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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Microbiological Origin of Substances in Clean-Label Food Design
edited by
submission deadline 10 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 212 | Submission Open
Keywords: microbiological origin of substances; clean label; shelf life; food safety; microorganisms
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Microbiology)
Innovative Food Processing Influence on Food Quality Attributes, Antioxidant Activity, and Safety submission deadline 10 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 129 | Submission Open
Keywords: processing optimization; thermal and non-thermal methods; nutritional value; organoleptic properties; rheology and texture; volatile compounds profile; storage studies; shelf life; polyphenolic compounds; consumerism; socio-economic impacts; sustainable food production
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Quality and Safety)
Lactic Acid Bacteria in Functional Foods: Health Effects, Current Applications, and Future Trends submission deadline 10 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 125 | Submission Open
Keywords: lactic acid bacteria; functional food; fermentation; bioactive metabolites; probiotics; topical formulation
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Microbiology)
Bioactive Components from Agro-Food By-Products and Their Potential Health Benefits
edited by and
submission deadline 10 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 120 | Submission Open
Keywords: agro-food by-products; dietary polyphenols; dietary polysaccharides; health benefits; sustainable food system; functional food application
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Nutrition)
Application of Gas and Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Technologies in Food Analysis submission deadline 10 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 117 | Submission Open
Keywords: metabolome; volatome; gas and liquid chromatography; mass spectrometry; food and related matrices; bioactive compounds of foods and related matrices; food spoilage/shelf life; food quality; microbial contamination
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Analytical Methods)
Food-Derived Polysaccharides: Composition, Characterization and Functional Properties
edited by Xiaoqi Xu and Zheng Xu
submission deadline 10 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 109 | Submission Open
Keywords: polysaccharides; structural characterization; structure– activity relationship; physicochemical properties; bioactivities; polysaccharide modification; polysaccharide applications in the food industry; nutrition
(This special issue belongs to the Section Nutraceuticals, Functional Foods, and Novel Foods)
Insect Ingredients and Green Technologies: Innovations for Sustainable Food Systems submission deadline 10 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 107 | Submission Open
Keywords: edible insects; sustainable food system; green extraction; insect-derived ingredients; insect lipids; insect chitin; insect proteins; future food; novel food
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Systems)
From Waste to Health and Wealth: Innovations in Food Waste Valorisation
edited by
submission deadline 10 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 98 | Submission Open
Keywords: valorisation; food waste; product development; biofuel; bioenergy; nutrient-rich soils; extraction of bioactive compounds; by-products; waste management
(This special issue belongs to the Section Nutraceuticals, Functional Foods, and Novel Foods)
Challenges and Opportunities in the Dairy and Non-Dairy Probiotic Product
edited by Cheol-Hyun Kim
submission deadline 10 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 87 | Submission Open
Keywords: dairy product; whey protein; probiotic; fermentation; lactic acid bacteria
(This special issue belongs to the Section Dairy)
Advances in Technologies for Improving Foods' Nutrition and Functional Properties
edited by
submission deadline 10 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 80 | Submission Open
Keywords: functional foods; food quality; nutrional properties; functional properties; alternative food ingredients; consumer acceptance and preference; sustainability; safety; 3D food printing; green technology
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Quality and Safety)
Innovative Applications of Edible Insects in Food Systems submission deadline 13 Apr 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 5218 | Submission Open
Keywords: edible insects; bioactive compounds; novel foods; sustainable production systems; regulatory frameworks
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Systems)
Biopolymers-Based Materials: Potential Use as Antimicrobial Active Packaging for Food Applications
edited by Yongkai Yuan and
submission deadline 13 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 133 | Submission Open
Keywords: biopolymer; packaging; antimicrobial
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Packaging and Preservation)
Research on Processing Characteristics, Bioactive Substances and Product Development of Cereals
edited by Iwona Kowalska
submission deadline 15 Apr 2026 | 5 articles | Viewed by 8594 | Submission Open
Keywords: cereal grains; bioactive compounds; cereal products; nutritional value; processing technology
(This special issue belongs to the Section Grain)
Utilizing Lactic Acid Bacteria in Food Products submission deadline 15 Apr 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 4381 | Submission Open
Keywords: lactic acid bacteria; precision fermentation; microbial omics; food omics
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Microbiology)
Mycotoxins and Heavy Metals in Food
edited by Peng Li
submission deadline 15 Apr 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 3358 | Submission Open
Keywords: food safety; mycotoxins; heavy metals; instrumental analysis; rapid detection; food control; toxicology
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Toxicology)
Recent Advances in Statistical Research of Food Sensory Evaluation and Preference
edited by and Carla Barbosa
submission deadline 15 Apr 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 2202 | Submission Open
Keywords: sensory analysis; consumer studies; statistical tools; consumer preferences; chemometric techniques; sensometric techniques; multivariate analysis; sensory attributes; aroma; texture; product development; artificial intelligence (AI)
(This special issue belongs to the Section Sensory and Consumer Sciences)
Food Safety and Hygiene: Strategies for Educating and Informing Consumers
edited by Marzena Tomaszewska, and
submission deadline 15 Apr 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1375 | Submission Open
Keywords: food safety; good hygiene practice; food-borne illness; consumer behavior; educational programs; food spoilage; food safety knowledge; communication methods
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Quality and Safety)
New Insights into Cereals and Cereal-Based Foods, 4th Edition submission deadline 15 Apr 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1300 | 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)
Proteins and Peptides in Food: From Preparation to Properties and Applications
edited by Xinxia Zhang and
submission deadline 15 Apr 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 509 | Submission Open
Keywords: protein; peptide; modification; application; healthier rice products; nutritional composition
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Engineering and Technology)
Plant-Derived Prebiotics and Their Role in Gut Health
edited by Xiaoqiong Li, Xin Wang and
submission deadline 15 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 171 | Submission Open
Keywords: prebiotic; next-generation prebiotic; oligosaccharides; polysaccharides; polyphenols; synbiotic; gut microbiota; functional food
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Nutrition)
Bread and Bakery Products: Technology, Nutritional and Sensory Properties submission deadline 15 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 169 | Submission Open
Keywords: bakery technology; traditional and non-traditional bakery raw materials; gluten-free bakery products; bakery products' nutritional value; fermentation; bakery product sensory attributes; bakery products’ storage
(This special issue belongs to the Section Grain)
Traditional Fermented Food: Physicochemical, Sensory, Flavor, and Microbial Characteristics—2nd Edition
edited by Anjun Chen
submission deadline 15 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 97 | 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 | 1 articles | Viewed by 276 | 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 | 2 articles | Viewed by 1284 | 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 | 4 articles | Viewed by 16036 | 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 | 3 articles | Viewed by 3298 | 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 | 2 articles | Viewed by 1979 | 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)
Innovations in Meat Science: Quality Optimization, Sensory Assessment and Sustainable Processing Technologies
edited by and
submission deadline 20 Apr 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 658 | Submission Open
Keywords: meat; quality optimization; meat flavor; active packaging; sensory profiling; sustainable processing; emerging technologies
(This special issue belongs to the Section Meat)
Chemometrics in Food Authenticity and Quality Control
edited by and
submission deadline 20 Apr 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 580 | 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)
Recent Advances in the Regulation of Lipid Metabolism by Food Bioactive Ingredients
edited by
submission deadline 20 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 476 | 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)
Milk and Dairy Products Composition: Physico-Chemical and Functional Properties
edited by
submission deadline 20 Apr 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 419 | 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 | 1 articles | Viewed by 365 | Submission Open
Keywords: cereal-based foods; processing technologies; sensory qualities; functional ingredients; bioaccessibility; functional properties
(This special issue belongs to the Section Grain)
Nondestructive Analysis of Pollutants in Food Commodities
edited by and Peipei Qi
submission deadline 20 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 346 | 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)
Recent Advancements in Food Processing Technologies for Enhancing Food Quality
edited by Qi Zhang and
submission deadline 20 Apr 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 311 | Submission Open
Keywords: extrusion; CFD simulation; food quality; intelligent manufacturing; food processing technology; structure modification; nutrient retention; quality control; drying; printing
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Engineering and Technology)
Sustainability and Resilience in the Industrial Hemp Supply Chain submission deadline 20 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 187 | 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)
Synthetic Microbial Communities in Fermented Foods: From Mechanistic Insights to Sustainable Applications
edited by
submission deadline 20 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 180 | 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)
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 154 | 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)
Polysaccharide-Based Hydrocolloids Utilized in the Development of Healthy Foods
edited by , and Robert Soliva-Fortuny
submission deadline 20 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 130 | 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)
Future Prospects for Enzyme Technologies in the Food Industry
edited by
submission deadline 20 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 127 | 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 103 | 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)
Application of Chromatography in Food Toxicology submission deadline 20 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 102 | 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)
Food Polysaccharides: Molecular Structure, Bioactive Properties, and Emerging Applications
edited by Yali Zhang
submission deadline 20 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 98 | 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)
Innovations in Clean and Sustainable Food Processing: Circular Bioeconomy and Food Waste Valorization submission deadline 20 Apr 2026 | Viewed by 90 | 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)
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 88 | 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)
Advances in the Preventive Role of Food: Functional Foods and Beverages for Human Health
edited by and
submission deadline 23 Apr 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1202 | 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)
Novel Insights into Food Flavor Chemistry and Analysis submission deadline 25 Apr 2026 | 7 articles | Viewed by 13480 | Submission Open
Keywords: sensory analysis; SPME/GC– MS analysis; food flavor; volatile aroma compounds; sensory profile; consumer acceptance; novel food; innovative ingredients; emerging technologies
(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Quality and Safety)
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 | 5 articles | Viewed by 9227 | 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)
Plant-Based Functional Foods and Innovative Production Technologies
edited by
submission deadline 25 Apr 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 5686 | Submission Open
Keywords: plant foods; functional foods; health-promoting effects; food processing; meat alternatives; plant-based meat analogues; sustainable foods; production technologies; enzyme-catalysed processing; food fortification with plant-based bioactives
(This special issue belongs to the Section Nutraceuticals, Functional Foods, and Novel Foods)
Functional Foods for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention submission deadline 25 Apr 2026 | 5 articles | Viewed by 5075 | Submission Open
Keywords: functional foods; novel food products; bioactive compounds; non-communicable diseases; health promotion; disease prevention
(This special issue belongs to the Section Nutraceuticals, Functional Foods, and Novel Foods)
New Insights into the Structural, Functional and Nutritional Properties of Plant-Based Proteins submission deadline 25 Apr 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 3281 | 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)
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