Advances of Novel Technologies in Food Analysis and Food Safety

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2025 | Viewed by 2002

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
School of Food and Biological Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
Interests: food packaging; food safety; colorimetric film; meat freshness

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Food and Biological Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
Interests: food safety; food quality; colorimetric sensor; rapid detection; food packaging
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The safety and quality of food products have become central concerns in today’s globalized food industry. As consumer awareness and regulatory standards continue to rise, there is an increasing demand for innovative, efficient, and rapid analytical techniques to ensure food safety and quality. The integration of novel technologies into food analysis presents a critical opportunity to enhance our ability to detect contaminants, monitor food integrity, and improve food packaging solutions, ultimately safeguarding public health and consumer confidence. This Special Issue welcomes original research papers, reviews, and short communications that highlight recent advancements in the application of novel technologies for food analysis and food safety. We are particularly interested in studies that address new methodologies for rapid detection, innovative sensor systems (e.g., colorimetric sensors), and improvements in food packaging to preserve quality.

Dr. Junjun Zhang
Dr. Xiaowei Huang
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

  • rapid detection methods
  • food safety
  • food analysis
  • food integrity
  • food preservation
  • food quality control
  • food sensors

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Review

21 pages, 956 KiB  
Review
Food Fraud in Plant-Based Proteins: Analytical Strategies and Regulatory Perspectives
by Jun-Hyeok Ham, Yeon-Jung Lee, Seung-Su Lee and Hae-Yeong Kim
Foods 2025, 14(9), 1548; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14091548 - 28 Apr 2025
Viewed by 669
Abstract
Food fraud and adulteration have been persistent issues affecting food supply chains throughout history. They intensify in parallel with the continuous growth in the global food market. Plant-based proteins, which are recognized as sustainable alternatives, face increased food fraud risks because of disparities [...] Read more.
Food fraud and adulteration have been persistent issues affecting food supply chains throughout history. They intensify in parallel with the continuous growth in the global food market. Plant-based proteins, which are recognized as sustainable alternatives, face increased food fraud risks because of disparities in the cost of raw materials and complex processing methods. Despite these challenges, most efforts toward preventing food fraud and developing detection technologies have largely focused on animal-based products, with limited attention given to plant-based proteins. This comprehensive review systematically examines the characteristics of major plant protein sources and explores documented instances of food fraud (e.g., ingredient substitution, adulteration with lower-cost alternatives, and mislabeling) within this sector. Furthermore, we discuss key analytical techniques in detecting food fraud, including chromatography, DNA analysis, spectroscopy, and imaging-based approaches, examining their applications and effectiveness. A systematic literature review was conducted using structured search strategies across Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed, covering publications from 2010 to 2025 and incorporating keywords related to plant-based proteins, food fraud, adulteration, and authentication, thereby ensuring methodological rigor and comprehensive coverage. This study provides a foundational framework to strengthen food fraud prevention strategies and uphold the integrity of the expanding plant-based protein market. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances of Novel Technologies in Food Analysis and Food Safety)
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23 pages, 1265 KiB  
Review
Review of Recent Advances in Intelligent and Antibacterial Packaging for Meat Quality and Safety
by Junjun Zhang, Jianing Zhang, Lidan Zhang, Zhou Qin and Tianxing Wang
Foods 2025, 14(7), 1157; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14071157 - 26 Mar 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1120
Abstract
Intelligent and antimicrobial packaging technologies are transforming meat preservation by enhancing food safety, enabling real-time quality monitoring, and extending shelf life. This review critically examines advancements in intelligent systems, including radio frequency identification (RFID), gas sensors, time-temperature indicators (TTIs), and colorimetric indicators for [...] Read more.
Intelligent and antimicrobial packaging technologies are transforming meat preservation by enhancing food safety, enabling real-time quality monitoring, and extending shelf life. This review critically examines advancements in intelligent systems, including radio frequency identification (RFID), gas sensors, time-temperature indicators (TTIs), and colorimetric indicators for continuous freshness assessment. A key focus is natural compound-based chromogenic indicators, which establish visual spoilage detection via distinct color transitions. Concurrently, antimicrobial systems integrating inorganic compounds, organic bioactive agents, and natural antimicrobials effectively inhibit microbial growth. Strategic incorporation of these agents into polymeric matrices enhances meat safety, supported by standardized evaluation protocols for regulatory compliance and quality assurance. Future research should prioritize optimizing sensitivity, cost-efficiency, and sustainability, alongside developing biodegradable materials to balance food safety with reduced environmental impact, advancing sustainable food supply chains. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances of Novel Technologies in Food Analysis and Food Safety)
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