Evaluation of Food Safety Performance

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2026 | Viewed by 1132

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Food Safety and Quality Management, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade, Nemanjina 6, 11080 Belgrade, Serbia
Interests: food safety and quality; food modeling; food oral processing; sustainable diets; food sustainability
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
Faculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade, 11080 Belgrade, Serbia
Interests: food safety; food microbiology; predictive microbiology; food legislation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Food safety performance is a crucial aspect of ensuring consumer protection and maintaining trust in the agri-food chain. It is usually associated with evaluating the effectiveness of the implemented food safety management system and the product-based food safety output. Although various assessment approaches are available, there is still a lack of consensus on the definition of benchmarking indicators applicable throughout the agri-food chain. Therefore, we welcome authors from around the globe to address recent advances in food safety performance evaluation, bearing in mind the holistic approach that enables the multi-scaling of food safety management at product, process, and company levels.

In this Special Issue, we encourage authors to submit conceptual and empirical contributions as original research manuscripts or reviews related to, but not limited, to the following topics: methods of monitoring, measurement, analysis, and evaluation of different food safety dimensions; evaluation of the food safety compliance of products/services throughout the agri-food chain; development of food safety indicators; effectiveness of food safety management systems; evaluation of food safety risks and opportunities; food safety effectiveness of supply chains; evaluation of food safety verification; and effectiveness of validated control measures. 

Prof. Dr. Ilija Djekic
Prof. Dr. Nada Smigic
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • monitoring and measurement of food safety
  • food safety indicators
  • food safety verification
  • analysis and evaluation of food safety

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

25 pages, 1755 KB  
Article
Unpacking Consumer Purchase Intentions Toward Plant-Based Meat Alternatives: An Integrated TPB–VAB Approach Using PLS-SEM, fsQCA, and NCA
by Jialiang Pan, Kun-Shan Wu and Hui-Ting Liu
Foods 2025, 14(20), 3525; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14203525 - 16 Oct 2025
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Abstract
Plant-based meat alternatives (PBMAs) are gaining momentum in response to rising demand for sustainable and healthier diets. Drawing on an integrated framework combining the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and the Value–Attitude–Behavior (VAB) model, this study explores key determinants shaping consumers’ purchase intention [...] Read more.
Plant-based meat alternatives (PBMAs) are gaining momentum in response to rising demand for sustainable and healthier diets. Drawing on an integrated framework combining the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and the Value–Attitude–Behavior (VAB) model, this study explores key determinants shaping consumers’ purchase intention towards PBMAs in Taiwan. This study performed Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM), fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) and necessary condition analysis (NCA) to evaluate the formation of consumers’ PBMA purchase intention. The PLS-SEM results revealed that both environmental consciousness and health consciousness exert a significant influence on consumer attitudes, which, together with subjective norms and perceived behavioral control, positively predict purchase intention. fsQCA revealed six distinct combinations of conditions leading to high purchase intention, while NCA identified environmental consciousness, health consciousness, and the three TPB components as necessary conditions. The results highlight the mediating role of attitude and underscore the value of integrating multiple analytical perspectives to capture the complexity of consumer decision-making. This research advances both theoretical understanding and practical application by elucidating the psychological mechanisms underpinning PBMA adoption and by providing evidence-based implications for strategic marketing within the plant-based food sector. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Evaluation of Food Safety Performance)
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14 pages, 1535 KB  
Article
Evaluation of a Method for Assessing Food Contamination Based on a Shopping Mall Model
by Marcin Niemcewicz, Rafał Szelenberger, Weronika Grabowska, Natalia Cichon, Marcin Podogrocki and Michal Bijak
Foods 2025, 14(17), 3110; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14173110 - 5 Sep 2025
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Abstract
This study evaluated a novel methodology for assessing food safety vulnerabilities in shopping malls by integrating Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), Threat Assessment and Critical Points (TACCP), and Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA). Inspections were conducted in nine shopping centers [...] Read more.
This study evaluated a novel methodology for assessing food safety vulnerabilities in shopping malls by integrating Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), Threat Assessment and Critical Points (TACCP), and Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA). Inspections were conducted in nine shopping centers across Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Spain to identify the risk of intentional/unintentional contamination with chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear agents. The assessment considered key operational areas, including food delivery, transportation, staff security, back-office access, product handling, and inspection protocols. Risk levels were quantified using FMEA parameters. The findings revealed an overall high to average risk score with the most critical vulnerabilities linked to back-office access, unauthorized personnel entry, and susceptibility to fraudulent inspections. Observations also highlighted infrastructural shortcomings, insufficient monitoring, and procedural gaps that could facilitate contamination. The proposed methodology offers a structured, quantitative framework for identifying and prioritizing food safety hazards in public environments. Implementing targeted countermeasures—such as enhanced surveillance, strict access control, staff training, and dedicated food handling protocols—can substantially reduce risks, thereby strengthening public health protection and operational resilience. This approach may serve as a promising framework for integrating food defense and safety assessments for food defense in high-density commercial facilities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Evaluation of Food Safety Performance)
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