Journal profile · Food Science & Technology
Food Hydrocolloids
ISSN 0268-005X · eISSN 1873-7137 · Elsevier · UNITED STATES · Bimonthly · Founded 1986
Food Hydrocolloids: CAS Zone 1 · Agricultural & Forestry Sciences (2025 upgraded edition, Top journal); impact factor 13.89; hybrid open access; APC about USD 4,990; review about 90 days (submission to acceptance, publisher); community-reported acceptance: about 50%; 1,303 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Food Hydrocolloids is published by Elsevier and is in Zone 1 of Agricultural & Forestry Sciences in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition, Top journal). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Proteins in Food Systems, Polysaccharides Composition and Applications and Food composition and properties, together about 46.9% of its articles. Its main subfields are Food Science. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
Food Hydrocolloids publishes original and innovative research concerned with the characterisation, functional properties and applications of hydrocolloid materials used in food products. Hydrocolloids are defined as polysaccharides and proteins of commercial importance that are added to food products to control, for example, the texture, stability, rheology and sensory properties. The key focus of the research should be on the hydrocolloid additives themselves and the source and nature of the hydrocolloids should be fully described. Details of their physicochemical characteristics must be provided such that the conclusions drawn from the study can be assessed with confidence and that the work can be repeated by others. Manuscripts should clearly outline the specific aims and objectives of the research and must include a fundamental discussion of the research findings at the molecular level and their significance. Manuscripts that simply report data without providing a detailed interpretation of the results will not be accepted for publication in the journal. Studies on hydrocolloids in complex formulations should focus on their influence on the overall properties and their mechanism of action. Simple formulation development studies that primarily aim to optimize proportions of mixed ingredients and/or investigate the variation of processing parameters to enhance formulated product properties will not be considered for publication.The main areas of interest are:The application of novel biochemical, chemical and physicochemical techniques for the characterisation of hydrocolloid materialsThe rheological and thermal properties of hydrocolloids in aqueous systems including their viscosity, viscoelastic properties and gelation behaviour The influence of hydrocolloids on the microstructure, texture and organoleptic properties of complex food systemsThe use of Artificial Intelligence approaches for the prediction and rationalisation of hydrocolloid structure–function relationships, molecular interactions and functional performance in food systemsThe interfacial properties of hydrocolloids including their application in the stabilisation of dispersions, emulsions and foamsHydrocolloid interactions with small molecules and interactions in mixed hydrocolloid systems including their phase behaviour, complexation and Maillard conjugationThe film forming properties of hydrocolloids with application in edible films, coatings and active packagingThe application of hydrocolloids to control the rheology and performance of food bio-ink formulations for 3D printingThe application of hydrocolloids for the encapsulation and controlled release of probiotics and active compounds for inclusion in food formulationsThe modification of hydrocolloid functionality through chemical, biochemical and physical processesThe extraction, physicochemical characteristics and application of hydrocolloid materials from non-traditional sources with commercial potential in food systemsThe function of hydrocolloids as soluble dietary fibre and their influence on human healthManuscripts that deal with the use of hydrocolloids in medical settings such as encapsulation of drugs, wound dressings and tissue engineering together with research involving animal studies will not be considered for publication in Food Hydrocolloids. Such work would be more appropriate for publication in Food Hydrocolloids for Health. This is an open access companion Journal devoted to hydrocolloids applied in human health and nutrition.The Food Hydrocolloids Journal publishes Review articles that provide a focussed overview of the latest developments in specific hydrocolloid research areas.
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Food Science & Technology
Editor-in-chief Pete A. WilliamsPublisher website
Editorial board by country: 22 in mainland China (about 22%); most named Mainland China 22, Spain 11, United States 9, United Kingdom 7, Canada 6 (100 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Proteins in Food SystemsAgricultural and Biological Sciences23%
- Polysaccharides Composition and ApplicationsAgricultural and Biological Sciences13.9%
- Food composition and propertiesNursing9.9%
- Microencapsulation and Drying ProcessesAgricultural and Biological Sciences7.9%
- Polysaccharides and Plant Cell WallsAgricultural and Biological Sciences6.1%
- Pickering emulsions and particle stabilizationMaterials Science5%
- Nanocomposite Films for Food PackagingMaterials Science4.9%
- Food Chemistry and Fat AnalysisAgricultural and Biological Sciences3.6%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Agricultural & Forestry Sciences Zone 1
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Agricultural & Forestry Sciences | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Chemistry, Applied | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Food Science & Technology | Zone 1 |
Top journal: yesReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Agricultural & Forestry Sciences Zone 1
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Agricultural & Forestry Sciences | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Chemistry, Applied | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Food Science & Technology | Zone 1 |
Top journal: yesReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Agricultural & Forestry Sciences Zone 1
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Agricultural & Forestry Sciences | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Chemistry, Applied | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Food Science & Technology | Zone 1 |
Top journal: yesReview journal: no
Database indexing
SCIEScopusLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Editions, and major and minor categories, are shown separately and never merged into one zone; check which edition your institution uses before you submit or report.
Metrics
Impact metrics and publication volume
Impact
- Impact factor
- 13.89LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher)
- 13.8Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 25.2LetPub ·
- CiteScore (publisher)
- 25.2Publisher website ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 2.96LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 2.39LetPub ·
- h-index
- 132LetPub ·
- h-index
- 280OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 10,664OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 13.24OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 13.8%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 17.84%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 1,205LetPub ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 14,614 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 994 | 254 | 1,066 |
| 2025 | 1,303 | 324 | 12,792 |
| 2024 | 1,236 | 360 | 32,924 |
| 2023 | 1,179 | 304 | 46,211 |
| 2022 | 898 | 192 | 46,773 |
| 2021 | 861 | 201 | 54,439 |
Sources count differently and were observed at different times, so each source's own value is kept; "publisher" marks figures from the journal's website.
Review & acceptance
Review time and acceptance
Publisher-reported review time from the journal's website
90 dayssubmission to acceptance · community reports about 1.7 months
The publisher's own definition applies; dates from this journal's articles in the last 24 months are not available yet, so the publisher's figure is used.
Figures by source
- Average review time (community reports)
- about 1.7 monthsLetPub ·
- Average acceptance (community reports)
- 50%LetPub ·
- Submission to first decision
- 3 daysPublisher website ·
- First decision after review
- 38 daysPublisher website ·
- Submission to acceptance
- 90 daysPublisher website ·
- Acceptance to publication
- 2 daysPublisher website ·
- Peer review
- Single anonymous peer reviewPublisher website
Community reports come from authors' own submissions (confidence 0.5) and are not a promise from the journal; for publisher figures, the journal's own definitions apply.
Fees & open access
APC and open-access policy
Hybrid open accessLetPub
A subscription journal in which authors can pay to publish their article open access.
| Source | APC | Fee waiver | License | Observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenAlex | USD 4,990 / EUR 4,670 / GBP 3,990 / JPY 618,910 | — | — | |
| Publisher website | USD 5,210 | — | — |
A hybrid journal charges the APC only when the author chooses open access; publishing under the subscription model is usually free.
The journal's website is authoritative for fees; sources were observed at different times and each keeps its own value, without averaging.
Submission
Article types and submission policies (journal website)
Open calls for papers1, by deadline
- Neutrons and Food 8Deadline
What to prepare5 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- ≤ 250 words
- Keywords
- 1–7
- Reference style
- APA
- Highlights
- Required
- Graphical abstract
- Required
Article types accepted8
- book reviewsBook reviewsLength not stated
- original researchResearch papers (Regular papers)Review papersShort communicationsBook reviews Research papers should report the results of original research. The material shoul…Length not stated
- regular paperResearch papers (Regular papers)Review papersShort communicationsBook reviews Research papers should report the results of original research. The material shoul…Length not stated
- research paperResearch papers (Regular papers)Review papersShort communicationsBook reviews Research papers should report the results of original research. The material shoul…Length not stated
- research papers (regular papers)Research papers should report the results of original research. The material should not have been previously published elsewhere, except in a preliminary form.Length not stated
- reviewResearch papers (Regular papers)Review papersShort communicationsBook reviews Research papers should report the results of original research. The material shoul…Length not stated
- review papersReview papers will be accepted in areas of topical interest and will normally focus on literature published over the previous five years.Length not stated
- short communicationResearch papers (Regular papers)Review papersShort communicationsBook reviews Research papers should report the results of original research. The material shoul…Length not stated
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Authorship, Conflicts of interest, Publication ethics, License & copyright, Open access, Peer review, Preprints
- AI use Declaration of generative AI use
Authors must declare the use of generative AI tools in the manuscript preparation process upon submission of the paper.Generative AI and AI-assisted technologies (“AI tools”) have been rapidly adopted in research and scholarly publishing, offering significant benefits while requiring clear standards for responsible and transparent use.Authors preparing a manuscript for this journal may use AI tool…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Authorship Group authorship
Group authorship refers to the attribution of an article to a defined and named group of authors whose members have contributed to the work. Examples include research consortia, clinical trial groups, collaborative networks, task forces or working groups, expert panels or consensus groups, and participatory research groups. Group authorship must be declared on the title page at submission. When av…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Conflicts of interest Declaration of competing interests
All authors must disclose any financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations that could inappropriately influence or bias their work. Examples of potential competing interests include:EmploymentConsultanciesStock ownershipHonorariaPaid expert testimonyPatent applications or registrationsGrants or any other fundingAffiliation with the journal as an Editor or Advisory Board …
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Publication ethics
Publishing ethics Model summary
Authors must follow ethical guidelines stated in Elsevier's Publishing Ethics Policy.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- License & copyright License options
Authors will be offered open access user license options which will determine how you, and third parties, can reuse your open access article. We advise that you review these options and any funding body license requirements before selecting a license option.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access Open access
We refer you to our open access information page to learn about open access options for this journal.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Peer review Peer review
Single anonymized review process Model summary
This journal follows a single anonymized review process. Your submission will initially be assessed by our editors. If your submission is deemed suitable, it will typically be sent to be reviewed by a minimum of two reviewers for an independent expert assessment of the scientific quality. The decision as to whether your article is accepted or rejected for publication will be made by our editors.Re…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Preprints Preprints
Preprint sharingAuthors may share preprints in line with Elsevier's article sharing policy. Sharing preprints, such as on a preprint server, will not count as prior publication.We advise you to read our policy on multiple, redundant or concurrent publication.
Source ↗Publisher website ·
Excerpts are quoted from the journal's website; "model summary" lines are written by Workers AI and checked against the text. The journal's website is authoritative.
Profile
Publication details and official links
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- Country or region
- UNITED STATES
- Language
- English
- Frequency
- Bimonthly
- Founded
- 1986
- ISSN
- 0268-005X
- Electronic ISSN
- 1873-7137
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗LetPub
- Submission system ↗Publisher website
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Food Hydrocolloids
What CAS zone is Food Hydrocolloids in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Food Hydrocolloids is in Zone 1 of Agricultural & Forestry Sciences, and in Zone 1 of the minor category Chemistry, Applied / Food Science & Technology; it is a Top journal. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 1 of Agricultural & Forestry Sciences. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of Food Hydrocolloids?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 13.89; CiteScore 25.2, h-index 280.
How long does peer review take at Food Hydrocolloids?
The publisher reports about 90 days (submission to acceptance); authors report an average review time of about 1.7 months; the community-reported acceptance is “about 50%”. Article statistics cover accepted papers only, publisher figures follow the journal's own definitions, and community reports come from authors' own submissions; none is a promise from the journal.
What are the manuscript requirements of Food Hydrocolloids?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: ≤ 250 words; Keywords: 1–7; Reference style: APA; Highlights: Required; Graphical abstract: Required. A model extracted these from the author guidelines and each was checked against the text; check the latest version on the journal's website before submitting.
Where are the editorial board members of Food Hydrocolloids based?
Of the 100 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 22 (about 22%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are Mainland China (22), Spain (11) and United States (9). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Food Hydrocolloids?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Food Hydrocolloids is indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Is Food Hydrocolloids open access, and what is the APC?
Food Hydrocolloids is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 4,990.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, Publisher website, OpenAlex; every figure is tagged with its source and the date it was observed, and conflicting values are kept per source. LetPub source page: view ↗ (archived 2026-08-25). Last updated: .