Special Issues

Foods publishes Special Issues to create collections of papers on specific topics, with the aim of building a community of authors and readers to discuss the latest research and develop new ideas and research directions. Special Issues are led by Guest Editors, who are experts on the topic and all Special Issue submissions follow MDPI's standard editorial process. The journal’s Editor-in-Chief and/or designated Editorial Board Member will oversee Guest Editor appointments and Special Issue proposals, checking their content for relevance and ensuring the suitability of the material for the journal. The papers published in a Special Issue will be collected and displayed on a dedicated page of the journal’s website. Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies and Guest Editor responsibilities can be found here. For any inquiries related to a Special Issue, please contact the Editorial Office.

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Food Proteins and Bioactive Peptides: Novel Sources, Characteristics and Applications—Second Edition
edited by and
submission deadline 10 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 132 | Submission Open
Keywords: bioactive peptides; plant-based proteins; animal-based proteins; nutritional quality; functional properties
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Physics and (Bio)Chemistry)
Functional and Fermentative Microbes in Food: Diversity, Ecology, and Applications
edited by Jing Hou and Henglin Cui
submission deadline 10 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 70 | Submission Open
Keywords: food fermentation; probiotics and lactic acid bacteria; functional microbes; food microbial diversity; food microbial ecology; food microbial taxonomy; enzymes in food
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Microbiology)
Starch and Starch-Based Products: Processing, Functions and Applications—2nd Edition
edited by and
submission deadline 14 Jan 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 2081 | Submission Open
Keywords: starch and starch-based food processing; and starch structure modification; the application of modified starch; the function of starch-based food; starch-based novel materials; including nanoparticles; emulsions; lipsomes; hydrogels; etc.
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Physics and (Bio)Chemistry)
Exploring the Nutritional and Functional Properties of Plant Food-Derived Bioactive Components
edited by
submission deadline 15 Jan 2026 | 7 articles | Viewed by 12449 | Submission Open
Keywords: immunomodulatory activity; anti-diabetic activity; lipid-lowering activity; anti-tumor activity; antioxidant activity; anti-inflammatory activity; antibacterial activity; alkaloids; flavonoids; nysin; sterols; volatile oils
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Nutrition)
Advances in the Application of Cold Plasma Technology for Food Quality and Safety submission deadline 15 Jan 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 11691 | Submission Open
Keywords: novel systems; food safety; food quality; pathogen inactivation; shelf-life extension; surface decontamination; non thermal processing; functionality of food materials; sustainability
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Engineering and Technology)
Advance in Starch Chemistry and Technology
edited by and
submission deadline 15 Jan 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 10424 | Submission Open
Keywords: modified starch; physicochemical properties; green methods; non-thermal processing; starch interactions; ultrasound; resistant starch V; biodegradable food packaging; structural properties; digestibility
(This special issue belongs to the Section Grain)
Conventional and Emerging Technologies for Meat Processing
edited by Javier Telis-Romero and Marcio Augusto Ribeiro Sanches
submission deadline 15 Jan 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 6012 | Submission Open
Keywords: meat processing; unconventional technologies; vacuum impregnation; power ultrasound; high-pressure processing; pulsed electric fields; process optimization; process engineering; technological properties
(This special issue belongs to the Section Meat)
Secondary Metabolites from Fruit and Vegetable: Characterization, Bioactivity and Intake
edited by and Mohammad Hossain
submission deadline 15 Jan 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 3583 | Submission Open
Keywords: secondary metabolites; extraction; bioactivity; characterization; health; fruits and vegetables; dietary intake
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plant Foods)
Plant Essential Oils: Extraction Methods and Applications in Food Packaging
edited by Yaowen Liu and
submission deadline 15 Jan 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 2233 | Submission Open
Keywords: plant essential oils; extraction techniques; food packaging; active packaging; encapsulation; antimicrobial; antioxidant; preservation efficacy
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Engineering and Technology)
Starch Structure and Function in the Context of Functional Foods Development
edited by Jiayue Guo and Lingyan Kong
submission deadline 15 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 469 | Submission Open
Keywords: starch structure; starch function; functional foods; digestibility; nutritional profiles; processing techniques
(This special issue belongs to the Section Grain)
Hygiene and Safety of Foods: Health Consequences for Consumers submission deadline 15 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 210 | Submission Open
Keywords: foodborne pathogens; food safety; public health; foodborne disease; food poisoning; regulatory standards; good hygiene practice (GHP); hygiene indicators; disinfectant susceptibility; persistent strains
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Quality and Safety)
Novel Functional Coatings for Food Packaging: Recent Advances and Future Challenges submission deadline 15 Jan 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 128 | Submission Open
Keywords: functional coatings; bio-based materials; sustainable packaging; intelligent packaging; barrier properties; edible coatings; antimicrobial/antioxidant coatings; shelf-life extension; environmental impact; circular economy in packaging
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Packaging and Preservation)
Factors Governing the Structural and Biochemical Breakdown of Starch-Rich Plant Tissues During Digestion
edited by and Edith Agama Acevedo
submission deadline 15 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 83 | Submission Open
Keywords: starch digestion; colon fermentation; starchy foods; structure; processing; amylase
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Physics and (Bio)Chemistry)
Green Analytical Technology for Assessment of the Chemical Risks in Foods
edited by Chen Fan
submission deadline 16 Jan 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 6129 | Submission Open
Keywords: food safety; detection; green solvent; quality control; nanomaterials; sample preparation; hazardous substances; emerging organic contaminants
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Quality and Safety)
Advances in Food Biotechnology: Microbial and Enzymatic Innovations for Sustainable Food Systems
edited by Lilian Raquel Hickert, and Lovaine Silva Duarte
submission deadline 16 Jan 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1152 | Submission Open
Keywords: food biotechnology; microbial fermentation; enzyme; food systems; yeasts; fungi
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Biotechnology)
Nanoemulsions in Food Science: Antimicrobial and Antioxidant
edited by Carlos A. Conte-Junior and
submission deadline 16 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 457 | Submission Open
Keywords: nanotechnology; essential oils; natural antimicrobials; antioxidants; storage; bacterial modulation
Advances in Cereal and Cereal Product Chemistry, Nutrition and Technology: 3rd Edition
edited by and
submission deadline 19 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 80 | Submission Open
Keywords: cereal chemistry; cereal proteins; nutritional functionality; processing technology; wheat dough
(This special issue belongs to the Section Grain)
Impact of Processing on the Biological Effects of Bioactive Compounds in Food submission deadline 20 Jan 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 5128 | Submission Open
Keywords: sustainability; low-carbon-footprint methods; nanotechnology; delivery systems; 3D printing; plant-based food; additive manufacturing technologies
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Nutrition)
Approaches for Improving Nutritional Aspects of Cereals and Cereal-Based Foods
edited by , Bojana Voučko and
submission deadline 20 Jan 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 3843 | Submission Open
Keywords: cereal-based foods; functional foods; consumer preferences; whole grains; clean label; ancient grains; sustainable processing; product development; specific dietary needs
(This special issue belongs to the Section Grain)
Nutrients and Functional Ingredients in Dairy Products
edited by
submission deadline 20 Jan 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 3138 | Submission Open
Keywords: dairy products; nutrients; functional ingredients; bioavailability; health benefits; technological advancements
(This special issue belongs to the Section Dairy)
Starches: From Structure to Functional Properties
edited by Enpeng Li
submission deadline 20 Jan 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 2696 | Submission Open
Keywords: cereal starch; molecular structure; liquid chromatography; starchy food; digestion; sensory aspects
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Physics and (Bio)Chemistry)
Applications of Spectroscopy and Imaging Techniques in Food Quality and Safety
edited by , and Leticia Tessaro
submission deadline 20 Jan 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 1625 | Submission Open
Keywords: food analysis; food composition; authentication; chemometrics; qualitative analysis; quantitative analysis; contaminants
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Analytical Methods)
New Insights into Sources of Nutrients and Bioactive Compounds in Foods—2nd Edition submission deadline 20 Jan 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 895 | Submission Open
Keywords: alternative sources of nutrients; antioxidants; bioactive peptides; biotechnological and nanotechnological methods in food technology; isolation and characterization of bioactive compounds; medicinal plants; naturally derived active ingredients; novel raw materials for food production; phenolic compounds; waste and by-product valorization
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Nutrition)
Comprehensive Utilization of By-Products in Food Industry: 2nd Edition
edited by , Xiaofei Liu, Longwei Jiang, and Congyu Lin
submission deadline 20 Jan 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 401 | Submission Open
Keywords: biomass resource utilization; food industry by-products; high-value utilization; environmentally friendly; processing of agricultural products; green biotechnology; food industry wastewater; clean energy
(This special issue belongs to the Section Nutraceuticals, Functional Foods, and Novel Foods)
Functional Foods: Improving Diet Quality and Supporting Disease Prevention submission deadline 20 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 356 | Submission Open
Keywords: functional foods; natural products; nutritional value; oxidative stress; bioactive compounds; metabolic health; chronic disease management; food innovation; bioactive compounds
(This special issue belongs to the Section Nutraceuticals, Functional Foods, and Novel Foods)
Recent Advances in the Application of Non-Thermal Plasma Technology in the Food Industry: Innovations in Food Safety, Preservation and Quality Enhancement submission deadline 20 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 157 | Submission Open
Keywords: non-thermal plasma; food safety; toxin degradation; decontamination; sterilization; food quality; shelf life; pathogen reduction; food preservation; functional properties
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Engineering and Technology)
Nuts: A Sustainable Raw Material for Food Innovation and Beyond submission deadline 20 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 152 | Submission Open
Keywords: nut-based food products; gluten-free alternatives; functional foods; plant-based diets; bioactive compounds; nuts by-products; sustainability; eco-friendly extraction techniques; non-food applications; waste valorization
(This special issue belongs to the Section Nutraceuticals, Functional Foods, and Novel Foods)
Active Packaging in Food Storage: From Development to Utilization—2nd Edition submission deadline 22 Jan 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 8198 | Submission Open
Keywords: active packaging; shelf life; food safety; food waste; sustainable packaging; lipid oxidation; biopolymers
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Packaging and Preservation)
Novel Approaches for Controlling and Analyzing Microorganisms in Foods: 2nd Edition
edited by and Aline Dias Paiva
submission deadline 22 Jan 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 604 | Submission Open
Keywords: microorganisms; food safety; foodborne pathogens; control; detection; microbial ecology
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Microbiology)
Spectroscopic Methods Applied in Food Quality Determination
edited by
submission deadline 25 Jan 2026 | 5 articles | Viewed by 8465 | Submission Open
Keywords: near-infrared spectroscopy; mid-infrared spectroscopy; Raman spectroscopy; hyperspectral imaging; fluorescence spectroscopy; nuclear magnetic resonance; terahertz spectroscopy; chemometrics; machine learning methods; rapid and non-destructive spectroscopy
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Analytical Methods)
Formulation and Nutritional Aspects of Cereal-Based Functional Foods
edited by
submission deadline 25 Jan 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 7432 | Submission Open
Keywords: cereal-based foods; dietary fibers; functional foods; functional ingredients; health benefits; innovative techniques; metabolic effects; new products; sustainable techniques; whole grains
(This special issue belongs to the Section Grain)
Recent Advances in Food Protein and Alternative Protein: Properties, Benefits, and Applications
edited by
submission deadline 25 Jan 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 1057 | Submission Open
Keywords: protein modification; protein functionality; food quality; alternative food proteins
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Nutrition)
Yeast in the Food Industry: Biomass, Diversity, Technology, and Applications
edited by and Xianxuan Zhou
submission deadline 25 Jan 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 981 | Submission Open
Keywords: Saccharomyces cerevisiae; CRISPR-Cas9; gene editing; ethanol production; organic acid tolerance; xylose utilization; metabolic engineering; synthetic biology; fermentation control; bio-conversion
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Microbiology)
Food-Derived Peptides Utilization: Fractionation, Structural Characterization, and Bio-Active Properties with Innovative or Novel Technologies
edited by Yu-Wei Chang and Kuo-Chiang Hsu
submission deadline 25 Jan 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 749 | Submission Open
Keywords: food-derived peptides  ; bioactive peptides  ; innovative or novel technologies  ; protein hydrolysates  ; proteomics
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Physics and (Bio)Chemistry)
Advances in Risk Assessment of Emerging Foodborne Microbial Hazards and Contaminants submission deadline 25 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 510 | Submission Open
Keywords: emerging foodborne pathogens; antimicrobial resistance; microplastics in food; emerging chemical food contaminants; exposure and risk assessment; food safety
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Toxicology)
Advances in the Recovery of Bioactive Compounds from Foods and Food Processing By-Products and Their Nutritional Impact
edited by , and Michael Rychlik
submission deadline 25 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 470 | Submission Open
Keywords: bioactive compounds; extraction techniques; nutraceuticals; sustainability; polyphenols; carotenoids; dietary fibers
(This special issue belongs to the Section Nutraceuticals, Functional Foods, and Novel Foods)
The Winemaking Processes Applied to the Industrial Level of Wines
edited by Tingting Ma, and Qian Ge
submission deadline 25 Jan 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 250 | Submission Open
Keywords: wine quality; wine style; fermentation processes; flavor characteristics; winemaking techniques; wine grapes; fruit wine; grape varieties; yeast varieties
(This special issue belongs to the Section Drinks and Liquid Nutrition)
Beyond Sustenance: The Rise of Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods in Health and Well-Being
edited by
submission deadline 25 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 187 | Submission Open
Keywords: nutraceuticals; functional foods; bioactive compounds; phytochemicals; chronic disease prevention; food technology; health claims; dietary supplements; metabolomics; bioavailability
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Nutrition)
Foodborne Pathogen Growth, Toxin Production and Strain Variability in Food submission deadline 25 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 117 | Submission Open
Keywords: foodborne pathogens; growth; strain variability; enterotoxins; mycotoxins; predictive microbiology; biopreservation; climate change; microbial risk assessment
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Microbiology)
Novel Approaches for the Detection of Grain Products' Quality and Adulteration
edited by
submission deadline 25 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 100 | Submission Open
Keywords: grain product quality; adulteration detection; spectroscopic analysis; sensor-based detection; non-destructive analysis; online detection; deep learning
(This special issue belongs to the Section Grain)
Volatile and Nutraceutical Signature of Fresh and Processed Foods: Insights into Sensory, Quality, and Functional Properties
edited by
submission deadline 25 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 82 | Submission Open
Keywords: fresh and processed foods; green processing technologies; sensory attributes; quality; quality; volatile profile; nutraceutical content; analytical chemistry
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Quality and Safety)
Emerging Processing and Detection Technologies for Meat and Meat Products
edited by
submission deadline 28 Jan 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 3981 | Submission Open
Keywords: meat science; innovative detection method; meat processing; food safety; meat quality; nutrition
(This special issue belongs to the Section Meat)
Probiotic Fermentation: Advances in Research on Probiotic Properties and Fermentation Techniques
edited by and
submission deadline 29 Jan 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 902 | Submission Open
Keywords: probiotic fermentation; gut microbiota; postbiotics; fermentation technology; microbial viability; functional foods; synbiotics; industrial biotechnology; bioactive metabolites
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Microbiology)
Functional Foods, Gut Microbiota, and Health Benefits
edited by Pedro Miguel Silva and Ana Isabel Bourbon
submission deadline 30 Jan 2026 | 6 articles | Viewed by 15298 | Submission Open
Keywords: functional foods; gut– brain axis; gut microbiota; health properties; bioactive compounds; probiotics; prebiotics; food personalization; gut microbiome; novel foods
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Nutrition)
Plant Protein Processing: Technological Innovation and New Application Scenarios
edited by , and Zhaoxian Huang
submission deadline 30 Jan 2026 | 7 articles | Viewed by 12875 | Submission Open
Keywords: plant protein; processing technology; technological innovation; new scenario applications; innovation and utilization; plant-based foods; product development
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Physics and (Bio)Chemistry)
Advancing Research on Quality and Nutrition in Cereals and Cereal-Based Foods submission deadline 30 Jan 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 3055 | Submission Open
Keywords: cereal quality; nutrition; bioactive compounds; processing; functional foods; gluten-free; digestibility
(This special issue belongs to the Section Grain)
From Raw Milk to Final Product—an Integrated Approach for Controlling and Enhancing the Quality of Dairy Products
edited by
submission deadline 30 Jan 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 2434 | Submission Open
Keywords: quality dairy products; pscychrotrophic bacteria; spore-forming bacteria; advanced technology; shelf life; microbiological quality; biofilms; somatic cell counts; heat-stable proteases; heat-stable lipases; digital twin; cold storage; supply and quality chain; defects; quality attributes; milk processing; raw milk quality
(This special issue belongs to the Section Dairy)
Functional Compounds from Food Waste and Their Applications in Industry
edited by Eristeo Garcia and
submission deadline 30 Jan 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 2022 | Submission Open
Keywords: flavonoids and non-flavonoids; functional compounds; food waste; antioxidant molecules; preservative compounds; health benefits; nutritional value; essential oils
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Security and Sustainability)
Instrumental and Chemometric Methodologies to Assess Food Quality
edited by , Fabricio Alejandro Chiappini and
submission deadline 30 Jan 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1521 | Submission Open
Keywords: chemometrics; food analysis; quality control; food adulteration; food authentication; machine learning methods; chromatographic techniques; electrochemical sensors; imaging techniques; spectroscopic techniques
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Engineering and Technology)
Non-Destructive Analysis for the Detection of Contaminants in Food
edited by Kaiyi Zheng, Bin Zou and Yiwei Xu
submission deadline 30 Jan 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 852 | Submission Open
Keywords: non-destructive detection; spectral analysis; electrochemical analysis; photoelectrochemical analysis; colorimetric method; microfluidics; molecular imprinting; nanobody; aptamer; pesticides detection; fungicides detection; antibiotics detection; mycotoxin detection
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Analytical Methods)
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