detect the presence of Salmonella bacteria in food products, beverages, water, and clinical specimens. The primary drivers propelling this market include the increasing stringency of international food safety regulations, a rising global incidence of foodborne disease outbreaks, and heightened consumer demand for transparency regarding food hygiene standards. These factors collectively mandate rigorous pathogen screening across the supply chain, necessitating reliable and rapid detection solutions to prevent contamination and public health crises.

However, market expansion faces a significant challenge in the form of high operational costs associated with advanced molecular diagnostic platforms, which can deter adoption in cost-sensitive developing regions. According to the National Chicken Council, in 2024, inspection data indicated that 97 percent of whole birds and 93 percent of chicken parts tested negative for Salmonella at processing plants, highlighting the intensive level of testing required to maintain these safety standards. This substantial volume of negative results underscores the industry's heavy reliance on continuous verification, yet the financial burden of such extensive testing programs remains a barrier for smaller market participants.

Key Market Drivers

The implementation of stringent government food safety regulations and mandates acts as a primary catalyst for the expansion of the Global Salmonella Testing Market. Regulatory bodies worldwide are establishing lower tolerance limits and enforcing "zero-tolerance" policies for specific serotypes, compelling manufacturers to adopt high-sensitivity molecular screening protocols. This legislative pressure forces food processors to upgrade from conventional culture methods to advanced automated systems to ensure compliance and avoid costly operational shutdowns. According to the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, April 2024, in the 'Final Determination on Salmonella in Raw Breaded Stuffed Chicken', the agency finalized a policy declaring that raw breaded stuffed chicken products containing 1 colony forming unit per gram of Salmonella are considered adulterated. Such precise mandates directly drive the procurement of diagnostic assays capable of detecting low-level contamination with high accuracy.

Concurrently, the increasing prevalence of Salmonella outbreaks and foodborne illnesses fuels the continuous demand for rapid pathogen testing across the supply chain. As global food trade expands, the risk of cross-contamination rises, leading to frequent large-scale recalls that necessitate rigorous and frequent testing at critical control points. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, November 2024, in the 'Investigation Update: Salmonella Outbreak, Cucumbers', a multistate investigation identified 68 people infected with a specific outbreak strain, highlighting the persistent threat in fresh produce. To mitigate these financial and reputational risks, companies are intensifying their verification programs. According to Sedgwick, May 2024, in the '2024 Recall Index report', FDA food recalls increased by 27.6 percent in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the previous quarter, underscoring the critical need for robust pathogen detection infrastructure.

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Key Market Challenges

Based on the overview provided, the challenging factor hampering the market is the high operational costs associated with advanced molecular diagnostic platforms.

The high operational expenditure required for advanced molecular diagnostic platforms constitutes a significant impediment to the growth of the Global Salmonella Testing Market. These testing systems necessitate substantial capital investment for instrumentation, specialized consumables, and the training of technical personnel. For smaller food manufacturers and processors operating in price-sensitive markets, these costs often exceed available budgets. This financial pressure restricts the widespread adoption of automated detection methods, compelling many entities to continue utilizing labor-intensive and time-consuming legacy techniques. Consequently, the market struggles to achieve uniform growth across developing regions where profit margins are too narrow to support such infrastructure.

This cost barrier directly affects the industry's ability to manage pathogen risks effectively, as the reliance on less expensive, slower methods can delay the identification of contaminated products. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2024, the agency monitored and investigated 10 distinct multistate Salmonella outbreaks linked to diverse food items, demonstrating the persistent volatility of pathogen control. The financial inability of smaller market players to implement rapid, high-precision testing systems creates vulnerabilities in the global supply chain, thereby stifling the broader market potential for advanced diagnostic solutions.

Key Market Trends

The widespread adoption of Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) is fundamentally reshaping the Global Salmonella Testing Market by replacing traditional phenotypic subtyping methods with high-resolution genomic analysis. Laboratories are increasingly utilizing WGS to simultaneously identify serotypes, virulence factors, and antimicrobial resistance profiles from a single assay, significantly enhancing the precision of source tracking during contamination events. This technological shift is largely supported by distributed networks that allow real-time data sharing across borders to pinpoint outbreak origins more effectively. According to the FDA, December 2025, in the 'GenomeTrakr Fast Facts', the network is now regularly sequencing over 20,000 isolates each month, demonstrating the massive scale at which this advanced genomic technology is being integrated into routine food safety surveillance protocols.

Concurrently, there is a rising demand for multiplex pathogen detection panels, which enable the simultaneous identification of multiple Salmonella strains and co-infections in a single test run. This trend is driving the transition from manual culture techniques to automated molecular platforms that offer streamlined workflows and rapid turnaround times for syndromic testing. Food processors and clinical laboratories are favoring these comprehensive panels to improve diagnostic accuracy and operational efficiency. According to bioMérieux, March 2025, in the '2024 Financial Results', sales of BIOFIRE non-respiratory panels, which include gastrointestinal testing solutions, increased by 17 percent, reflecting the industry's strong pivot toward these advanced molecular diagnostic capabilities.

Segmental Insights

Molecular-Based Methods represent the fastest growing segment in the Global Salmonella Testing Market, driven by the increasing demand for rapid and precise pathogen detection. Unlike time-consuming culture techniques, molecular technologies such as Polymerase Chain Reaction deliver results within hours, allowing companies to release products faster and reduce inventory costs. This shift is further accelerated by rigorous safety standards from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Food Safety Authority. Consequently, food manufacturers are prioritizing these high-sensitivity workflows to ensure regulatory compliance and effectively mitigate the financial risks associated with contamination outbreaks.

Regional Insights

North America maintains a leading position in the Global Salmonella Testing Market driven by a stringent regulatory framework emphasizing food safety. Agencies such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) enforce rigorous testing standards to prevent outbreaks and ensure public health. This dominance is further supported by the implementation of mandates like the Food Safety Modernization Act, which compels manufacturers to adopt frequent diagnostic measures. Consequently, the strong emphasis on preventive compliance within the food processing sector sustains the region's significant market share.

Recent Developments

• In August 2025, Bio-Rad Laboratories launched the EZ-Check Salmonella spp. Kit, a rapid real-time PCR solution for the qualitative detection of Salmonella in food and environmental samples. This ready-to-use kit featured a multiplex design that included an internal control to prevent false negatives, ensuring high result accuracy. The test was validated by international certification bodies, including AOAC International and AFNOR Certification, confirming its robustness and inclusivity. The release of this kit provided food safety laboratories with an efficient and compliant method to monitor production environments and finished products for pathogen contamination.
• In May 2025, Hygiena introduced the foodproof Salmonella plus Cronobacter Detection LyoKit, a multiplex real-time PCR assay validated for the simultaneous detection of two major pathogens. This innovative solution was designed specifically for infant formula manufacturers and ingredient suppliers, allowing for the consolidation of testing workflows. The kit received ISO 16140-2 validation, ensuring high reliability across various sample matrices, including powdered formula and environmental swabs. By detecting both Salmonella and Cronobacter in a single test, the product aimed to reduce laboratory costs and accelerate the release of safe products to the market.
• In April 2024, Neogen Corporation launched the Neogen Molecular Detection Assay 2 – Salmonella Enteritidis/Salmonella Typhimurium (MDA2SEST), a new molecular diagnostic test. This assay was designed to rapidly detect and differentiate two specific Salmonella serotypes that are significant causes of foodborne illness. The product utilized isothermal DNA amplification technology, offering improved accuracy and a streamlined workflow compared to traditional serology and PCR-based methods. The launch addressed a critical need in the poultry industry, enabling producers to enhance their food safety programs with a tool approved by the AOAC Research Institute.
• In February 2024, bioMérieux entered into a strategic research collaboration with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to advance the detection of foodborne pathogens. The partnership aimed to develop innovative tools for improving the isolation and characterization of harmful bacteria, including Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes. Utilizing the company's xPRO Program, the initiative focused on addressing complex public health challenges by creating robust detection methods for use in the food, beverage, and dietary supplement industries. This collaboration underscored the organization's commitment to enhancing food safety standards and reducing health risks associated with microbial contamination.

Key Market Players

• Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.
• BioMérieux SA
• Merck KGaA
• QIAGEN N.V.
• Eurofins Scientific
• Hardy Diagnostics
• PerkinElmer AES
• Mylab Discovery Solutions Pvt. Ltd.
• Abbott Laboratories Inc.
• Biomerica, Inc.

By Testing Method	By Sample Type	By End User	By Region
Culture-based Methods Molecular-based Methods Immunoassays	Food Water Environmental Surfaces	Food Producers and Manufacturers Contract Testing Laboratories Government and Regulatory Bodies Others	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Salmonella Testing Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Salmonella Testing Market, By Testing Method:

• Culture-based Methods
• Molecular-based Methods
• Immunoassays

• Salmonella Testing Market, By Sample Type:

• Food
• Water
• Environmental Surfaces

• Salmonella Testing Market, By End User:

• Food Producers and Manufacturers
• Contract Testing Laboratories
• Government and Regulatory Bodies
• Others

• Salmonella Testing Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE