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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Recent Advances in Food Protein and Alternative Protein: Properties, Benefits, and Applications
edited by
submission deadline 25 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 153 | Submission Open
Keywords: protein modification; protein functionality; food quality; alternative food proteins
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Nutrition)
Beyond Sustenance: The Rise of Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods in Health and Well-Being
edited by
submission deadline 25 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 55 | 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 46 | 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)
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 23 | 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)
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 23 | 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)
Yeast in the Food Industry: Biomass, Diversity, Technology, and Applications
edited by and Xianxuan Zhou
submission deadline 25 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 21 | 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 | Viewed by 20 | 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, and Qian Ge
submission deadline 25 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 10 | 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)
Novel Approaches for the Detection of Grain Products' Quality and Adulteration
edited by
submission deadline 25 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 9 | 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)
Advances in Risk Assessment of Emerging Foodborne Microbial Hazards and Contaminants submission deadline 25 Jan 2026 | 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)
Emerging Processing and Detection Technologies for Meat and Meat Products
edited by
submission deadline 28 Jan 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 1401 | 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 Aili Li
submission deadline 29 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 42 | 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)
Plant Protein Processing: Technological Innovation and New Application Scenarios
edited by , and Zhaoxian Huang
submission deadline 30 Jan 2026 | 6 articles | Viewed by 6908 | 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)
Functional Foods, Gut Microbiota, and Health Benefits
edited by Pedro Miguel Silva and Ana Isabel Bourbon
submission deadline 30 Jan 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 3079 | 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)
Advancing Research on Quality and Nutrition in Cereals and Cereal-Based Foods submission deadline 30 Jan 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 1247 | 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 670 | 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)
Instrumental and Chemometric Methodologies to Assess Food Quality
edited by , Fabricio Alejandro Chiappini and
submission deadline 30 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 612 | 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)
Grain and Oil Deep Processing: New Technology, Nutritional Quality and Functional Properties
edited by and Chengbin Zhao
submission deadline 30 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 151 | Submission Open
Keywords: grain and oil foods; multi-scale structural changes; food processing; functional foods; protein; carbohydrate; physicochemical properties
(This special issue belongs to the Section Grain)
The Impact of Dairy Processing on Nutritional Quality and Health Benefits: Exploring Innovations for Healthier Dairy Products submission deadline 30 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 54 | Submission Open
Keywords: dairy processing; heat treatment; non-thermal processing; dairy proteins; milk fat; lactose; minerals; peptides; probiotics; prebiotics; bioactive properties; functional dairy products; bioaccessibility; bioavailability
(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 | Viewed by 51 | 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)
Food and Microbes—the One Health Approach submission deadline 30 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 27 | Submission Open
Keywords: One Health; food systems; foodborne pathogens; virulence factors; antimicrobial resistance
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Quality and Safety)
Non-Destructive Analysis for the Detection of Contaminants in Food
edited by Kaiyi Zheng, Bin Zou and Yiwei Xu
submission deadline 30 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 26 | 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)
Eco-Friendly Paper Packaging Coatings: Enhancing Sustainability and Food Preservation submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | 4 articles | Viewed by 12764 | Submission Open
Keywords: eco-friendly packaging; paper-based coatings; food preservation; biopolymers; shelf-life extension
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Packaging and Preservation)
The Effects of Processing Technologies on the Quality of Cereal By-Products
edited by Ruge Cao and
submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | 6 articles | Viewed by 8234 | Submission Open
Keywords: cereal by-products; whole grains; quality enhancement; nutritional value; food science; bio-activities; processing technologies; polyphenols; polysaccharides; peptides
(This special issue belongs to the Section Grain)
Dietary Trace Elements and Bioactive Compounds in Food: Exploring Their Health Implications
edited by
submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | 5 articles | Viewed by 3775 | Submission Open
Keywords: trace element; bioactive compounds; polyphenols; antioxidants; dietary postbiotics; nutrition; disease prevention
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Nutrition)
A Novel Perspective on the Advancement of Technology for Maintaining Food Quality and Monitoring and Identifying Safety Characteristics
edited by Debao Wang and Qingfeng Yang
submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | 4 articles | Viewed by 3618 | Submission Open
Keywords: preservation technology; packaging; advanced material; functional active factor; microorganism; innovative food; edible quality; new technology of food processing
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Packaging and Preservation)
Artificial Intelligence and Computer Vision Applications in Food Science and Industry
edited by , Salvatore Campisi-Pinto and
submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 2146 | Submission Open
Keywords: artificial intelligence; food analisys; computer vision; image analisys; machine learning; food processing; quality inspection; robotics; automation; food safety
Effect of Changes in Phytochemicals and Biological Activity During Preservation of Fruits and Vegetables
edited by
submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 1880 | Submission Open
Keywords: fruits; vegetables; preservation; nutrition; technologies; nutrients; post-harvest
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plant Foods)
Novel Functional Formulations and Processing Strategies to Preserve the Quality and Sensory in Animal-Origin Foods
edited by Xavier Fernández Hospital, and
submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1365 | Submission Open
Keywords: quality preservation; sensory attributes; functional formulations; novel processing strategies; shelf life extension; advanced technologies; meat; dairy; fish
(This special issue belongs to the Section Meat)
Innovative Advances in Food Colloids: Novel Bio-Colloids and Smart Delivery Systems
edited by Ali Rashidinejad
submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1036 | Submission Open
Keywords: novel bio-colloids; smart delivery systems; colloid interactions with bioactive compounds; advanced characterization techniques self-assembling colloids; targeted release systems; nanoscale carriers; multimolecular structures
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Physics and (Bio)Chemistry)
Milk from Minor Dairy Animals: Chemical Constituents, Processing Characteristics and Nutritional Benefits—2nd Edition
edited by
submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 960 | Submission Open
Keywords: non-cow milk; chemical constituents; nutritional benefits; processing characteristics; goat or sheep milk; buffalo milk; yak milk; flavor
(This special issue belongs to the Section Dairy)
Unlocking the Potential of Ancient Grains: Health Benefits and Food Applications submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 666 | Submission Open
Keywords: cereals; legumes; landraces; populations; associations; sustainability; agro-food biodiversity; healthy diets; agroecology; value chain
(This special issue belongs to the Section Grain)
Use, Quality and Safety of Food Supplements: Scientific and Regulatory Perspectives submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 550 | Submission Open
Keywords: food supplements; dietary supplements; consumption patterns; quality control; safety assessment; regulatory frameworks; analytical methods; risk-benefit analysis; nutrigenomics; post‑market surveillance
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Nutrition)
Application of Metabolomics in Enhancing Food Texture and Flavor
edited by Yanan Yu and
submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 532 | Submission Open
Keywords: metabolomics; food textures; food flavor; new methods for food texture and flavor analysis; food textures and flavor changes resulting from processing; food textures and flavor changes occurring during storage
(This special issue belongs to the Section Foodomics)
Preparation, Characterization and Application of Antimicrobial Films for Foods
edited by Junxiang Zhu
submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 503 | Submission Open
Keywords: antimicrobial films; antimicrobial agents; nanocomposites; antimicrobial mechanisms; smart packaging
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Packaging and Preservation)
Innovative Preservation Techniques of Fruits and Vegetables or Their Processed Products: Strategies for Safety and Quality Maintenance
edited by Lanhua Yi
submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 357 | Submission Open
Keywords: fruits and vegetables; processed products of fruits and vegetables; preservation techniques; microbial contamination; quality maintenance
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Packaging and Preservation)
Plant By-Products Fortify the Nutritional and Functional Properties of Foods submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 348 | Submission Open
Keywords: by-products; co-products; bioactive compounds; extraction; functionality; processing; revalorization; food innovation; nutrition; food loss; food waste
(This special issue belongs to the Section Nutraceuticals, Functional Foods, and Novel Foods)
Food Proteins: Extraction, Functions and Applications
edited by Yuqian Liu, and Jinguang Liu
submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 258 | Submission Open
Keywords: food proteins; extraction; bioactive proteins and peptides; functional properties; applications
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Nutrition)
Characterization of Food Lipids and Their Derivatives
edited by and
submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 171 | Submission Open
Keywords: functional lipid ingredients; lipid structural modification; solid lipid nanoparticle; liposome; purification and isolation; fat replacers; quantitative analysis; phospholipids; fat-soluble vitamins; lipid oxidation
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Quality and Safety)
Innovative Applications of Molecular Techniques and Genetic Engineering in Foods
edited by Guiling Li and
submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 126 | Submission Open
Keywords: nucleic acids; safety control; genetic modification; omics technologies; food components
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Biotechnology)
Research on Meat Processing and Safety Technology
edited by
submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 79 | Submission Open
Keywords: meat processing; food safety; preservation technologies; pathogen control; sustainable meat; smart packaging; non-thermal processing; omics applications; meat authenticity; clean-label products
(This special issue belongs to the Section Meat)
Research Advances in Fermented Foods and Beverages: Technology, Sensory Properties, Microbiological Characteristics, and Health Benefits
edited by Argyro Bekatorou and
submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 74 | Submission Open
Keywords: food quality; health benefits; safety; process control; bioprocess engineering; precision biotechnology; predictive microbiology; smart packaging; computational technology; sustainability
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Microbiology)
Harnessing Microbial and Enzymatic Technologies Transforming Food Byproducts into Functional Bioactive Substances to Advance Sustainable Development submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 38 | Submission Open
Keywords: microbial consortia; harnessing microbial technologies; enzymatic technologies; functional bioactive technologies; systematic optimization; innovation in bioprocesses
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Security and Sustainability)
Novel Strategies to Obtain Food Ingredients from Algal Biomass: Extraction and Characterization
edited by Thatyane Vidal Fonteles and
submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 37 | Submission Open
Keywords: algal biomass; microalgae; macroalgae; novel extraction techniques; dietary polyphenols; bioactive peptides; non-thermal processing; sustainable food ingredients; green technologies
Plant-Derived Bioactive Compounds: Emerging Components for Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 31 | Submission Open
Keywords: plant-derived bioactive compounds; novel bioactive molecules; nutraceuticals; functional foods; sustainable health products; chronic disease prevention; antioxidants; digestion and bioavailability; toxicological safety; new products development
(This special issue belongs to the Section Nutraceuticals, Functional Foods, and Novel Foods)
Bioactive Compounds in the Spotlight: State-of-the-Art Research in Dietary Supplements, Functional Foods, and Nutraceuticals: 2nd Edition submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 22 | Submission Open
Keywords: bioactive peptides; polyphenols; probiotics; phytochemicals; algae-derived nutraceuticals; plant-based meat; functional dairy products; natural food additives; functional beverages; healthy fats
(This special issue belongs to the Section Nutraceuticals, Functional Foods, and Novel Foods)
Advanced Understanding of Meat Matrix-Flavor Relationships
edited by and Dandan Pu
submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 21 | Submission Open
Keywords: meat matrix; flavor regulation; meat matrix– flavor interaction; novel technology; sensory quality
(This special issue belongs to the Section Meat)
Recovery of Bioactive Compounds from Food Processing Waste: Extraction and Application in Foods submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 20 | Submission Open
Keywords: food by-products; green extraction technologies; bioactive compounds; molecular structure elucidation; circular economy; functional food ingredients; waste valorization; sustainable food systems
Advances in the Use of Beneficial Microorganisms to Improve Nutritional and Functional Properties of Fermented Foods: 2nd Edition
edited by Palmira De Bellis and Giuseppe Perri
submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 15 | Submission Open
Keywords: food microbiology; functional food; probiotic bacteria; lactic acid bacteria; spore-forming bacteria; antimicrobial activity; microbial diversity; sourdough; bread
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Microbiology)
Next-Gen Food Supply Chains: Innovation, Leadership, and Resilience
edited by
submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 2 | Submission Open
Keywords: food culture and identity; agri-food innovation; sustainable food practices; culinary anthropology; traditional food systems; food security and sovereignty; consumer food narratives; ethnographic food studies; food system resilience; socio-technical food transitions
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Security and Sustainability)
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