Food Additives and Ultra-Processed Foods: Their Molecular Impacts on Human Health from Bench to Population

Dear Colleagues,

Food additives are substances incorporated into processed and ultra-processed food to extend shelf life, enhance flavor and appearance, and improve texture and nutritional quality. The use of natural substances for food preservation dates back to ancient times. However, with the advent of industrial-scale food production in the 19^th century, various chemical food additives were introduced into the modern food supply.

Many food additives are considered safe under regulations. Nutritionally fortified packed processed foods play an important role in combating hunger due to their convenient storage, transportation, and distribution. Nevertheless, the widespread use of chemical food additives in the contemporary food system has raised concerns about its potential long-term impact on human health.

At the molecular level, recent studies indicate that certain additives have the potential to regulate gene expression and influence metabolic pathways. At the population level, higher consumption of ultra-processed foods has been associated with gut health, metabolic disease, immunomodulation, and carcinogenesis.

This Special Issue proposes to consolidate cutting-edge investigations on how food additives interact with diverse biological mechanisms, such as inflammation, immune and oxidative stress response, and lipid metabolism, and how these interactions may contribute to the development of modern diseases. We welcome investigations across a broad range of additives, including, but not limit to, artificial sweeteners, preservatives, colorants, and emulsifiers.

We invite original research and review articles exploring molecular mechanisms of the interactions among food additives, genomics, epigenomics, and microbiome; in vivo and in vitro experimental research on biological responses to additives; and population-based studies examining associations between processed and ultra-processed food consumption and disease burden. By enhancing our knowledge of the gene-additive interaction and their biological consequences, this Special Issue seeks to inform the development of regulations, support safer food formulation, and promote future investigations in preventive nutrition and public health.

Dr. Li Jiao
Guest Editor

Dr. Afshin Zand
Guest Editor Assistant

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