Dear Readers,

It is a privilege to introduce our first 2024 issue (Vol 13) of the International Journal of Food Studies.

The journal mission was again well addressed, with a diverse research authorship and a stimulating discussion in the area of food education, food research and innovation.

The consumer was one of the main themes through this issue:

• Guo presented an analysis of the power of media to shape consumer attitude towards meat alternatives and the opportunities that policy makers have in this area.
• Un Nisa et al studied the quality assessment of a strawberry juice with prebiotic fibre processed with ultrasound, showing how ultrasound processed samples obtain higher scores in sensory acceptability.
• Acella and colleagues aimed to enhance the knowledge on the perception of quality by consumers of short food supply chain products, with 20 case studies of SFSCs across Europe. Social characteristics of the products such as genuineness were seen as major criteria.

A second main topic in this issue was shelf life:

• Andriani et al studied a traditional Indonesian fish shelf life demonstrating that vacuum packing and salt may contribute to extend the short shelf life of this product.
• Susantia and Kristamtini assessed in vivothe ability of black garlic extracts to maintain blood sugar homeostasis as well as reducing low density lipoprotein levels and increasing the high density lipoproteins.
• Haddad and Bani-Hani assessed the ability of protective cultures to extend the shelf life of Labaneh, a traditional dairy product from Jordan. 
• Duc Vu and colleagues presented an analysis of the efficiency of the commercial production of dried Segestid shrimp studying losses and bringing a better understanding of the production of this traditional Vietnamese product.

Finally, food and health was the third underlying theme, where:

• Najat and colleagues discussed the issue of brucellosis in dairy farms in Morocco, identifying a number of knowledge gaps in farmers and potential risks associated.
• Hernandez et al. presented a study highlighting the need to characterise liquids for dysphagia patients and the importance of rheology in these preparations.
• Hasain et al. findings included that energy drinks available in Kosovo may exhibit higher concentrations of caffeine than those levels declared in the label, highlighting the need to potentially secure the food safety and integrity of these products.

I would like to thank all the authors for their contributions, all the Editorial Board who continue to offer their voluntary work to this publication, the journal office that makes possible this issue and (last but not least) the Iseki Association support of the International Journal of Food Studies.

I wish you all a good reading.

Best regards,

Jesus Maria Frias Celayeta

Editor-in-Chief International Journal of Food Studies