Advances and safety measures will fuel growth in European antimicrobial market

Published: 16-Aug-2006


Global growth consultancy Frost & Sullivan has reported that the European antimicrobial market earned revenues of US$119.7m in 2005 and expects this to reach $131.2m in 2012.

Synthetic antimicrobials are gradually being overtaken by natural alternatives due to the increasing hype over the latter's health benefits, the firm found. At the same time, technological advances are expected to modify the undesirable properties of synthetic antimicrobials, thereby improving product quality and contributing to an expanded application base.

“The future of food antimicrobials lies in their ability to curb the growth of most spoilage organisms,” noted a Frost & Sullivan research analyst. “Food manufacturers still resort to the use of synthetic antimicrobials as an effective means to prolong the shelf life of their products.”

With increasing global distribution and outbreaks of avian flu and BSE, the use of different combinations of antimicrobials along with efficient delivery systems are regarded as the most reliable means to maintain food quality. Without the use of antimicrobials, food safety would be jeopardised and costs would become excessive.

Many consumers are not willing to buy products containing substances described in unfamiliar terms. Scientific reports linking unfamiliar substances to diseases such as cancer is lowering end user confidence in antimicrobials usage, Frost & Sullivan reported.

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