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Foods
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Research on Food Chemical Safety
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Research on Food Chemical Safety

A special issue of Foods (ISSN 2304-8158). This special issue belongs to the section "Food Quality and Safety".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2025 | Viewed by 10377

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Efrén Pérez Santín

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Escuela Superior de Ingeniería y Tecnología (ESIT), Universidad Internacional de la Rioja—UNIR, Avenida de la Paz, 137, 26006 Logroño, Spain
Interests: quality control; food safety; traceability; fast measurement tools; HPLC; antioxidants
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. José Ignacio López Sánchez

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Escuela Superior de Ingeniería y Tecnología (ESIT), Universidad Internacional de la Rioja—UNIR, Avenida de la Paz, 137, 26006 Logroño, Spain
Interests: industrial processes; valorisation of food by-products; food contaminants; natural products; chemical fingerprint; NMR
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The chemical safety of food remains a critical concern in ensuring public health and maintaining the integrity of the global food supply chain. Chemical hazards can arise from a variety of sources, including natural toxins, environmental pollutants, agrochemical residues, and additives, that may be introduced during food production, processing, packaging, or storage. With the increasing complexity of food systems and the growing demand for processed and ready-to-eat products, understanding the mechanisms of chemical contamination and its impact on food safety is more important than ever. This Special Issue aims to explore the latest advances in the identification, risk assessment, and management of chemical hazards in food. It covers topics such as the formation and mitigation of contaminants such as pesticide residues, heavy metals, mycotoxins, and food contact materials, together with their toxicological profiles and exposure risks. Advances in analytical methods, including high-resolution mass spectrometry, biosensors, and machine learning-enhanced chemometric techniques, are critical for detecting low-level contaminants and predicting safety compliance in real time. In addition, contributions addressing regulatory challenges, risk–benefit analyses, and the development of novel risk communication strategies are welcomed to guide policymaking and public health interventions. By bringing together cutting-edge research and multidisciplinary perspectives, this Special Issue aims to advance our collective understanding of food chemical safety, facilitating the development of safer, high-quality food products while minimising public health risks. We invite researchers to submit original articles, reviews, and case studies that contribute to this vital field and ensure food safety in an increasingly interconnected world.

Dr. Efrén Pérez Santín
Dr. José Ignacio López Sánchez
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Foods is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

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

  • chemical contaminants
  • food safety
  • risk assessment
  • toxicology
  • analytical methods
  • pesticide residues
  • heavy metals
  • mycotoxins
  • food additives
  • exposure assessment

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 3168 KiB  
Article
Ultrasound-Assisted Dispersive Solid-Phase Filter Extraction Coupled with Green Supercritical Fluid Chromatography Methodology for Simultaneous Determination of Hindered Phenolic Antioxidant Migration from Food Contact Materials
by Shaojie Pan, Chaoyan Lou, Xiaolin Yu, Kaidi Zhang, Kai Zhang, Lei Jiang and Yan Zhu
Foods 2025, 14(13), 2301; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14132301 - 28 Jun 2025
Viewed by 312
Abstract
The migration of hindered phenolic antioxidants from food contact materials (FCMs) into foodstuffs poses health risks due to endocrine disruption and organ toxicity. Hence, the development of a high-efficiency analytical method for hindered phenolic antioxidants is of great importance for food safety. This [...] Read more.
The migration of hindered phenolic antioxidants from food contact materials (FCMs) into foodstuffs poses health risks due to endocrine disruption and organ toxicity. Hence, the development of a high-efficiency analytical method for hindered phenolic antioxidants is of great importance for food safety. This study developed a novel ultrasound-assisted dispersive solid-phase filter extraction (d-SPFE) coupled with green supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) method for the simultaneous determination of six representative hindered phenolic antioxidants. Under optimized conditions, the method achieved high extraction efficiency, with the complete separation of all analytes within 10 min. A wide linearity range (0.02–2.0 μg/mL) was achieved, with coefficients of determination all greater than 0.9996. The limits of detection (LOD, S/N = 3) and limits of quantification (LOQ, S/N = 10) were 2.4–3.6 ng/mL and 8–12 ng/mL, respectively. Validation tests demonstrated precise spiked recoveries (89.4–101.6%), with intra-day and inter-day relative standard deviations (RSDs) all less than 10%. The d-SPFE-SFC synergy significantly outperforms conventional techniques in terms of analysis speed and eco-efficiency. Successful application to food simulants confirms its reliability in monitoring hindered phenolic antioxidant migration from FCMs. This green and rapid methodology will enable the direct assessment of migration risks. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Food Chemical Safety)
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16 pages, 2389 KiB  
Article
Deoxynivalenol and Alternaria Toxin Exposure and Health Effects Assessment of Pregnant Shanghai Women
by Kailin Li, Baozhang Luo, Hua Cai, Renjie Qi, Zhenni Zhu, Yi He, Aibo Wu and Hong Liu
Foods 2025, 14(5), 776; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14050776 - 25 Feb 2025
Viewed by 741
Abstract
Deoxynivalenol (DON) and Alternaria toxins (ATs) are two common types of mycotoxins in food. Although they are physiologically toxic to animals and various cell lines, data related to the exposure risks and health effects in the human population were still limited, especially for [...] Read more.
Deoxynivalenol (DON) and Alternaria toxins (ATs) are two common types of mycotoxins in food. Although they are physiologically toxic to animals and various cell lines, data related to the exposure risks and health effects in the human population were still limited, especially for ATs. In this study, we combined food consumption data and human biomonitoring data of 200 pregnant volunteers from different districts of Shanghai to assess the exposure to DON and ATs. In addition, correlations between food consumption and urinary DON and ATs levels, urine biomarkers, and blood indexes were analyzed by regression analysis. For DON, the exposure assessment of the probable daily intake (PDI) indicated that a portion (37.5%) of all participants exceeded the Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI) proposed for DON. For ATs, the PDI values estimated based on the urinary concentrations indicated that 2–100% of all participants exceeded the threshold of toxicological concern (TTC) values for ATs. In addition, we innovatively found some associations between exposure to ATs and abnormal uric acid and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol indexes by regression analysis. Despite the inevitable uncertainties, these results make an important contribution to the understanding of DON and ATs exposure risks and potential health hazards in the pregnant women population. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Food Chemical Safety)
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Review

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33 pages, 2409 KiB  
Review
Chemical Food Safety in Europe Under the Spotlight: Principles, Regulatory Framework and Roadmap for Future Directions
by Teresa D’Amore, Slim Smaoui and Theodoros Varzakas
Foods 2025, 14(9), 1628; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14091628 - 5 May 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1695
Abstract
Chemical food safety is a fundamental pillar of public health, regulatory governance, and economic stability, with far-reaching implications for human, animal, and environmental well-being. In the matter of chemicals in the food chain, the European Union (EU) has established one of the most [...] Read more.
Chemical food safety is a fundamental pillar of public health, regulatory governance, and economic stability, with far-reaching implications for human, animal, and environmental well-being. In the matter of chemicals in the food chain, the European Union (EU) has established one of the most sophisticated and robust regulatory frameworks to ensure food safety and balance consumer protection with scientific advancements and industry needs. This review provides a holistic analysis of the EU chemical food safety scenario, examining its regulatory framework, key risk assessment methodologies, and the roles of critical institutions involved in monitoring, enforcement, and policymaking. The new and evolving challenges of chemical food safety, including transparency, cumulative risk assessment, and emerging contaminants, were discussed. Special attention is given to major classes of chemical substances in food, their regulatory oversight, and the scientific principles guiding their assessment, as well as to the role of key actors, including regulatory agencies, official laboratories, and competent authorities. This work offers an updated and integrated analysis of chemical food safety in the EU, uniquely combining regulatory, scientific, and enforcement perspectives and providing a structured roadmap for future directions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Food Chemical Safety)
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21 pages, 995 KiB  
Review
Advancements and Challenges in Sucralose Determination: A Comparative Review of Chromatographic, Electrochemical, and Spectrophotometric Methods
by Volodymyr V. Tkach, Tetiana V. Morozova, Isabel O’Neill de Mascarenhas Gaivão, Yana G. Ivanushko, José Inácio Ferrão da Paiva Martins and Ana Novo Barros
Foods 2025, 14(7), 1267; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14071267 - 3 Apr 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1515
Abstract
This review presents an in-depth analysis of the latest methods used for the determination of sucralose (E955), focusing on research conducted over the past 10 years. As a widely used sugar substitute in the food and pharmaceutical industries, sucralose has raised concerns about [...] Read more.
This review presents an in-depth analysis of the latest methods used for the determination of sucralose (E955), focusing on research conducted over the past 10 years. As a widely used sugar substitute in the food and pharmaceutical industries, sucralose has raised concerns about its environmental persistence, potential genotoxicity, and health impacts. This study examines several spectrophotometric, chromatographic, and electrochemical techniques, evaluating their sensitivity, selectivity, and limitations in differentiating sucralose from natural carbohydrates and other sweeteners. The review highlights the pressing need for novel detection methods that not only improve accuracy in trace detection but also address growing concerns about its bioaccumulation and conversion into harmful metabolites. Advancing these analytical techniques is essential for enhancing food safety, public health surveillance, and environmental risk assessment. Chromatographic methods are dominant in sucralose determination in foods and environmental objects, as they allow the determination of sucralose at micro- and nanomolar levels. However, spectrophotometric and electrochemical methods are frequently used as complementary to chromatographic methodologies, sensitizing them. On the other hand, purely spectrophotometric methods are less popular, and electrochemical methods remain underdeveloped. Therefore, the advancement of sucralose determination must be due to cheaper chromatographic and classical electrochemical methods. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Food Chemical Safety)
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51 pages, 4433 KiB  
Review
Research Progress in Current and Emerging Issues of PFASs’ Global Impact: Long-Term Health Effects and Governance of Food Systems
by Jocelyn C. Lee, Slim Smaoui, John Duffill, Ben Marandi and Theodoros Varzakas
Foods 2025, 14(6), 958; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14060958 - 11 Mar 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 4970
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are found everywhere, including food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. This review introduces PFASs comprehensively, discussing their nature and identifying their interconnection with microplastics and their impacts on public health and the environment. The human cost of decades of delay, [...] Read more.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are found everywhere, including food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. This review introduces PFASs comprehensively, discussing their nature and identifying their interconnection with microplastics and their impacts on public health and the environment. The human cost of decades of delay, cover-ups, and mismanagement of PFASs and plastic waste is outlined and briefly explained. Following that, PFASs and long-term health effects are critically assessed. Risk assessment is then critically reviewed, mentioning different tools and models. Scientific research and health impacts in the United States of America are critically analyzed, taking into consideration the Center for Disease Control (CDC)’s PFAS Medical Studies and Guidelines. PFAS impact and activities studies around the world have focused on PFAS levels in food products and dietary intake in different countries such as China, European countries, USA and Australia. Moreover, PFASs in drinking water and food are outlined with regard to risks, mitigation, and regulatory needs, taking into account chemical contaminants in food and their impact on health and safety. Finally, PFAS impact and activities briefings specific to regions around the world are discussed, referring to Australia, Vietnam, Canada, Europe, the United States of America (USA), South America, and Africa. The PFAS crisis is a multifaceted issue, exacerbated by mismanagement, and it is discussed in the context of applying the following problem-solving analytical tools: the Domino Effect Model of accident causation, the Swiss Cheese Theory Model, and the Ishikawa Fish Bone Root Cause Analysis. Last but not least, PFASs’ impacts on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of 2030 are rigorously discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Food Chemical Safety)
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