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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Advanced Technology to Improve Plant Protein Functionality
edited by Wenfei Xiong and Jian Ding
submission deadline 10 Feb 2026 | 6 articles | Viewed by 5491 | Submission Open
Keywords: cereal protein; gelation; emulsifying; foaming; interactions; oilseed protein; structure; physical modification; chemical modification; bio-modification; extraction and separation
(This special issue belongs to the Section Grain)
Micro and Nanomaterials in Sustainable Food Encapsulation
edited by and Yuting Fan
submission deadline 10 Feb 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 2762 | Submission Open
Keywords: micro and nanomaterials; self-assembly; nano-systems; nanogels; nanoparticles; encapsulation and targeted delivery; packaging materials; food application
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Packaging and Preservation)
Lipids and Lipophilic Bioactive Compounds: Advances in Food and Health
edited by Tao Zhang and
submission deadline 10 Feb 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1399 | Submission Open
Keywords: oil and fats; bioactive lipids; bioactive lipophilic compounds; homology of oils and medicine; lipids from medicinal resources; sustainable extraction; sensory attributes; neurodegenerative diseases; digestion and metabolism; health-oriented food products
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Nutrition)
Impact of Thermal and Non-Thermal Technologies on Food Protein Structure and Functionality: Mechanisms and Applications
edited by and
submission deadline 10 Feb 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 1063 | Submission Open
Keywords: food protein; structural characterization; functionality; thermal technologies; non-thermal technologies
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Physics and (Bio)Chemistry)
Nanotechnology and New Detection Technologies: Revolutionizing Food Quality and Safety
edited by Xianlong Zhang
submission deadline 10 Feb 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 861 | Submission Open
Keywords: food quality and safety; nanotechnology; biotechnology; food control; antibacterial agent; biomacromolecules; sample pretreatment; extraction; biosensors; nanosensors
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Analytical Methods)
Using Biodegradable Films and Coatings for Food Packaging Materials submission deadline 10 Feb 2026 | Viewed by 393 | Submission Open
Keywords: biopolymer; natural antioxidant; natural antimicrobial; biodegradable packaging; active films
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Engineering and Technology)
Effects of Food Matrix and Physicochemical Structure on Bioavailability and Nutrition
edited by Ikenna Christian Ohanenye and
submission deadline 10 Feb 2026 | Viewed by 211 | Submission Open
Keywords: bioavailability; nutrient absorption; food matrix; digestion efficiency; processing methods; metabolic impact; digestibility; satiety; nutrient interactions
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Physics and (Bio)Chemistry)
Advancements in Food Microbiology: Antimicrobial Compounds and Microbiome Dynamics submission deadline 10 Feb 2026 | Viewed by 111 | Submission Open
Keywords: next-generation antimicrobials; antibacterial activity and mechanism; microbiome-driven solutions; microbial food safety; food microbiome interactions; sustainable food systems
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Microbiology)
Innovative Applications of Polyphenols, Flavonoids, and Other Bioactives from Plant Foods
edited by
submission deadline 10 Feb 2026 | Viewed by 95 | Submission Open
Keywords: functional foods; natural products; bioactive compounds; nutrients; antioxidants; health benefits; food preservation
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Physics and (Bio)Chemistry)
Microplastics in Seafood and Their Impact on Food Safety and Human Health
edited by
submission deadline 10 Feb 2026 | Viewed by 94 | Submission Open
Keywords: microplastics; seafood fresh; seafood processed; chemicals and environmental pollutants; microorganism pathogens; food safety; human health
(This special issue belongs to the Section Foods of Marine Origin)
Research on the Botanical Beverages Ingredients and Their Functions
edited by
submission deadline 10 Feb 2026 | Viewed by 88 | Submission Open
Keywords: botanical beverages; plant-based ingredients; bioactive compounds; functional properties; health benefits; phytochemicals; hearbal teas; fruit juice; cereal drinks; functional beverages
(This special issue belongs to the Section Drinks and Liquid Nutrition)
Decoding Food Flavor: Advances in the Analysis, Processing, and Perception of Food Aroma and Taste
edited by
submission deadline 10 Feb 2026 | Viewed by 88 | Submission Open
Keywords: food flavor compounds; analytical methods; machine learning; sensory analysis; food technology; food fermentation
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Physics and (Bio)Chemistry)
Composition and Bioactive Components of Plant Oils and Influence of Extraction Technologies on Their Characteristics
edited by and
submission deadline 10 Feb 2026 | Viewed by 87 | Submission Open
Keywords: plant oils; bioactive compounds; extraction technologies; cold pressing; supercritical CO2; oxidative stability; phytochemicals; sustainable processing; functional lipids; health benefits
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Biotechnology)
Nutritional, Biological Activity and Safety Evaluation of Bioactive Phytochemicals in Food
edited by Aramys Silva Reis
submission deadline 10 Feb 2026 | Viewed by 64 | Submission Open
Keywords: bioactive phytochemicals; functional foods; biological activity; nutritional evaluation; antioxidant activity; anti-inflammatory; safety assessment; polyphenols; bioavailability; analytical methods
(This special issue belongs to the Section Nutraceuticals, Functional Foods, and Novel Foods)
Effect of Processing and Cooking on Physicochemical, Sensory, and Functional Properties of Food: 3rd Edition
edited by
submission deadline 11 Feb 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 634 | Submission Open
Keywords: food technology; food processing; food cooking; functional food development; physicochemical quality characteristics; sensory quality characteristics (appearance; flavor; texture; overall); antioxidant property; bioactive compound; functional properties evaluation
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Engineering and Technology)
Volatile Aroma Compounds—Food Sensory and Nutrition Attributes
edited by
submission deadline 12 Feb 2026 | Viewed by 153 | Submission Open
Keywords: volatile organic compounds; microextraction techniques; HS-SPME; GC-MS; GCxGC-MS; electronic nose; sensory analysis; flavor and aroma; odor and odor threshold; odor activity values; consumer acceptability; fresh and fresh-cut vegetables; genotype; geographical origin; packaging; pre and postharvest treatments; cooked food; fermented food; food bioactive compounds; food quality/safety/authenticity; food contaminants; data statistical treatment
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Nutrition)
Recent Research on the Processing Technology and Quality Control of Fruit and Vegetables submission deadline 13 Feb 2026 | 6 articles | Viewed by 8749 | Submission Open
Keywords: new technologies; methods; theory; and equipment for F& V utilization; quality control; reactivity; and microbial risk in production; artificial intelligence and F& V processing; detection; and control; innovative personalized food products based on F& V by-products; non-destructive and rapid evaluation techniques for quality; safety; and nutrition of F& V (near-infrared spectroscopy; hyperspectral imaging technology; machine vision; etc.)
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plant Foods)
Sustainable Management, Recovery, and Transformation of Food Waste and By-Products submission deadline 14 Feb 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 1480 | Submission Open
Keywords: food by-products; waste valorization; waste management; food supply chain wastes; food processing waste; bioactive compounds; functional ingredients; high-value products; nutraceuticals; sustainability
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Security and Sustainability)
Bioactive Peptides from Food-Derived: Preparation, Development and Functional Utilizations
edited by
submission deadline 15 Feb 2026 | 7 articles | Viewed by 12599 | Submission Open
Keywords: bioactive peptides; antioxidant; anti-inflammatory; fermented foods; protein hydrolysates; bioavailability; structure/function relations; classification
(This special issue belongs to the Section Nutraceuticals, Functional Foods, and Novel Foods)
Livestock Products: Edible Quality, Flavor Characteristics, and Nutritional Value
edited by Rui Liu, and Jiao Liu
submission deadline 15 Feb 2026 | 4 articles | Viewed by 6624 | Submission Open
Keywords: livestock products; edible quality; flavor characteristics; nutritional value; biological factors; biochemical metabolism; processing technologies; protein functionality; consumer preferences; value-added processing
(This special issue belongs to the Section Meat)
Meat Quality and Palatability
edited by Hui Zhou and Xingguang Chen
submission deadline 15 Feb 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 2931 | Submission Open
Keywords: characterisation of meat quality; tenderness and juiciness; flavour chemistry and sensory science; slaughtering and processing technology; refrigeration and preservation; consumer sensory preferences; nutrient analysis; sustainable production technologies; innovative meat processing products
(This special issue belongs to the Section Meat)
Sustainable Food Production from Waste and By-Products in the Food Industry
edited by , and
submission deadline 15 Feb 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 2259 | Submission Open
Keywords: food by-products; food waste; high-value utilization; healthcare ingredients; high-quality food raw materials; organic fertilizers
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Quality and Safety)
Dairy Science: Emerging Trends in Research for Dairy Products submission deadline 15 Feb 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1934 | Submission Open
Keywords: dairy foods; novelty; dairy ingredients; new technology; cheese; fermented products; milk; ice cream; frozen desserts
(This special issue belongs to the Section Dairy)
Applications and Trends for Ultrasound in Food Processing submission deadline 15 Feb 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1150 | Submission Open
Keywords: ultrasound technology; extraction; synergistic processing technologies; drying enhancement; modification of functional components; functional foods; shelf-life extension; food safety; process optimization; cavitation
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Engineering and Technology)
Plant Essential Oils: Extraction, Characterization, Biological Activities, and Their Applications in Foods submission deadline 15 Feb 2026 | Viewed by 604 | Submission Open
Keywords: essential oils; terpenes; extraction; characterization; biological activity; application; food formulation
(This special issue belongs to the Section Nutraceuticals, Functional Foods, and Novel Foods)
Next-Generation Oil Processing Technologies: From Quality Control to Functionality Enhancement
edited by and Weimin Zhang
submission deadline 15 Feb 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 468 | Submission Open
Keywords: next-generation oil processing; nutritional functionality; functional lipid modification; lipidomics profiling; green oil refining; functionality-oriented processing
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Engineering and Technology)
Advanced Technology for Rapid Comprehensive Analysis of the Food Composition
edited by
submission deadline 15 Feb 2026 | Viewed by 112 | Submission Open
Keywords: food quality and safety; food analysis; spectroscopy; fluorescence; chemometrics; nondestructive testing; machine learning; foodomics; metabolomics
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Analytical Methods)
Nutrients in Seafood submission deadline 15 Feb 2026 | Viewed by 94 | Submission Open
Keywords: marine nutrients; seafood residual raw materials; omega-3 fatty acids; marine bioactives; nutrient valorization; sustainable seafood; marine biotechnology; food fortification
(This special issue belongs to the Section Foods of Marine Origin)
Research Progress of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and Foodomics for Food Adulteration and Traceability Analysis submission deadline 15 Feb 2026 | Viewed by 73 | Submission Open
Keywords: NMR spectroscopy; metabolomics; food authenticity; traceability assessment; food frauds; geographical origin discrimination; adulteration detection
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Analytical Methods)
Biocatalytic Strategies for Sustainable Extraction and Production of Functional Food Ingredients
edited by Milica Simović, , and Katarina M. Banjanac
submission deadline 15 Feb 2026 | Viewed by 72 | Submission Open
Keywords: biocatalysis  ; enzyme engineering  ; enzyme immobilization  ; bioactive molecules  ; prebiotics  ; enzyme-assisted extraction  ; waste and by-product valorization
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Physics and (Bio)Chemistry)
Effects of Processing Operations on Physicochemical and Nutritional Proprieties of Dairy Products
edited by Oleksandra Pryshchepa and
submission deadline 16 Feb 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 536 | Submission Open
Keywords: dairy products; processing technologies; physicochemical properties; nutritional composition; bioactive peptides; bioactive proteins; fatty acid profile; vitamins
(This special issue belongs to the Section Dairy)
Advanced Research and Development of Carbohydrate from Foods—2nd Edition
edited by and
submission deadline 20 Feb 2026 | 15 articles | Viewed by 20128 | Submission Open
Keywords: polysaccharide; starch; natural; synthetic; and modified polymers; physicochemical properties; analytical methodologies; structure; functional properties; nutrition and bioactivities; structure– bioactivity relationship; preparation and processing techniques; application
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Physics and (Bio)Chemistry)
Fatty Acids in Edible Fats and Oils: Composition Analysis and Nutritional Properties
edited by Youfeng Zhang, Xiaoxiao Feng and
submission deadline 20 Feb 2026 | 5 articles | Viewed by 9997 | Submission Open
Keywords: lipid composition; flavor development; nutritional insights; lipid-associated compounds; advanced lipid analysis; processing and storage effects; sensory perception; flavor chemistry; health and metabolism; edible fats and oils
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Engineering and Technology)
Food Lipids: Chemistry, Nutrition and Biotechnology—2nd Edition submission deadline 20 Feb 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 7494 | Submission Open
Keywords: vegetable oils and animal fats; essential fatty acids; oxidative stability; instrumental methods; modification of lipids; biotechnological application of lipids; microbial lipid production; biofuels; by-products and waste products; microencapsulation and liposomes
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Nutrition)
Innovative Technology of Aquatic Product Processing
edited by Ruichang Gao
submission deadline 20 Feb 2026 | 5 articles | Viewed by 7061 | Submission Open
Keywords: gels; fish proteins; aquatic products; emulsions; ultrasound; plasma; magnetic field; ultra-high pressure; non-destructive testing
(This special issue belongs to the Section Foods of Marine Origin)
Aquatic Products Processing and Preservation Technology
edited by and
submission deadline 20 Feb 2026 | 4 articles | Viewed by 5347 | Submission Open
Keywords: aquatic products; processing technology; preservation technology; transportation of live aquatic products; freshness; flavor; quality; packaging technology; processing equipment
(This special issue belongs to the Section Foods of Marine Origin)
Advances in Food Processing Technologies: Enhancing Quality, Safety, and Sustainability submission deadline 20 Feb 2026 | 4 articles | Viewed by 5295 | Submission Open
Keywords: advanced food technologies; food processing; food quality; food safety; food sustainability
Edible Mushroom: Nutritional Properties and Its Utilization in Foods submission deadline 20 Feb 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 4737 | Submission Open
Keywords: edible mushrooms; nutritional composition; medicinal properties; mushrooms processing; functional foods; food additives; culinary applications; byproduct utilization
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plant Foods)
Changes in Microbial Community Structure of Fermented Food
edited by Sufang Zhang and Yingxi Chen
submission deadline 20 Feb 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 2623 | Submission Open
Keywords: fermented food; food microbiology; microbial community structure; quality; safety; flavor
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Microbiology)
Natural Active Compounds in Foods: Screen, Sources and Health Benefits
edited by Jianguo Jiang, Liang Zhu and
submission deadline 20 Feb 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 1679 | Submission Open
Keywords: food active compounds  ; activity screening  ; compound preparation  ; biological synthesis  ; metabolic engineering  ; new food resources  ; Caenorhabditis elegans  ; screening  ; targets  ; signal pathway
Starch and Starch Complexes: Structure, Functional Properties and Food Applications
edited by , Jinwei Wang and Bin Niu
submission deadline 20 Feb 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1111 | Submission Open
Keywords: starch; starch complexes; green modification technologies; multi-scale structure; functional properties; characterization technologies; food applications
(This special issue belongs to the Section Grain)
Microbiota and Probiotics in Fermented Food (Second Edition)
edited by
submission deadline 20 Feb 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 505 | Submission Open
Keywords: fermented foods; microbiota; probiotics; postbiotics; bioactive compounds; health-promoting metabolites; multi-omics approaches; next-generation foods
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Microbiology)
Advanced Technologies in Detecting and Controlling Foodborne Pathogens
edited by Wenyuan Zhou, Zhenquan Yang, Yajun Gao and Lei Yuan
submission deadline 20 Feb 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 469 | Submission Open
Keywords: foodborne pathogens; microbiota in food industry; control technologies; bacteriophage-based approaches; antimicrobial agents; real-time detection methods; biosensor; analysis method
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Quality and Safety)
Recent Advances in Marine Food By-Products: Biomolecular Structure, Functional Properties and Potential Activities submission deadline 20 Feb 2026 | Viewed by 102 | Submission Open
Keywords: marine by-products; extraction technologies; bioactive compounds; functional properties; biomolecular structure; structure-activity relationship; nutraceuticals; value-added products; waste management; sustainable valorization; food applications; circular economy
(This special issue belongs to the Section Foods of Marine Origin)
Edible Plant-Based Bioactives: Extraction Methodologies and Characterization Techniques
edited by and
submission deadline 20 Feb 2026 | Viewed by 88 | Submission Open
Keywords: food chemistry; phytochemicals; phenols; bioactive compounds; analytical techniques; extraction methodology; green chemistry; circular economy; active principal ingredients; biological activities; plant by-products
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plant Foods)
Smart Solutions for Sustainable Food Production: Modeling, Simulation & Innovation
edited by
submission deadline 24 Feb 2026 | Viewed by 375 | Submission Open
Keywords: bioactive compounds; cleaner production; pollution reduction; innovative foods and materials; mathematical modeling; process simulation software; large-scale production; industrial symbiosis
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Security and Sustainability)
Innovations in Postharvest Physiology and Technology: Key to Optimizing the Quality of Fruits and Vegetables submission deadline 25 Feb 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 4014 | Submission Open
Keywords: postharvest physiology; pathology and technology; innovative technologies; ethylene control and management; postharvest losses and wastes; fresh cut products; quality assessment methods; quality changes during handling; cold storage and marketing
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Packaging and Preservation)
Advances in Analytical Techniques for Detecting Toxins in Foods
edited by Dragana Bartolić and
submission deadline 25 Feb 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1217 | Submission Open
Keywords: toxins; food contamination; analytical methods; chromatographic methods; mass spectrometry; spectroscopic techniques; immunoassays; imaging techniques; molecular techniques; food forensics
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Analytical Methods)
Upcycled Fruit and Vegetable Bioactives: From By-Product Valorization to Sustainable Functional Foods submission deadline 25 Feb 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 995 | Submission Open
Keywords: fruit and vegetable by-products; bioactive compounds; antioxidants; dietary fibers; novel food development; functional foods
(This special issue belongs to the Section Nutraceuticals, Functional Foods, and Novel Foods)
Milk Bioactive Compounds and Gut Microbiota Modulation
edited by and
submission deadline 25 Feb 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 711 | Submission Open
Keywords: probiotics; milk protein bioactive compounds; gut microbiota; intestinal health regulation; analytical methods for dairy components; fermented dairy products; metabolomics; nutritional intervention
(This special issue belongs to the Section Dairy)
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