Editorial: Mediterranean foods: quality, safety and sustainability

In recent years, the Mediterranean diet has been recovered, especially after its recognition as UNESCO's intangible cultural heritage. It involves the use of many plant-based foods common to several Mediterranean countries, such as olive oil, olives, fruits and vegetables, cereals, pulses, nuts, wine, but also meat and fish. The adoption of this diet has favorable and direct implications on health, but also on society and economy, with consequences for the sustainability and resilience of agrifood systems, inherent to production, relevant topics in the current context of climate change and water scarcity. Additionally, these Research Topics are aligned with the 2030 Agenda of the United Nations, mainly contributing to Sustainable Development Goals 2 (Zero Hunger), 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing), and 12 (Responsible Consumption). In this twenty-first century, new challenges have been imposed on all of us involving the food distribution chain, from producers to consumers, including researchers. In parallel with food security, the access to safe food, and the reduction of food loss and waste are also urgent challenges to be addressed. To achieve these worldwide objectives, it is necessary to explore innovative strategies for production of raw materials, to transform unexploited into new food raw materials, to use new manufacturing processes, as well as innovative conservation methods. All these objectives contribute to the availability and accessibility of quality foods that enable an increased adherence to the Mediterranean diet and should be achieved taking environmental concerns into account. The Research Topic on “Mediterranean foods: quality, safety and sustainability” focuses on different Mediterranean diet foods, including their relationship with environmental sustainability and production systems. Among the submitted manuscripts, four research articles were selected by external experts to enter this Research Topic of Frontiers in Nutrition.