Cereal and Cereal Products: Quality, Functionality, Health Security and Application of New Technologies

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2025 | Viewed by 7256

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Food Technology in Novi Sad, Bulevar Cara Lazara 1, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
Interests: value-added cereal food product development; the application of new technologies and new scientific achievements in food processing to preserve the functional properties of processed foods based on cereals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Food Technology, University of Novi Sad, Bulevar Cara Lazara 1, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
Interests: food quality and safety; mycotoxin occurrence related to weather conditions; mycotoxin mitigation measures (conventional and novel techniques); novel cereal-based product development

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Cereals are extremely important for human civilization. People have been using cereal grains in their diet since the dawn of time, and this is particularly true at present as, due to consumers’ returning to the natural sources of food, integral cereals have become the basis of proper nutrition. Cereals are rich in complex carbohydrates. which provide long-lasting energy, maintain stable blood sugar levels and contain B group vitamins and minerals such as iron, magnesium and zinc. Whole grains are particularly rich in dietary fiber, which improves digestion and maintains healthy intestinal flora. However, antinutrients present in grains can interfere with the digestion and absorption of nutrients. Nevertheless, these antinutrients can be broken down through soaking, sprouting and fermentation. Key targets for the production of cereals are producing high-nutritional-value organic cereals and preserving health safety in  response to climate change.

Three-dimensional food printing, as an additive technology, is currently being used to produce cereal-based products (3D printed snacks, 3D printed biscuits, etc.).

Consumers’ primarily demand a health-safe products made of health-safe raw materials, which can be achieved with modern techniques (cold plasmas, ozone treatment, etc.), which also contribute to the improvement of the techno-functional properties of cereals and cereal-based foods.

This Special Issue considers the quality, functionality, and health safety of cereals and cereal-based products, as well as the application of new technologies for producing health-safe and nutritionally valuable cereal-based products.

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

  • Quality of cereals and cereal products;
  • Health safety of cereals and cereal products;
  • Novel cereal processing technologies;
  • Methods of removing antinutrients from cereal products;
  • Functional cereal products;
  • Cereal waste management.

Dr. Olivera Šimurina
Dr. Elizabet Janić Hajnal
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

  • physicochemical properties
  • nutritional properties
  • sensory properties
  • cereals antinutrients
  • contaminants
  • health security
  • cereal waste
  • new cereal product and technology
  • bioactive compounds

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

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

Published Papers (4 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

20 pages, 2730 KiB  
Article
The Domestication and Cultivation of Pholiota adiposa and Its High-Temperature Adaptability: Enhancing the Utilization of Agricultural Residues and Grain Nutrition in Northeast China
by Hu Lou, Baozhen Fan, Chao Guo, Yurong Liang, Weizhi Wang, Enze Yu, Jie Zhang and Guocai Zhang
Foods 2025, 14(10), 1779; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14101779 (registering DOI) - 16 May 2025
Abstract
Pholiota adiposa is a macrofungi that is rich in nutrients and has a delicious taste. Eating more can improve human immunity and inhibit cancer. However, the P. adiposa yield is low and cannot meet market demand. Therefore, strain improvement was carried out by [...] Read more.
Pholiota adiposa is a macrofungi that is rich in nutrients and has a delicious taste. Eating more can improve human immunity and inhibit cancer. However, the P. adiposa yield is low and cannot meet market demand. Therefore, strain improvement was carried out by exploring the mechanism of stress adaptation in P. adiposa. In addition, fermentation of the four common grains by P. adiposa mycelia increased their nutrient content and improved their antioxidant capacity. The results revealed that the growth of the mycelium was greatest when sucrose was used as the carbon source at 25 °C. At 35 °C, the MDA content and cellulase enzyme activity of the mycelia decreased by 27.6% and 40.8%, respectively, from 2 to 4 days, and the SOD, CAT, and GR enzyme activities increased by 31.6%, 49.2%, and 1.2%, respectively. The fermentation results revealed that the soluble protein content, reducing sugar content, and DPPH free radical scavenging ability of the fermented grains were significantly greater than those of the unfermented grains. This study can be used to cultivate macrofungi with environmental adaptability and provides a basis for the utilization of biological waste and increased food nutrition. Full article
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

26 pages, 2409 KiB  
Article
A Novel Non-Alcoholic Einkorn-Based Beverage Produced by Lactic Acid Fermentation: Microbiological, Chemical, and Sensory Assessment
by Antonietta Maoloni, Martina Cirlini, Lorenzo Del Vecchio, Raquel Torrijos, Eleonora Carini, Giorgia Rampanti, Federica Cardinali, Vesna Milanović, Cristiana Garofalo, Andrea Osimani and Lucia Aquilanti
Foods 2024, 13(23), 3923; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13233923 - 4 Dec 2024
Viewed by 1374
Abstract
Einkorn (Triticum monococcum L. ssp. monococcum) is gaining renewed interest for its high nutritional value and digestibility. Lactic acid fermentation could enhance these properties by improving micronutrient bioavailability, sensory properties, and shelf life. This study aimed to develop a novel non-alcoholic [...] Read more.
Einkorn (Triticum monococcum L. ssp. monococcum) is gaining renewed interest for its high nutritional value and digestibility. Lactic acid fermentation could enhance these properties by improving micronutrient bioavailability, sensory properties, and shelf life. This study aimed to develop a novel non-alcoholic einkorn-based beverage through lactic acid fermentation. A multiple-strain starter was selected based on acidifying properties and inoculated into an einkorn-based substrate to produce a yogurt-like beverage. Prototypes were evaluated through physico-chemical, chemical, and microbiological analyses and compared to uninoculated controls. A sensory analysis was also performed to assess flavor attributes before and after lactic acid fermentation. The inoculated starter culture reached a load of approximately 9 Log CFU g⁻¹ and remained viable throughout storage, leading to an increase in lactic acid concentration and high titratable acidity, corresponding to low pH values. Total polyphenol content increased during fermentation and remained stable during storage, whereas antioxidant activity did not show significant differences over time. An increase in monosaccharides, acids, and ketones was observed during fermentation and storage. The prototypes exhibited a distinctive proximate composition, along with yogurt and fruity aroma notes. These results suggest the feasibility of producing a safe and stable non-alcoholic einkorn-based fermented beverage with appealing sensory characteristics. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 3477 KiB  
Article
Retention of Phytochemical Compounds and Antioxidative Activity in Traditional Baked Dish “proja” Made from Pigmented Maize
by Olivera Šimurina, Bojana Filipčev, Biljana Kiprovski, Zvonko Nježić, Elizabet Janić Hajnal and Ivica Đalović
Foods 2024, 13(17), 2799; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13172799 - 3 Sep 2024
Viewed by 1094
Abstract
Two genotypes of pigmented maize (black (BM) and red (RM)) were used as flour ingredients in several formulations of the traditional baked maize dish “proja”. This study investigated the stability of phytochemical compounds and antioxidant activity in proja as affected by baking and [...] Read more.
Two genotypes of pigmented maize (black (BM) and red (RM)) were used as flour ingredients in several formulations of the traditional baked maize dish “proja”. This study investigated the stability of phytochemical compounds and antioxidant activity in proja as affected by baking and different acidity degrees of dough formulations. Compared to RM proja, all BM proja formulations were significantly higher in antioxidant compounds and exhibited the highest inhibitory activity (73–85%) against DPPH. There was a strong significant correlation between DPPH inhibition and total phenolics (r2 = 0.95), flavonoids (r2 = 0.96), and anthocyanins (r2 = 0.97) in baked proja. After baking, 67–85% of total phenolics were retained. The fate of flavonoids and anthocyanins after baking was variable: from 70% degradation to liberation. Dough acidity significantly and positively affected the content of phenolics, flavonoids, and anthocyanins in BM proja (r2 = 0.70, 0.82, and 0.47, respectively). Baking increased antioxidant activity against DPPH, OH, and O2•− radicals in proja, except for ≈10% decline of DPPH inhibition in BM proja. In RM proja, retention of inhibitory capacity against O2•− was highly correlated to flavonoid retention (r2 = 0.71). Using pigmented maize flour in proja baking resulted in proja with appreciable content of total phenolics, flavonoids, anthocyanins, and high antioxidant activity, confirming the significant improvement of the nutrient profile of this traditional food. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

24 pages, 2052 KiB  
Article
Quality Optimization and Evaluation of New Cookie Product with Celery Root Powder Addition
by Milica Nićetin, Jelena Filipović, Ivica Djalović, Dragica Stanković, Goran Trivan, Milenko Košutić, Dragan Živančev and Vladimir Filipović
Foods 2024, 13(17), 2712; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13172712 - 27 Aug 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3809
Abstract
Combined drying, an energy-efficient method that includes osmotic pretreatment in molasses and shortened successive lyophilization, was used to obtain celery root powder and incorporate it in the formulation of cookies, with the aim of obtaining a new product. Wheat flour was substituted with [...] Read more.
Combined drying, an energy-efficient method that includes osmotic pretreatment in molasses and shortened successive lyophilization, was used to obtain celery root powder and incorporate it in the formulation of cookies, with the aim of obtaining a new product. Wheat flour was substituted with combinedly dehydrated celery root powder at levels from 0 to 30%, and optimization of the amount of wheat flour substitution regarding technological, sensory and nutritive characteristics was performed. The optimal level of 20% substitution was determined using Z-score analysis, from the aspect of the best nutritive improvement and the mildest adverse impact on the technological and sensory quality. In the second research phase, comparison of the cookies with the 20% celery root powder substitution, dehydrated by different methods, indicated that combined dehydration showed upgraded results in terms of the overall quality of the final product, for 28.85 percentile points higher than cookies with lyophilized and for 65.24 percentile points higher than cookies with the addition of convectively dried celery root powder. The cookie containing celery powder previously osmodehydrated in molasses had higher contents of analyzed minerals (1.2–3.3 times), total phenols (10.8%) and antioxidant activities (14% for DPPH and 4% for ABTS) compared to the cookie with lyophilized powder. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop