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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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Medicine Food Homology-Based Functional Products for the Management of Chronic Metabolic Diseases: Mechanisms and Applications

edited by Lixia Xiao and

Longfei Zhang

submission deadline 10 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 623 | Submission Open

Keywords: network pharmacology; metabolomics; gut microbiome; medicine food homology; bioactives extraction and application; functional food

(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Nutrition)

Fermented Foods: Microorganisms, Bioactive Components, and Health Benefits

edited by

Lucia Aquilanti

and

Giorgia Rampanti

submission deadline 10 Jan 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 528 | Submission Open

Keywords: fermented foods; lactic acid bacteria; yeasts; probiotics; bioactive compounds; antioxidants; functional foods; gut microbiota

(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Microbiology)

Sustainable Applications of Bioactive Compounds from Food By-Products in Smart Packaging

edited by

Daniela Pinheiro

Maria Luisa Serralheiro

and

Ana Rita Ferraz

submission deadline 10 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 315 | Submission Open

Keywords: biopolymers; bioactive compounds; food waste valorization; smart packaging; sustainability; freshness indicators; by-product valorization; functional packaging materials

(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Packaging and Preservation)

The Food Loss and Waste: Impact, Measurement and Management

edited by Donatella Restuccia and

Roberto Ruggieri

submission deadline 10 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 281 | Submission Open

Keywords: food loss; food waste; circular food systems; waste management technologies; measurement and monitoring; waste quantification methodologies; key indicators; supply chain innovation

(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Security and Sustainability)

Food Proteins and Bioactive Peptides: Novel Sources, Characteristics and Applications—Second Edition

edited by

Hilton Deeth

and

Thao Le

submission deadline 10 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 178 | 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 82 | 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

Jinpeng Wang

and

Chao Qiu

submission deadline 14 Jan 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 2764 | 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

Kefeng Zhai

submission deadline 15 Jan 2026 | 8 articles | Viewed by 15718 | 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)

Advance in Starch Chemistry and Technology

edited by

Husnain Raza

and

Xiaofeng Ren

submission deadline 15 Jan 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 13921 | 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)

Advances in the Application of Cold Plasma Technology for Food Quality and Safety

edited by

Silvia Tappi

Ana Cristina De Aguiar Saldanha Pinheiro

and

Junior Bernardo Molina-Hernández

submission deadline 15 Jan 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 13386 | 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)

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 7214 | 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

Lubna Ahmed

and Mohammad Hossain

submission deadline 15 Jan 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 3998 | 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

Mingrui Chen

submission deadline 15 Jan 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 2681 | 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)

Novel Functional Coatings for Food Packaging: Recent Advances and Future Challenges

edited by

Athina Ntzimani

and

Theofania Tsironi

submission deadline 15 Jan 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1110 | 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

Luis Arturo Bello Pérez

and Edith Agama Acevedo

submission deadline 15 Jan 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 521 | Submission Open

Keywords: starch digestion; colon fermentation; starchy foods; structure; processing; amylase

(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Physics and (Bio)Chemistry)

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 490 | 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

edited by

Luisa Brito

and

Acacio Salamandane

submission deadline 15 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 232 | 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)

Green Analytical Technology for Assessment of the Chemical Risks in Foods

edited by Chen Fan

submission deadline 16 Jan 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 7497 | 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,

Manuela Poletto Klein

and Lovaine Silva Duarte

submission deadline 16 Jan 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1611 | 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

Yago Alves de Aguiar Bernardo

submission deadline 16 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 471 | 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

Jinshui Wang

and

Ying Liang

submission deadline 19 Jan 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 449 | Submission Open

Keywords: cereal chemistry; cereal proteins; nutritional functionality; processing technology; wheat dough

(This special issue belongs to the Section Grain)

Approaches for Improving Nutritional Aspects of Cereals and Cereal-Based Foods

edited by

Dubravka Novotni

, Bojana Voučko and

Nikolina Mustač

submission deadline 20 Jan 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 6145 | 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)

Impact of Processing on the Biological Effects of Bioactive Compounds in Food

edited by

Anna Rafaela Cavalcante Braga

submission deadline 20 Jan 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 5348 | 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)

Nutrients and Functional Ingredients in Dairy Products

edited by

Grzegorz Zaguła

submission deadline 20 Jan 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 3989 | 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 3834 | 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

Cleiton Antonio Nunes

Yhan Da Silva Mutz

and Leticia Tessaro

submission deadline 20 Jan 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 2283 | 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

edited by

Przemysław Kowalczewski

Joanna Zembrzuska

and

Paweł Jezowski

submission deadline 20 Jan 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 1933 | 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

Qian Yang

, Xiaofei Liu, Longwei Jiang,

Liyan Wang

and Congyu Lin

submission deadline 20 Jan 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 969 | 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

edited by

Nikolaos K. Andrikopoulos

and

Andriana Kaliora

submission deadline 20 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 401 | 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)

Nuts: A Sustainable Raw Material for Food Innovation and Beyond

edited by

Jasmina Lukinac

and

Marko Jukić

submission deadline 20 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 194 | 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)

Recent Advances in the Application of Non-Thermal Plasma Technology in the Food Industry: Innovations in Food Safety, Preservation and Quality Enhancement

edited by

Mustapha Muhammad Nasiru

and

Chunyang Li

submission deadline 20 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 177 | 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)

Active Packaging in Food Storage: From Development to Utilization—2nd Edition

edited by

Mariana Andrade

and

Ana Teresa Sanches-Silva

submission deadline 22 Jan 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 12090 | 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

Uelinton Manoel Pinto

and Aline Dias Paiva

submission deadline 22 Jan 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 1617 | 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

Xiaohong Wu

submission deadline 25 Jan 2026 | 5 articles | Viewed by 9763 | 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

Marcio Schmiele

submission deadline 25 Jan 2026 | 4 articles | Viewed by 9129 | 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

Yulong Bao

submission deadline 25 Jan 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 1872 | 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

Peizhou Yang

and Xianxuan Zhou

submission deadline 25 Jan 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1297 | 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)

Advances in Risk Assessment of Emerging Foodborne Microbial Hazards and Contaminants

edited by

Serena Santonicola

and

Maria Francesca Peruzy

submission deadline 25 Jan 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1270 | 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)

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 1135 | 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)

The Winemaking Processes Applied to the Industrial Level of Wines

edited by Tingting Ma,

Xiangyu Sun

and Qian Ge

submission deadline 25 Jan 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 768 | 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

Morena Gabriele

submission deadline 25 Jan 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 718 | 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)

Advances in the Recovery of Bioactive Compounds from Foods and Food Processing By-Products and Their Nutritional Impact

edited by

Hung Hong

Michael Netzel

and Michael Rychlik

submission deadline 25 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 516 | 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)

Foodborne Pathogen Growth, Toxin Production and Strain Variability in Food

edited by

Araceli Bolívar

Luis M. Medina

and

Jean Carlos Correia Peres Costa

submission deadline 25 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 153 | 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

Litao Tong

submission deadline 25 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 138 | 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

Maria Tufariello

submission deadline 25 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 102 | 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

Chao Hui Feng

submission deadline 28 Jan 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 4960 | 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

Peng Du

and

Aili Li

submission deadline 29 Jan 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 1528 | 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 | 7 articles | Viewed by 20047 | 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

Zhongjiang Wang

Zengwang Guo

and Zhaoxian Huang

submission deadline 30 Jan 2026 | 7 articles | Viewed by 15647 | 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

edited by

Hui Sun

Dong Zhang

and