Food Flavor Formation Mechanism and Control

A Special Issue of Foods (ISSN 2304-8158) belonging to the section "Food Physics and (Bio)Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 November 2026 | Viewed by 1339

Editors


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Guest Editor
College of Light Industry, Liaoning University, Shenyang, China
Interests: food flavor formation mechanism; multi-omics fusion analysis; innovation of fermented foods; food quality control
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The contemporary challenge in food flavor science is no longer merely describing formation pathways but achieving predictive control over the entire flavor lifecycle—from precursor reactions to sensory perception. This Special Issue aims to bridge this gap by championing the integration of multi-omics technologies (e.g., volatilomics, peptidomics, lipidomics, metabolomics) with advanced predictive modeling. While omics tools collectively provide a comprehensive molecular cartography of flavor compounds and their precursors, a critical research gap exists in effectively fusing this heterogeneous data to construct robust, predictive models. We seek contributions that synergize multi-omics discovery with computational intelligence—like machine learning and kinetic modeling—to forecast flavor formation under novel processing conditions and quantify the binding affinity of key aroma compounds with various food matrices. By coupling these analytical techniques with sensory science, this issue aims to elucidate how the entire flavor pathway, from precursor reactions to in-mouth release, is governed by the food matrix. The ultimate goal is to progress from correlation to causation, enabling the de novo design of tailored flavor profiles and food structures. We invite research that uses these integrated approaches to decode the flavor lifecycle, paving the way for targeted and personalized food products. 

Dr. Xuhui Huang
Dr. Jia-Nan Chen
Guest Editors

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 3938 KB  
Article
Competitive Binding of Gingerol Homologs to Fish Myofibrillar Protein Reduces the Retention of Aldehydic Off-Odor Compounds
by Hui-Lin Zhao, Yu-Ting Jiao, Lei Qin, Jia-Nan Chen and Xu-Hui Huang
Foods 2026, 15(18), 3216; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods15183216 - 11 Sep 2026
Viewed by 178
Abstract
Persistent aldehydic off-notes in fish products are influenced not only by lipid oxidation but also by protein-associated retention of odor-active aldehydes. A remaining question is how gingerol side-chain length and aldehyde structure jointly alter this apparent retention. Mackerel myofibrillar protein (MP) was therefore [...] Read more.
Persistent aldehydic off-notes in fish products are influenced not only by lipid oxidation but also by protein-associated retention of odor-active aldehydes. A remaining question is how gingerol side-chain length and aldehyde structure jointly alter this apparent retention. Mackerel myofibrillar protein (MP) was therefore combined with (E)-2-decenal (T2D), (E,E)-2,4-decadienal (DDE), or trans-4,5-epoxy-(E)-2-decenal (E2D), with or without 6-, 8-, or 10-gingerol. Headspace solid-phase microextraction–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, interaction disruptors, spectroscopy, molecular docking, and 100 ns molecular dynamics simulations were integrated. All three gingerols decreased the apparent aldehyde-binding ratio of MP. At 125 µmol/g protein, 10-gingerol reduced T2D, DDE, and E2D binding from approximately 81%, 72%, and 85% to 68%, 65%, and 68%, respectively. Spectroscopic responses were consistent with changes in the optical and conformational environment; fluorescence was interpreted as apparent quenching without numerical inner-filter correction, and CD band changes provided evidence of a treatment-related conformational response without assigning exact secondary-structure fractions. Docking ranked 8-gingerol most favorably, whereas the selected binary MYH7-10-gingerol trajectory showed greater pocket residence and a more favorable MM/GBSA estimate than the corresponding MYH7-DDE trajectory. The combined evidence supports a three-layer working model involving matrix partitioning, protein-level site accessibility, and pocket-level competition. These findings provide a mechanistic basis for sensory validation rather than direct proof of deodorization. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Food Flavor Formation Mechanism and Control)
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16 pages, 1930 KB  
Article
Deciphering Flavor Signatures of Early-Maturing Table Grapes: A Synergistic Multi-Sensor Approach Using E-Nose, GC-MS, and GC-IMS
by Ci Zhang, Jinglin Zhang, Qiankun Wang, Hui He, Wenlong Shan, Hui Li, Fangfang Wang, Wenpeng Shan and Hongru Liu
Foods 2026, 15(13), 2390; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods15132390 - 5 Jul 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 492
Abstract
Although early-maturing table grapes possess significant commercial value, the metabolic impact of shortened ripening cycles on aroma-quality interactions remains underexplored. This study comprehensively characterized seven cultivars via integrated physicochemical phenotyping (firmness, total soluble solids, and phenolic content) coupled with a multi-platform volatile analysis [...] Read more.
Although early-maturing table grapes possess significant commercial value, the metabolic impact of shortened ripening cycles on aroma-quality interactions remains underexplored. This study comprehensively characterized seven cultivars via integrated physicochemical phenotyping (firmness, total soluble solids, and phenolic content) coupled with a multi-platform volatile analysis using E-nose, GC–MS, and GC–IMS. Based on instrumental volatile profiling, the cultivars were classified into three aroma-related groups: a Muscat-type (HY, HMG, JM), enriched in floral monoterpenes; a Strawberry-type (XL, ZML), dominated by fruity, honey-like esters and aldehydes; and a Neutral-type (CG, SB), defined by herbaceous C6 compounds. Notably, the combined use of E-nose, GC–MS, and GC–IMS provided complementary information for differentiating cultivar-specific volatile profiles. In particular, GC–IMS improved the detection of trace low-molecular-weight volatiles, thereby refining the characterization of cultivar-dependent aroma-related compounds. These findings provide an instrumental basis for understanding volatile differences among early-maturing table grapes and offer useful information for cultivar evaluation, flavor-oriented breeding, and postharvest quality management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Food Flavor Formation Mechanism and Control)
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