From Farm to Fork: Managing Risks and Safety in Animal-Derived Food Systems

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026 | Viewed by 1248

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Animal Science, University of Thessaly, Larisa, Greece
Interests: food of animal origin hygiene and safety; technology and quality control; food safety and quality management systems; organic production; nutritional and health claims; food regulatory affairs; contaminants

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Guest Editor
Department of Agricultural Sciences, Biotechnology and Food Science, Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol, Cyprus
Interests: dairy; cheese; lactic acid bacteria; fermentation; bioactivity; donkey milk; minimal processing
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
Department of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Thessaly, Karditsa, Greece
Interests: microbiological quality and safety of foods; predictive microbiology; microbial risk assessment; shelf-life studies; microbial interactions and microbial diversity of foods; microencapsulation of probiotic microorganisms in dairy and meat products

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The safety of animal-derived foods is fundamental to protecting public health and maintaining consumer confidence in global food systems. As the complexity of production and supply chains increases, so do the challenges of identifying, assessing, and controlling risks associated with animal-origin foods. This Special Issue of Foods, “From Farm to Fork: Managing Risks and Safety in Animal-Derived Food Systems”, invites original research papers, reviews, and case studies that advance knowledge and practice in food safety, risk assessment, and quality control along the entire food chain. Contributions that integrate perspectives from food science, veterinary public health, microbiology, toxicology, epidemiology, and data-driven technologies are especially encouraged.

Topics of Interest Include the Following:

  • Quantitative and qualitative risk assessment approaches for animal-derived foods;
  • Emerging biological, chemical, and physical hazards in meat, dairy, eggs, seafood, and other animal-based products;
  • Antimicrobial resistance and its implications for food safety;
  • Innovative detection, monitoring, and traceability technologies;
  • Advances in hygienic processing and safety control measures;
  • Risk communication and consumer perception of food safety;
  • Regulatory frameworks and international harmonization of food safety standards;
  • Sustainability and animal welfare aspects linked to safe food production.

Dr. Eleni Malissiova
Dr. Photis Papademas
Dr. Myrsini Kakagianni
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

  • food safety
  • risk assessment
  • animal-derived foods
  • antimicrobial resistance
  • foodborne pathogens
  • supply chain management
  • hazard control
  • food quality
  • traceability
  • One Health

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

16 pages, 1230 KB  
Article
Diversity of Mycotoxigenic Penicillium and Associated Mycobiota in Dry-Cured Meat (Cecina, León, Spain) Revealed by a Polyphasic Approach
by Daniela Cristina Solo de Zaldivar Ribeiro, Alberto Pintor-Cora, Ángel Alegría, Jesús A. Santos, Jose M. Rodríguez-Calleja and Teresa M. López-Díaz
Foods 2026, 15(6), 1056; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods15061056 - 17 Mar 2026
Viewed by 570
Abstract
Cecina de León is a traditional Spanish dry-cured beef product whose surface, as in other similar meat products, becomes heavily colonised by fungi during ripening, raising concerns related to possible mycotoxin contamination. This study aimed to characterise the mycobiota associated with cecina and [...] Read more.
Cecina de León is a traditional Spanish dry-cured beef product whose surface, as in other similar meat products, becomes heavily colonised by fungi during ripening, raising concerns related to possible mycotoxin contamination. This study aimed to characterise the mycobiota associated with cecina and its production environment, with particular emphasis on mycotoxigenic Penicillium species. Seventy-eight cecina samples and 26 air samples were collected from meat-processing plants and local markets in the province of León (Spain) and analysed for fungal counts, water activity and pH. A total of 101 mould isolates and 16 yeasts were recovered, with Penicillium accounting for 88% of all moulds. Sixteen Penicillium species were identified using a polyphasic approach integrating macro- and micromorphological analysis, extrolite production, molecular markers (BenA, CaM and ITS), and MALDI-TOF MS. Mycotoxin screening by HPTLC and HPLC-PDA targeted cyclopiazonic acid, ochratoxin A, patulin, citrinin, griseofulvin and mycophenolic acid, revealing that 51% of the Penicillium isolates were mycotoxin producers, mainly P. commune. The proposed polyphasic strategy, including MALDI-TOF MS as a rapid complementary tool, offers a practical framework for the surveillance of fungal communities and mycotoxin risk in meat-processing environments. Full article
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