Food, Public Health and Global Justice in Times of Crisis
A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Global Health".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2026 | Viewed by 104
Special Issue Editors
Interests: environmental nutrition; food security; sustainable diets; functional plants; foods and ingredients; human rights and health; foods politics; water security and environmental health
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
In 2025, humanity faces an unprecedented convergence of global crises deeply affecting public health: armed conflicts, extreme climate events, water scarcity, inflation in food markets, and entrenched structural inequalities, coupled with the rising prevalence of both noncommunicable and communicable diseases, many linked to food insecurity and limited access to nutritious diets. According to the Global Report on Food Crises 2025, over 295 million individuals experienced acute hunger across 53 countries, marking the sixth consecutive year of worsening food insecurity. The World Health Organization (WHO) highlights malnutrition, both undernutrition and overnutrition, as a leading risk factor for noncommunicable diseases, responsible for over 70% of global deaths.
This Special Issue, titled “Food, Public Health and Global Justice in Times of Crisis”, contributes to an urgent global conversation on the right to healthy, sustainable, and equitable food. It invites original research, analytical studies, and systematic experiences that explore the complex interrelation between food systems and population health, how food impacts public health, and the role of transformative public policies, community-driven practices, and innovative solutions.
The International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health calls for submissions addressing the following themes:
Food and Nutritional Security: Food security extends beyond availability; it involves physical, economic, and culturally appropriate access. In 2024, 22.6% of surveyed populations faced high levels of food insecurity, exacerbated by social inequities, forced displacement, and disrupted supply chains, particularly in regions affected by conflict and climate disasters.
Food Safety and Toxicology: Contamination from microbial agents, chemicals, and unregulated additives poses an escalating threat. The WHO estimates that 600 million people suffer annually from contaminated food, resulting in 420,000 deaths. Toxicological assessments of ingredients, packaging, and industrial practices are essential to safeguarding public health.
Nutrition and Chronic Disease: Imbalanced diets are directly linked to increased rates of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Projections indicate that without significant changes in dietary patterns, the global burden of diet-related chronic diseases will continue rising through 2030. Fiscal interventions, such as taxes on sugary beverages, have demonstrated measurable benefits in reducing harmful consumption.
Public Policy and Food Law: Ethical, evidence-based policies, including front-of-package labeling, additive regulation, and educational campaigns, are critical to empowering communities and protecting their health. Civic engagement in policy oversight fosters stronger food governance systems and public accountability.
Environmental and Climate Impact: Food systems are major contributors to climate change, responsible for up to 30% of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to the FAO. Biodiversity loss, water overuse, and soil degradation threaten both planetary health and long-term food security.
Dr. Rebeca Monroy-Torres
Dr. Martha Kaufer-Horwitz
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- food security
- water security
- human rights and health
- foods politics
- sustainable diets
- ultra-processed foods
- functional plants
- foods and ingredients environmental health
- environmental nutrition
- nutrition and chronic diseases
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