Meat Processing Technologies: Innovations in Quality, Safety, and Sensory

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2026 | Viewed by 270

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
School of Food and Nutrition, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
Interests: meat processing; food microbiology; food safety; microbial control of meat products

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Food and Nutrition, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
Interests: thermal hazards; meat safety control; meat processing

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue of Foods, ‘Meat Processing Technologies: Innovations in Quality, Safety, and Sensory’, aims to highlight recent advances and future directions in meat science and technology. We welcome submissions that explore innovative processing and preservation methods, microbial control strategies, safety assurance, and comprehensive evaluations of meat quality and sensory characteristics. Both original research and review papers are encouraged.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Novel processing and preservation technologies for meat and meat products;
  • Microbial control and food safety strategies;
  • Formation and inhibition of harmful compounds;
  • Quality evaluation methods, including sensory, nutritional, and functional properties;
  • Application of emerging technologies and interdisciplinary approaches in meat processing.

This Special Issue provides a platform for researchers, technologists, and industry professionals to share cutting-edge findings and practical solutions that can drive innovation in the meat industry and contribute to healthier and safer foods for consumers worldwide.

Dr. Lele Shao
Dr. Lang Zhang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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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

  • meat products
  • meat processing
  • meat preservation
  • microbial control
  • meat quality
  • sensory
  • meat safety

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 1241 KB  
Article
Rapid Detection of Chicken Residues on Poultry Plant Surfaces Using Color and Fluorescence Spectrometry
by Clark Griscom, Dongyi Wang, Corliss A. O’Bryan, Rimmo Rõõm and Philip G. Crandall
Foods 2025, 14(24), 4352; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14244352 (registering DOI) - 18 Dec 2025
Abstract
Color and fluorescence spectrometry were evaluated as rapid, objective tools for verifying the cleanliness of poultry-processing food-contacting surfaces contaminated with a model chicken solution across six common materials. Both techniques detected chicken residues at dilutions several orders of magnitude below human visual and [...] Read more.
Color and fluorescence spectrometry were evaluated as rapid, objective tools for verifying the cleanliness of poultry-processing food-contacting surfaces contaminated with a model chicken solution across six common materials. Both techniques detected chicken residues at dilutions several orders of magnitude below human visual and olfactory thresholds, with stainless steel and blue plastic yielding the largest color differences between clean and contaminated states and fluorescence measurements remaining highly sensitive on all tested surfaces. Representative limits of detection were on the order of 1:50–1:100 dilution of chicken residue for color measurements on most surfaces and approximately 1:50 for fluorescence measurements, compared with human detection thresholds of approximately 1:50. Cleaning chemicals routinely used in poultry plants did not measurably reduce detection performance, and a simple machine learning classifier further improved separation of clean versus contaminated readings. These findings indicate that compact color and fluorescence instruments can provide fast, quantitative pre-sanitation checks that strengthen SSOP verification and reduce reliance on subjective human inspection in poultry processing facilities. Full article
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18 pages, 2985 KB  
Article
Bioprotective Potential of Pediococcus acidilactici L1 and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum HG1-1 in Harbin Red Sausage Under Vacuum Packaging
by Qiang Wang, Kaida Zhang, Qian Chen, Haotian Liu, Chao Zhang, Qian Liu and Baohua Kong
Foods 2025, 14(24), 4293; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14244293 - 13 Dec 2025
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Abstract
Effective biopreservation strategies are essential to maintain product quality and extend shelf life. However, the low storage temperature (4 °C) of low-temperature meat products limits the growth and activity of most protective cultures, highlighting the need for psychrotrophic strains. This study evaluated the [...] Read more.
Effective biopreservation strategies are essential to maintain product quality and extend shelf life. However, the low storage temperature (4 °C) of low-temperature meat products limits the growth and activity of most protective cultures, highlighting the need for psychrotrophic strains. This study evaluated the impact of various bioprotective cultures on the bacterial counts, physicochemical quality, flavor profile, and sensory characteristics of the Harbin red sausage under vacuum packaging for 28 days. In comparison with the control (uninoculated) and B2 (commercial Latilactobacillus sakei B2) groups, individual and mixed (1:1) inoculations with psychrotrophic Pediococcus acidilactici L1 and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum HG1-1 significantly inhibited the growth of Acinetobacter and Staphylococcus (p < 0.05), providing the sausage with superior color and texture and delaying lipid oxidation, thereby improving the sausage’s overall acceptability on day 28. The electronic nose analyses indicated that Harbin red sausages inoculated with individual and mixed cultures of Pe. acidilactici L1 and Lac. plantarum HG1-1 exhibited less development of odor compounds during storage. Overall, both individual and mixed inoculations with Pe. acidilactici L1 and Lac. plantarum HG1-1 showed superior bioprotective effects on Harbin red sausages under vacuum packaging compared with commercial Lat. sakei B2, with the mixed inoculation treatment being the most effective. Full article
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