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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Processing Methods in Plant-Based Foods
edited by Tomasz Piechowiak
submission deadline 10 Mar 2026 | Viewed by 93 | Submission Open
Keywords: antioxidants; bioactive compounds; food biochemistry; food engineering; food microbiology; food preservation; food shelf-life; physical properties; sensory properties; sustainable food production
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Engineering and Technology)
Enhancing the Sensory and Nutritional Properties of Grain-Based Foods
edited by and Nana Wu
submission deadline 10 Mar 2026 | Viewed by 81 | Submission Open
Keywords: grain; starch; protein; texture; sensory; nutrition; flavor
(This special issue belongs to the Section Grain)
Structural Properties and Health Benefits of Natural Polysaccharides in Food Science
edited by , and
submission deadline 13 Mar 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1667 | Submission Open
Keywords: homology of medicine and food; natural plant polysaccharides; immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory; liver-protecting properties; antioxidants; gut microbes; structural features; health benefits
(This special issue belongs to the Section Nutraceuticals, Functional Foods, and Novel Foods)
The Analysis and Risk Assessment of Organic Pollutants in Food Products
edited by Serenella Seccia and
submission deadline 15 Mar 2026 | 7 articles | Viewed by 18550 | Submission Open
Keywords: pesticides; dyes; antibiotics; disinfectants; food additives; nitrophenols; analytical methods; food toxicity; green pesticides; green antibiotics; green additives
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Toxicology)
Sustainable Uses and Applications of By-Products of the Food Industry
edited by Vassiliki G. Kontogianni and
submission deadline 15 Mar 2026 | 6 articles | Viewed by 14195 | Submission Open
Keywords: food by-products; sustainability; bioactive compounds; functional foods; value-added products; alternative food products; biodegradable food packaging
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Security and Sustainability)
Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology: Challenges in Food Microbiology and Food Safety Research
edited by Aleksandra Ranitović
submission deadline 15 Mar 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 6335 | Submission Open
Keywords: biotechnology; food microorganisms; fermentation; food safety; applied microbiology
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Biotechnology)
Meat Products: Processing and Storage
edited by
submission deadline 15 Mar 2026 | 4 articles | Viewed by 4858 | Submission Open
Keywords: meat storage; meat packaging; meat processing; cooking techniques; antimicrobial interventions; high-pressure processing; analytical methods; textural characteristics; surface color; spoilage; odor; taste
(This special issue belongs to the Section Meat)
Research on Encapsulation Technologies for the Development of Functional Foods
edited by Pedro Miguel Silva and
submission deadline 15 Mar 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 4545 | Submission Open
Keywords: encapsulation; functional ingredients; functional foods; organoleptic impact; bioactive compounds; encapsulation technologies; sustainable foods; alternative proteins; clean label; dietary habits
(This special issue belongs to the Section Nutraceuticals, Functional Foods, and Novel Foods)
Sensory Analysis and Consumer Preferences of Novel Ingredients and Foods
edited by
submission deadline 15 Mar 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 4074 | Submission Open
Keywords: novel ingredients; value addition; food product development; sensory analysis; consumer perception; new foods; food waste; novel foods; familiarity; food neophobia
(This special issue belongs to the Section Sensory and Consumer Sciences)
Detection and Control of Foodborne Pathogens and Microbiota in Food Processing Environments and Products
edited by
submission deadline 15 Mar 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 3661 | Submission Open
Keywords: foodborne pathogens; microbiota in food processing; emerging detection technologies; biosensors for food safety; antimicrobial agents; precision biocontrol; real-time food safety management
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Microbiology)
Phytochemical and Functional Characterization of Plant Food Extracts
edited by
submission deadline 15 Mar 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 3644 | Submission Open
Keywords: extraction optimization; natural additives; stability; phytochemical analysis; functional food
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plant Foods)
Biotechnology Approaches for Sustainable Food Waste Management
edited by Walter José Martínez-Burgos and
submission deadline 15 Mar 2026 | Viewed by 1088 | Submission Open
Keywords: biotechnology; sustainable food waste management; bioconversion; anaerobic digestion; composting; enzymatic hydrolysis; microbial fermentation; bioenergy production; waste valorization; circular economy; food waste recycling; bioplastics; nutrient recovery; industrial biotechnology; organic waste treatment
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Biotechnology)
Next-Generation Postharvest Technologies for Fruit Quality and Shelf Life Optimization submission deadline 15 Mar 2026 | Viewed by 181 | Submission Open
Keywords: digital twins and IoT sensors for cold-chain monitoring; AI-driven modeling of fruit shelf-life and economic optimization; circularity metrics; LCA and cost– benefit analysis of emerging techniques; design of pressure vessels; packaging compatibility under HS/IF; Hyperbaric Storage (HS); and Isochoric Freezing (IF); UV-LED/pulsed light treatments; biodegradable nanocomposites from food by-products; control of microbial spoilage and physiological disorders; shelf-life extension and spoilage modeling; preservation of volatile and aromatic profiles; impact on nutritional and functional properties; sensory quality and consumer-oriented evaluation; application of preservation methods to climacteric and non-climacteric fruits; regulatory considerations and safety assessments; integration of omics technologies (metabolomics; transcriptomics); industrial scalability and economic feasibility
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plant Foods)
Bioavailability of Nutrients in Foods: Insights of Food Matrix, Processing Methods and the Gastrointestinal Tract submission deadline 15 Mar 2026 | Viewed by 152 | Submission Open
Keywords: bioactive compounds bioavailability; mineral bioavailability; food microstructure and bioaccessibility; food– gut interactions; in vitro and in vivo studies; new healthy ingredients; micro- and nano-encapsulation and bioavailability
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Nutrition)
Preparation, Purification and Characterization of Food-Derived Proteins and Bioactive Peptides—Applications in the Food Industry submission deadline 15 Mar 2026 | Viewed by 119 | Submission Open
Keywords: protein extraction; protein isolation; enzymatic hydrolysis; peptide quantification; protein hydrolysates; nutrient bioavailability; bioprocessing
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Physics and (Bio)Chemistry)
Microbiome Dynamics and Flavor Formation Mechanism in Baijiu Fermentation
edited by Bowen Wang, and Xiaolong Hu
submission deadline 15 Mar 2026 | Viewed by 85 | Submission Open
Keywords: baijiu; flavor; microbiome; enzyme; undefined or defined starter culture; Daqu; microbial interaction; microbial succession; environmental factor
(This special issue belongs to the Section Drinks and Liquid Nutrition)
Microbial Detoxification of Mycotoxins in Food submission deadline 16 Mar 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 550 | Submission Open
Keywords: biocontrol; detoxification; bioactive compounds; volatiles; food; mycotoxin degradation
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Microbiology)
Green Processing Technology of Meat and Meat Products: 3rd Edition
edited by and
submission deadline 18 Mar 2026 | 6 articles | Viewed by 10612 | Submission Open
Keywords: meat processing; green technologies; meat flavor; safety of meat products; nutrition of meat products
(This special issue belongs to the Section Meat)
The Regulation of Gut Microbiota by Probiotics and Dietary Nutrients in Foods to Improve Human Health
edited by and
submission deadline 18 Mar 2026 | 6 articles | Viewed by 10105 | Submission Open
Keywords: probiotics; dietary nutrients; gut microbiota; dietary fiber; polyphenols; fatty acids; inflammation; constipation; intestinal dysfunction; immunity; metabolic health
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Nutrition)
Chemometrics in Food Chemistry and Analysis: Novel Detection Methods to Assess Food Quality and Safety submission deadline 18 Mar 2026 | 5 articles | Viewed by 9168 | Submission Open
Keywords: chemometrics; food analysis; quality control; food safety; detection methods; spectroscopy; multivariate analysis; machine learning; authenticity assessment; real-time monitoring
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Analytical Methods)
Processing, Physicochemical, Structural and Functional Properties of Starch-Based Materials and Their Derived Food Products—Second Edition
edited by and
submission deadline 18 Mar 2026 | 4 articles | Viewed by 5801 | Submission Open
Keywords: starch; slow digestible starch; resistant starch; starch-derived food products; processing; structure; physicochemical properties; functional properties; fermentation characteristics; starch structure– functionality relationship
(This special issue belongs to the Section Grain)
Advances in Fruit and Vegetable Quality, Bioactive Compounds, and Nutritional Value: 3rd Edition submission deadline 18 Mar 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 1312 | Submission Open
Keywords: valorizing strategies; overall quality; extended shelf life; green processes; bioactive compounds; stabilizing approaches; nanotechnology; functional foods
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Nutrition)
Probiotics: Health Benefits in Relation to Gut Microbiota and Functional Food Applications
edited by Yi Xu
submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | 7 articles | Viewed by 26565 | Submission Open
Keywords: probiotics; functional foods; gut microbiota; central nervous system; gut– brain axis; neurological disorders
(This special issue belongs to the Section Nutraceuticals, Functional Foods, and Novel Foods)
High-Value Processing and Utilization of Agro-Food Resources submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 23773 | Submission Open
Keywords: agro-food resources; agro-food by-products; circular economy; green technologies; emergent technologies; biorefinery processes; functional foods; nutraceuticals; dietary fiber; bioactive compounds; plant polysaccharides; antioxidant compounds
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Engineering and Technology)
Advances of Novel Technologies in Food Analysis and Food Safety
edited by Junjun Zhang and
submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | 4 articles | Viewed by 11461 | Submission Open
Keywords: rapid detection methods; food safety; food analysis; food integrity; food preservation; food quality control; food sensors
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Analytical Methods)
Biobased and Biodegradable Packaging Materials: Preparation, Characterization and Application in the Food Industry
edited by and Bianca Chieregato Maniglia
submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | 6 articles | Viewed by 8553 | Submission Open
Keywords: biobased materials; biodegradable polymers; film; coating; foams; biobased packaging; food packaging; edible packaging; active and intelligent packaging; smart tags
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Packaging and Preservation)
Extraction of Bioactives from Fruit and Vegetables: Physicochemical, Processing, and Nutritional Properties submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 7114 | Submission Open
Keywords: super-critical extraction; sustainable extraction methods; functional foods; phytochemicals; bioactive compounds; antioxidant activity; anti-inflammatory properties; applications
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plant Foods)
Advances in Volatile Flavor Analysis on Food Quality: Application by Volatilomics and Recent Analytical Technologies
edited by Yoko Iijima
submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 3142 | Submission Open
Keywords: food flavor volatiles; volatile analysis; mass spectrometry; solid extraction; flavor-omics; volatilomics; sensory evaluation
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Physics and (Bio)Chemistry)
Biotechnology in Food Processing: Generation and Utilization of Functional Sugars
edited by Qian Ma and
submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 2334 | Submission Open
Keywords: functional sugar; generation; utilization; biosynthesis; biocatalysis; fermentation; enzyme engineering; metabolic engineering; high-throughput screening; application
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Engineering and Technology)
Advanced Extraction Technologies for Food Bioactive Compounds: Implications for Nutrition and Disease Prevention submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1541 | Submission Open
Keywords: extraction techniques; bioactive compounds; natural antioxidants; biological properties; optimization; food waste valorization; food fortification; food sustainability; artificial intelligence in food industries; health promotion; natural products
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Nutrition)
Exploring Compounds with Preventive Properties Against Contaminants in Food
edited by , Kinga Stuper-Szablewska and Pilar Vila-Donat
submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 1418 | Submission Open
Keywords: food contaminants; preventive compounds; antioxidants; omic sciences; bioactive peptides; functional ingredients
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Toxicology)
Emerging Approaches for the Detection of Food Fraud and Adulteration
edited by and
submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 1325 | Submission Open
Keywords: food; adulteration; spectroscopy; chromatography; chemometrics; artificial intelligence; traceability; DNA-based methods
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Quality and Safety)
Emulsions and Emulsifiers: Preparation, Properties and Applications in Food
edited by and
submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 612 | Submission Open
Keywords: emulsions; emulsifiers; preparation methods of emulsions and emulsifiers; physical and chemical property characterization; applications in foods; rheological properties; interfacial properties; oral processing; texture improvement; nutraceutical delivery
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Physics and (Bio)Chemistry)
Exploring of Food-Derived Bioactive Peptides: Mechanism and Impact on Health
edited by and Yuqin Li
submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | Viewed by 586 | Submission Open
Keywords: food-derived bioactive peptides; peptides characterization; structure-activity relationship; health benefits; mechanism of action; bioavailability; functional foods; functional ingredients; sustainable protein
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Nutrition)
Applications of Mass Spectrometry Coupled with Chromatographic Techniques for the Analysis of Bioactive Compounds in Food Matrices
edited by and
submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | Viewed by 458 | Submission Open
Keywords: bioactive compounds; foods; mass spectrometry; LC-MS; GC-MS; high-resolution mass spectrometry; metabolomics; lipidomics; food safety
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Analytical Methods)
Marine Food Functional Factors: Extraction, Encapsulation and Controlled Delivery
edited by and
submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | Viewed by 324 | Submission Open
Keywords: marine food functional factors; bioactive peptides; marine oligosaccharides; functional lipids; extraction; encapsulation; controlled delivery
(This special issue belongs to the Section Foods of Marine Origin)
Next-Generation Preservation Processes for a Resilient Agri-Food Supply Chain submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 324 | Submission Open
Keywords: sustainable system; resilience; climate change; food waste reduction; circular economy agri-food innovation
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Systems)
Novel Techniques for the Detection of Toxins and Harmful Substances in Food submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | Viewed by 289 | Submission Open
Keywords: food contaminants; natural toxins; cereals; mycotoxins; food safety; analytical methods; artificial intelligence; near-infrared spectroscopy; chemometrics; algorithms
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Quality and Safety)
Novel Pickering Emulsions in Foods: Potential Applications and Recent Advances
edited by
submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | Viewed by 278 | Submission Open
Keywords: emulsions; pickering emulsions; solid particle stabilizers (nanoparticles); stability (coalescence; Ostwald ripening; and phase inversion); creaming and sedimentation; the characterization of physical and chemical properties; rheological properties; interfacial properties; applications in foods
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Physics and (Bio)Chemistry)
Extraction of Bioactive Compounds from Agri-Food Chain By-Products: Innovation and Sustainable Utilization in Value-Added Food Formulations
edited by
submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | Viewed by 258 | Submission Open
Keywords: green extraction technologies; nutraceutical applications; bioavailability enhancement; interdisciplinary approach; sustainable bioprocessing; bioactive compound-enriched food products
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Security and Sustainability)
Advances in Polyphenol Extraction and Their Health-Promoting Properties in Plant Foods submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | Viewed by 203 | Submission Open
Keywords: functional foods; antioxidant activity; bioavailability; green extraction technologies; plant-based nutraceuticals; chronic disease prevention; food by-product valorization; gut microbiota interactions
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plant Foods)
Bioactive Food Ingredients Shaping Gut Microbiota: Composition, Function, and Inter-Individual Variability
edited by Songtao Fan and
submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | Viewed by 113 | Submission Open
Keywords: gut microbiota; microbiota variations; inter-individual differences; polysaccharides; phytochemicals; proteins; dietary fiber; individualized nutrition; microbiota-targeted foods
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Microbiology)
Advanced Food Processing Technologies and Approaches: 2nd Edition submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | Viewed by 105 | Submission Open
Keywords: food processing and preservation; emerging processing technologies; green and sustainable technologies; functional ingredients; sustainable bioingredients; novel foods; innovative food packaging materials; food quality and safety
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Engineering and Technology)
Application of Food Biotechnology in Fermentation Engineering
edited by and
submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | Viewed by 100 | Submission Open
Keywords: food biotechnology; fermentation engineering; functional foods; optimization of fermentation process; metabolic engineering in food; synthetic biology in food; food packaging application
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Microbiology)
Future Innovation and Challenges in Bioactive Compounds from Plant Foods: Towards Sustainable Health submission deadline 20 Mar 2026 | Viewed by 93 | Submission Open
Keywords: bioactive compounds; plant-based foods; functional phytochemicals; sustainable nutrition; nutraceuticals; eco-friendly extraction; agro-industrial byproducts; microalgae and cyanobacteria; food waste valorization; innovative food systems
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plant Foods)
Advances and Challenges in Modern Meat Technology: Quality, Safety and Sustainability
edited by
submission deadline 25 Mar 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 1988 | Submission Open
Keywords: meat technology; meat processing; meat quality; sustainable meat production; novel processing technologies; shelf-life extension; alternative proteins; hybrid meat products; meat preservation; digital meat technologies; artificial intelligence in food processing; functional meat products; clean label solutions; environmental impact of meat industry
(This special issue belongs to the Section Meat)
Meat and Its Replacers: Green Processing and Quality Innovation
edited by
submission deadline 25 Mar 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 865 | Submission Open
Keywords: meat alternatives; green processing technologies; sustainable food systems; plant-based proteins; food innovation; nutritional quality; sensory evaluation; biotechnology in food; consumer acceptance; environmental impact
(This special issue belongs to the Section Meat)
From Molecules to Perception: Optimizing Sensory Attributes of Food
edited by Saša Drakula, Bojana Voučko and
submission deadline 25 Mar 2026 | Viewed by 146 | Submission Open
Keywords: sensory perception; food formulation; sensory evaluation techniques; consumer sensory analysis; food processing; ingredient– perception interactions; multidisciplinary food design; food quality; sustainability; alternative ingredients
(This special issue belongs to the Section Sensory and Consumer Sciences)
Mushrooms and Edible Fungi as Future Foods
edited by
submission deadline 27 Mar 2026 | 6 articles | Viewed by 12696 | Submission Open
Keywords: mushrooms; edible fungi; future foods; nutritive properties; bioactive properties; human health
(This special issue belongs to the Section Nutraceuticals, Functional Foods, and Novel Foods)
Foods, Microbes, and Health: Exploring the Probiotic Potential in Our Diet
edited by and Wenjian Ma
submission deadline 27 Mar 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 466 | Submission Open
Keywords: functional microorganism; gut microbiota; human nutrition; probiotic; fermented foods
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Microbiology)
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