Quality Characteristics of Traditional and Innovative Foods

A special issue of Foods (ISSN 2304-8158). This special issue belongs to the section "Nutraceuticals, Functional Foods, and Novel Foods".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 December 2025 | Viewed by 2017

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Bldg. 5, 90128 Palermo, Italy
Interests: food microbiology; fermented foods; lactic acid bacteria; food safety; dairy science and technology; microbial ecology of foods; functional foods; traditional foods

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences (SAAF), University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Bldg. 5, 90128 Palermo, Italy
Interests: microbial safety; postharvest preservation; food safety; lactic acid bacteria; fermented foods; wine yeasts biotechnology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor Assistant
Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Bldg. 5, 90128 Palermo, Italy
Interests: food microbiology; traditional cheese; antibiotic resistance; virulence; meat production

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor Assistant
Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Bldg. 5, 90128 Palermo, Italy
Interests: lactic acid bacteria; innovative dairy products; food packaging; antimicrobial activity; sourdourghs; bread productions

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue will explore the intersection between tradition and innovation in food science, focusing on the microbiological, technological, and functional aspects of traditional and innovative foods. Topics for submission include, but are not limited to, the microbial ecology of foods and the role of lactic acid bacteria, non-Saccharomyces yeasts, moulds, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae in shaping the sensory profile and safety of fermented products. The convergence of artisanal knowledge and modern biotechnology will  be examined across a range of products, including fermented vegetables, dairy, wine, beer, mead, and table olives. We welcome contributions in the fields of food microbiology, food safety, and dairy science, especially studies on microbial dynamics, fermentation processes, and functional food development. Research on traditional foods and beverages is also encouraged, with emphasis on their cultural relevance and potential for innovation. This Special Issue aims to bridge traditional practices and scientific progress, highlighting how microbial communities and fermentation technologies can enhance food quality, safety, and nutritional value.

Dr. Raimondo Gaglio
Dr. Antonio Alfonzo
Guest Editors

Dr. Gabriele Busetta
Dr. Giuliana Garofalo
Guest Editor Assistants

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. Foods is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2900 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

  • fermented foods
  • microbial ecology
  • lactic acid bacteria
  • food safety and quality
  • functional foods
  • traditional foods
  • food biotechnology

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (1 paper)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

19 pages, 1529 KB  
Article
Comprehensive Characterization of the Microbiological and Quality Attributes of Traditional Sicilian Canestrato Fresco Cheese
by Chiara Pisana, Margherita Caccamo, Marcella Barbera, Giovanni Marino, Graziella Serio, Elena Franciosi, Luca Settanni, Raimondo Gaglio and Cinzia Caggia
Foods 2025, 14(17), 3123; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14173123 - 6 Sep 2025
Viewed by 1023
Abstract
This study provides a comprehensive characterization of the microbiological, chemical, and sensory profiles of Sicilian Canestrato Fresco (SCF) cheese, a traditional agri-food product (TAP) made from raw cow’s milk using artisanal methods and typically consumed after 20 d of ripening. Plate count analyses [...] Read more.
This study provides a comprehensive characterization of the microbiological, chemical, and sensory profiles of Sicilian Canestrato Fresco (SCF) cheese, a traditional agri-food product (TAP) made from raw cow’s milk using artisanal methods and typically consumed after 20 d of ripening. Plate count analyses confirmed high levels of mesophilic lactic acid bacteria (LAB) exceeding 108 CFU/g. Both rod- and coccus-shaped LAB populations were present at these elevated levels. Pathogens such as Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella spp. were not detected, although potential contaminants including Enterobacteriaceae, total coliforms, and Escherichia coli were detected at levels of 1.0–3.5 log CFU/g. High-throughput sequencing confirmed LAB as the dominant taxa, comprising the majority of the bacterial community, which accounted for 78.12% to 99.63% of the total relative abundance (RA) across all cheese samples. The fatty acid profile was typical of cow’s milk cheeses, with long-chain fatty acids (C15–C18) representing ~75% of the total, followed by medium- (~17%) and short-chain (<8%) fatty acids. Volatile organic compound analysis showed free fatty acids as the most abundant class, followed by esters, alcohols, ketones, and aldehydes. These findings highlight the role of traditional practices in preserving the sensory and chemical identity of SCF cheese. However, the presence of hygiene indicators suggests a need for improving sanitary measures along the production chain. Future research should explore the impact of targeted microbial management and packaging conditions to enhance both safety and product standardization without compromising artisanal traits. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Quality Characteristics of Traditional and Innovative Foods)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop