Meat and Meat Products: Processing Technology, Quality Control and Sensory Evaluation: 2nd Edition

A special issue of Foods (ISSN 2304-8158). This special issue belongs to the section "Meat".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026 | Viewed by 912

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Departamento de Agronomía, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Agronómica, Universidad de Sevilla, Ctra. Utrera, km. 1. 41013 Sevilla, Spain
Interests: animal products; geographical indications; ruminants; traceability; authochthonous breeds
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor Assistant
1. Department of Agronomy, School of Agricultural Engineering, University of Seville, 41013 Sevilla, Spain
2. Department of Agri-Food Engineering and Technology, Andalusian Institute of Agricultural and Fisheries Research and Training (IFAPA), “Las Torres” Center, Ctra. Sevilla-Cazalla de la Sierra km. 12.2, 41200 Alcalá del Río, Spain
Interests: animal production; meat quality; applications of artificial intelligence in agri-food systems

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Volume I of this Special Issue (https://www.mdpi.com/journal/foods/special_issues/WC5YH8369W)was a great success and attracted the attention and interest of many scholars. Sincere thanks are extended to all contributions for their valuable submissions and support. As this topic continues to gain momentum and play a pivotal role in the field, Volume II is now being launched. It is expected to achieve similar success and further contribute to the advancement of research in this area.

This Special Issue aims to provide integrated analysis of the major factors influencing the quality control of meat and meat products, including processing technologies and the identification of product origins through specific biomarkers such as fatty acids, volatile compounds, minerals, and isotope ratios, as well as the analytical techniques used for their detection. Original research papers and review articles addressing novel quality control technologies—particularly those that determine food origins and ensure the sensory quality of meat and meat products—are warmly welcome.

Prof. Dr. Alberto Horcada
Guest Editor

Dr. Manuel García-Infante
Guest Editor Assistant

Manuscript Submission Information

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • biomarkers
  • traceability of meat and meat products
  • meat
  • meat products
  • sensory evaluation
  • human health

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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24 pages, 1523 KB  
Article
Study on the Correlation Between Microbial Community Composition and Flavor of Traditional Ordos Air-Dried Meat
by Jiaqi Zhang, Lina Sun, Erke Sun, Shiqi Hao, Shuo Li, Ru Yan, Ye Jin, Lihua Zhao and Xueying Sun
Foods 2026, 15(9), 1510; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods15091510 - 27 Apr 2026
Viewed by 332
Abstract
Traditional air-dried meat from Ordos, Inner Mongolia, is a distinctive fermented meat product with unique ethnic and regional features. However, systematic studies on its quality and flavor variations across production regions remain limited. This study characterized 15 traditional Ordos air-dried meat samples (3 [...] Read more.
Traditional air-dried meat from Ordos, Inner Mongolia, is a distinctive fermented meat product with unique ethnic and regional features. However, systematic studies on its quality and flavor variations across production regions remain limited. This study characterized 15 traditional Ordos air-dried meat samples (3 biological replicates per region) from five representative areas (Dalad Banner, Otog Banner, Otog Front Banner, Wushen Banner, Ejin Horo Banner) via physicochemical analysis, high-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and GC-MS. Results showed pH 5.63–5.73 and water activity (Aw) 0.61–0.66. Wushen Banner samples had significantly lower TVB-N and TBARS contents. Proteobacteria and Firmicutes dominated, with marked regional divergence at the genus level. Ninety-one volatile compounds were identified, 11 as key odor-active components. This study clarifies regional quality discrepancies and interrelationships among microbiota, flavor, and physicochemical traits, providing a theoretical basis for process optimization and industrial development. Full article
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Review

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28 pages, 2501 KB  
Review
Impact of Functional Feed Additives and Lower Antibiotic Use on Poultry Meat Quality and Consumer Perception
by Abdul Samad, Ayesha Muazzam, AMM Nurul Alam, SoHee Kim, ChanJin Kim, SiHoon An, Young-Hwa Hwang and Seon-Tea Joo
Foods 2026, 15(11), 1868; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods15111868 - 25 May 2026
Viewed by 340
Abstract
The poultry industry is undergoing a major transition to reduce the use of antibiotics, as a result of the growing concerns about antimicrobial resistance, antibiotic residue in meat and increasingly stringent regulatory policies. This trend has led to an increased interest in functional [...] Read more.
The poultry industry is undergoing a major transition to reduce the use of antibiotics, as a result of the growing concerns about antimicrobial resistance, antibiotic residue in meat and increasingly stringent regulatory policies. This trend has led to an increased interest in functional feed additives as potential alternatives that may support bird health, growth performance and meat quality. There are functional additives, including probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, phytogenics, organic acids, enzymes, essential oils, vitamins, minerals and postbiotics, that have shown potential effectiveness in enhancing gut health, nutrient utilization, immunity and disease resistance in poultry. The advantages that are frequently noticed are increased feed conversion ratio, body weight gain, carcass yield and improved meat quality characteristics, such as water-holding capacity, color stability, tenderness, oxidative stability and shelf life. Furthermore, the decrease in the use of antibiotics decreases the risk of residues and also the transmission of antimicrobial resistance genes through the food chain and the environment. Consumer interest in antibiotic-free and naturally raised poultry meat has also led to the emergence of premium market opportunities, where trust, transparency in poultry labelling and perceived safety are key drivers of consumer acceptance. But there are issues yet to be addressed regarding additive efficacy variability, dosage standardization, cost-effectiveness and implementation on farms under different production systems. This review critically evaluates the scientific evidence related to the use of functional feed additives as an alternative to antibiotics in poultry nutrition, focusing on their effects on meat quality, food safety, economic viability, sustainability and consumer perception. Precision nutrition, combinations of synergistic additives, and data-driven feed strategies will be key to future progress to enable profitable and sustainable poultry production. Full article
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