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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New Insights into Cereals and Cereal-Based Foods, 4th Edition submission deadline 15 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 51 | Submission Open
Keywords: milling; bread making; sourdough; biscuit; cake; noodles and pasta products; consumer perception of grain-based foods; cereal safety and security; wholegrains; pseudocereals and ancient grains; grain breeding; cereal bioactive compounds; gluten free; valorization of cereal bio-products
(This special issue belongs to the Section Grain)
Plant-Derived Prebiotics and Their Role in Gut Health
edited by Xiaoqiong Li, Xin Wang and
submission deadline 15 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 41 | Submission Open
Keywords: prebiotic; next-generation prebiotic; oligosaccharides; polysaccharides; polyphenols; synbiotic; gut microbiota; functional food
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Nutrition)
Proteins and Peptides in Food: From Preparation to Properties and Applications
edited by Xinxia Zhang and
submission deadline 15 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 28 | Submission Open
Keywords: protein; peptide; modification; application; healthier rice products; nutritional composition
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Engineering and Technology)
Traditional Fermented Food: Physicochemical, Sensory, Flavor, and Microbial Characteristics—2nd Edition
edited by Anjun Chen
submission deadline 15 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 24 | Submission Open
Keywords: traditional fermented foods; physicochemical characteristics; sensory quality; flavor formation; microbial community succession; microbial interactions; multi-omics approaches; bioactive compounds; food system innovation; sustainable development
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Microbiology)
Polysaccharides in Foods: From Structural Characterization to Biological Activities
edited by , and Huanhuan Liu
submission deadline 16 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 45 | Submission Open
Keywords: polysaccharides; structural characterization; biological activity; absorption and distribution; structure– function relationship; encapsulation; functional foods; prebiotics; delivery systems
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Nutrition)
Brewing Microorganisms in Fermented Foods: Physiological Characteristics, Succession Patterns and Metabolic Functions
edited by , Dingkang Wang and
submission deadline 18 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 25 | Submission Open
Keywords: brewing microorganisms; fermented food; physiological characteristics; metabolic function; microbial community; microbial succession; multi-omics
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Microbiology)
Application of Probiotics in Foods and Human Health
edited by , Mirjana Grujović and Katarina Marković
submission deadline 20 Apr 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 6485 | Submission Open
Keywords: Lactic acid bacteria; probiotics; prebiotics; symbiotics; postbiotics; microencapsulation; functional foods; fermented foods; plant-based and alternative foods; gut health; immune response; health benefits; clinical evidence; therapeutics; metabolic disorders; gut– brain axis; safety assessment
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Microbiology)
Bioactive Compounds from Plants as Functional Food Ingredients and Potential Nutraceuticals submission deadline 20 Apr 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1230 | Submission Open
Keywords: plants; bioactives; extraction; encapsulation; digestibility; functionality; nutraceutics; health
(This special issue belongs to the Section Nutraceuticals, Functional Foods, and Novel Foods)
Exploring Emerging and Sustainable Technologies for the Intensification of Processes and Preservation of Agrofood-Based Resources submission deadline 20 Apr 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 931 | Submission Open
Keywords: sustainable food processing; non-conventional technologies; advanced thermal and non-thermal methods; bio-based materials; food preservation technologies; waste reduction and valorization; eco-friendly extraction; bioactive compound retention; green technologies in food processing; extension of shelf life
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Engineering and Technology)
Recent Advances in the Regulation of Lipid Metabolism by Food Bioactive Ingredients
edited by
submission deadline 20 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 433 | Submission Open
Keywords: lipid metabolism; natural products; nutrients; functional lipids; chronic diseases; MASLD; ferroptosis; food bioactive ingredients
(This special issue belongs to the Section Nutraceuticals, Functional Foods, and Novel Foods)
Nondestructive Analysis of Pollutants in Food Commodities
edited by and Peipei Qi
submission deadline 20 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 287 | Submission Open
Keywords: on site detection; pollutants; food commodities; electrochemical sensor; spectroscopy; in situ measurement; machine Learning or deep learning; on-site sample preparation; portable and transportable mass spectrometry
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Analytical Methods)
Innovations in Meat Science: Quality Optimization, Sensory Assessment and Sustainable Processing Technologies
edited by and
submission deadline 20 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 75 | Submission Open
Keywords: meat; quality optimization; meat flavor; active packaging; sensory profiling; sustainable processing; emerging technologies
(This special issue belongs to the Section Meat)
Sustainability and Resilience in the Industrial Hemp Supply Chain submission deadline 20 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 59 | Submission Open
Keywords: industrial hemp; sustainability; resilience; food applications; functional foods; nutraceuticals; bioactive compounds; supply chain innovation
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Security and Sustainability)
Chemometrics in Food Authenticity and Quality Control
edited by and
submission deadline 20 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 43 | Submission Open
Keywords: chemometrics; machine learning; spectral analysis; spectral imaging; fingerprint analysis; hyphenated methods; authenticity assessment; quality control
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Security and Sustainability)
Synthetic Microbial Communities in Fermented Foods: From Mechanistic Insights to Sustainable Applications
edited by
submission deadline 20 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 36 | Submission Open
Keywords: synthetic microbial communities; fermented foods; microbial interactions; functional metabolites; food safety; sustainable food systems
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Microbiology)
Recent Advances in Starch Processing Enzymes: From Enzyme Tools to Functional Starch Derivatives
edited by Hangyan Ji and Qun Yu
submission deadline 20 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 34 | Submission Open
Keywords: starch modification; enzyme catalysis mechanism; functional starch derivatives; resistant starch; slowly digestible starch; maltodextrins; oligosaccharides; clean-label ingredients
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Physics and (Bio)Chemistry)
Future Prospectives for Enzyme Technologies in the Food Industry
edited by
submission deadline 20 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 33 | Submission Open
Keywords: enzyme mining; enzyme engineering; enzymatic preparation; food ingredients; waste valorization; enzyme-driven food systems
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Engineering and Technology)
Dealcoholized and Low-Alcohol Beverages: Processing Techniques, Quality Evaluation, and Consumer Perception submission deadline 20 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 31 | Submission Open
Keywords: dealcoholized wine and beverages; volatile composition; non-volatile composition; sensory profile; consumer preference; health benefits
(This special issue belongs to the Section Drinks and Liquid Nutrition)
Food Polysaccharides: Molecular Structure, Bioactive Properties, and Emerging Applications
edited by Yali Zhang
submission deadline 20 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 30 | Submission Open
Keywords: natural polysaccharides; molecular structure; health benefits; bioactive properties; chronic diseases prevention; anti-aging; dietary regulation of oxidative stress; gut health; 3d food printing; delivery systems
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Nutrition)
Polysaccharide-Based Hydrocolloids Utilized in the Development of Healthy Foods
edited by , and Robert Soliva-Fortuny
submission deadline 20 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 29 | Submission Open
Keywords: polysaccharides; hydrocolloids; functional foods; dietary fibers; texture modification; plant-based foods; clean label; nutraceuticals; food formulation; health-promoting ingredients
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Engineering and Technology)
Analysis of Volatile Compounds for the Assessment of Food Quality and Authentication
edited by Pablo Rodríguez-Hernández, María José Cardador and Lourdes Arce
submission deadline 20 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 24 | Submission Open
Keywords: volatile compounds; aroma; food quality; food authentication; chemometrics; sensory evaluation; traceability
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Quality and Safety)
Application of Chromatography in Food Toxicology submission deadline 20 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 23 | Submission Open
Keywords: food toxicology; chromatography; food contaminants; environmental contaminants; risk assessment; toxin analysis; food safety
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Analytical Methods)
Innovations in Clean and Sustainable Food Processing: Circular Bioeconomy and Food Waste Valorization submission deadline 20 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 22 | Submission Open
Keywords: sustainable food processing; circular bioeconomy; food waste valorization; eco-friendly technologies; biorefining processes; green extraction methods
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Security and Sustainability)
Milk and Dairy Products Composition: Physico-Chemical and Functional Properties
edited by
submission deadline 20 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 15 | Submission Open
Keywords: milk and dairy products; microstructure; physicochemical properties; bioactive components; raw milk variability; novel processing; toxicology and exposure; risk– benefit modelling
(This special issue belongs to the Section Dairy)
Precision Processing and Functional Ingredient Exploration in Cereal-Based Foods
edited by and Zicong Zeng
submission deadline 20 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 8 | Submission Open
Keywords: cereal-based foods; processing technologies; sensory qualities; functional ingredients; bioaccessibility; functional properties
(This special issue belongs to the Section Grain)
Advances in the Preventive Role of Food: Functional Foods and Beverages for Human Health
edited by and
submission deadline 23 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 37 | Submission Open
Keywords: preventive role of food; nutritional therapy; food quality; dietary health; dietary patterns; diet and health; functional foods; sustainable diets
(This special issue belongs to the Section Nutraceuticals, Functional Foods, and Novel Foods)
Technologies and Strategies to Improve the Quality and Extend the Shelf-Life of Post-Harvest Fruits and Vegetables
edited by
submission deadline 25 Apr 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 3268 | Submission Open
Keywords: post-harvest fruit; shelf life; edible coating; active packaging; antimicrobial agents; physiological quality
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plant Foods)
New Insights into the Structural, Functional and Nutritional Properties of Plant-Based Proteins submission deadline 25 Apr 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 2231 | Submission Open
Keywords: alternative protein sources; plant-based protein isolation; plant-based protein purification; functional properties of plant-based proteins; plant-based protein nutritional properties; structural characterization of plant-based proteins; modification of plant-based proteins; enzyme-assisted extraction of plant-based proteins; plant-based protein application
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plant Foods)
Cutting-Edge Technologies for Preventing Microbial Contamination in the Food Industry submission deadline 26 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 286 | Submission Open
Keywords: cutting-edge technologies; innovative strategies; antimicrobials; microbial contamination; food preservation; extended shelf life; spoilage organisms; food-borne pathogens; inhibition
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Microbiology)
Cereal Bran: Novel Processing Techniques, Nutritional Composition and Health Benefits
edited by and Zhongwei Chen
submission deadline 27 Apr 2026 | 5 articles | Viewed by 7657 | Submission Open
Keywords: cereal bran; dietary fiber; lipids; enzymes; phytochemicals; novel processing techniques; health benefits; health-promoting foods
(This special issue belongs to the Section Grain)
Bioactive Compounds and Strategies for Nutritional Improvement in Muscle Food
edited by Adriano Costa, Leandro Pereira Cappato and
submission deadline 28 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 6 | Submission Open
Keywords: muscle foods; fish and seafood; meat quality; bioactive compounds; functional ingredients; nutritional improvement; sustainable processing; antimicrobial strategies; antioxidants; organic acids; essential oils; shelf-life extension; food safety; health-promoting properties; aquaculture nutrition; food fortification; technological innovations; consumer health; post-harvest quality; food bioactivity
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Nutrition)
Tackling New Challenges on Microbial Food Safety: Advanced Processing Solutions and Comprehensive Control Strategies
edited by
submission deadline 29 Apr 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 3445 | Submission Open
Keywords: foodborne pathogenic bacteria; food safety natural antimicrobials; biocontrol; microbial detection; molecular diagnostics; microbial inactivation; control strategies; emerging technologies; climate change; One Health
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Microbiology)
Plant-Based Lipids for Metabolic Health
edited by and
submission deadline 29 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 6 | Submission Open
Keywords: plant-based lipids; structured lipids; functional lipids; molecular architecture; physicochemical features; bioactive minor components; metabolic health; encapsulation; delivery systems; new oil processing technology
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Nutrition)
Valorization of Compounds from Natural Sources: Obtaining, Characterizing and Applicability in Food Processing
edited by and Vitor Augusto Dos Santos Garcia
submission deadline 30 Apr 2026 | 5 articles | Viewed by 8330 | Submission Open
Keywords: extraction; phenolic acids; antioxidant potential; antibacterial activity; technological properties; cytotoxicity; sustainability; health and well-being; food innovation
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Engineering and Technology)
Advanced Research on Quality and Nutrition of Cereal-Based Foods and Beverages—2nd Edition
edited by
submission deadline 30 Apr 2026 | 7 articles | Viewed by 8043 | Submission Open
Keywords: cereal-based food; quality and nutrition control; functional cereal ingredient; innovative processing technology; cereal components
(This special issue belongs to the Section Grain)
Strategies for Controlling Pathogenic Microbial Contamination in Animal-Derived Food Products: An Antimicrobial Approach
edited by
submission deadline 30 Apr 2026 | 4 articles | Viewed by 6650 | Submission Open
Keywords: antibiotic resistance; foodborne pathogens; food animals; animal products; prevention; control
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Microbiology)
Processing, Consumption, and Nutritional Properties of Meat, Meat Products, and Artificial Meat Products submission deadline 30 Apr 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 6303 | Submission Open
Keywords: meat; meat products; artificial meat; artificial meat products; meat processing; meat quality and safety; nutritional properties; volatiles; sensory analysis
(This special issue belongs to the Section Meat)
Encapsulation-Based Technologies for Bioactive Compounds in Foods
edited by Bojana Balanč, Verica Đorđević and
submission deadline 30 Apr 2026 | 4 articles | Viewed by 5911 | Submission Open
Keywords: encapsulation; bioactive compounds; delivery systems; food applications; stability; thermal protection; edible packaging
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Engineering and Technology)
Latest Research on the Degradation and Detection of Toxins and Contaminants in Food Matrics submission deadline 30 Apr 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 4571 | Submission Open
Keywords: food safety; food processing; analytical methods; mycotoxins; pesticides; heavy metals; emerging contaminants; degradation compounds; risk assessment
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Toxicology)
Application of Bioinformatics in Food Science
edited by , and Zdravko Šumić
submission deadline 30 Apr 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 3344 | Submission Open
Keywords: bioinformatics; food science; nutritional genomics; food safety; molecular modeling; bioactive compounds; flavor profiling; food processing optimization
(This special issue belongs to the Section Foodomics)
Advanced Technologies and Applications for Processing, Preservation, Quality Monitoring, and Computational Modeling of Agri-Food Products submission deadline 30 Apr 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 3005 | Submission Open
Keywords: food processing; food preservation; quality assessment; computational modeling; AI-assisted food processing strategy
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Engineering and Technology)
Infrared Spectroscopy and Hyperspectral Imaging for Detecting Food Contaminants and Residues
edited by Marcus Vinicius da Silva Ferreira and
submission deadline 30 Apr 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 1644 | Submission Open
Keywords: infrared spectroscopy (IR); hyperspectral imaging (HSI); food contaminants; food safety; pesticides; heavy metals; microbial contamination; non-destructive techniques; real-time detection; data analysis
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Analytical Methods)
Oils and Fats: Structure and Stability
edited by
submission deadline 30 Apr 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 1456 | Submission Open
Keywords: oils and fats; lipid structure; oxidative stability; crystallization behavior; food quality; fat modification; shelf-life; lipid degradation; food processing; health implications
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Engineering and Technology)
Evaluation of Food Safety Performance
edited by Ilija Djekic and
submission deadline 30 Apr 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1070 | Submission Open
Keywords: monitoring and measurement of food safety; food safety indicators; food safety verification; analysis and evaluation of food safety
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Quality and Safety)
Using Artificial Intelligence and Big Data Analytics to Improve Food Safety
edited by Min Zuo and Qingchuan Zhang
submission deadline 30 Apr 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 940 | Submission Open
Keywords: artificial intelligence; big data analytics; food safety; machine learning; foodborne pathogens; supply chain traceability; contamination detection; IoT in food safety; risk assessment; food quality monitoring
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Analytical Methods)
Pigments as Bioactive Compounds in Foods: Their Chemistry, Extraction, Bioactivity, and Applications submission deadline 30 Apr 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 832 | Submission Open
Keywords: natural pigments; functional food; novel extraction; pigments stability; microbial pigments; delivery systems; shelf life; antioxidant
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Physics and (Bio)Chemistry)
Food Toxins and Toxicological Mechanisms: Molecular Perspectives on Food Safety and Health
edited by María Puerto and
submission deadline 30 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 783 | Submission Open
Keywords: food safety; food toxins; genomics; in vitro assays; in vivo assays; molecular toxicology; proteomics; toxic effects; toxicological evaluation; toxicological mechanisms
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Toxicology)
Nanoparticles in Food Industry: Current Research and Future Prospects
edited by and Jieying Li
submission deadline 30 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 598 | Submission Open
Keywords: nanoparticles; nanoemulsions; nanocarriers; bioactive delivery; food packaging; food safety
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Biotechnology)
Current Research on Gelation of Microparticles in Foods: Rheological, Structural and Functional Properties
edited by Xiaoyang Liu and
submission deadline 30 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 151 | Submission Open
Keywords: gels; gelation; food; rheological; gel structural; functional properties; delivery system  
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Engineering and Technology)
Multi-Omics Insights into Traditional Fermented Foods: Microbial Ecology, Metabolite Profiles, and Functional Applications
edited by , Lan-Szu Chou, Chih-Yu Lo and
submission deadline 30 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 86 | Submission Open
Keywords: traditional fermented foods; omics analysis; fermentation biotechnology; bioactive metabolites
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Microbiology)
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