diff --git a/src/components/moderation/SubmissionChangesDisplay.tsx b/src/components/moderation/SubmissionChangesDisplay.tsx
index 6e41e2e0..e45b58b4 100644
--- a/src/components/moderation/SubmissionChangesDisplay.tsx
+++ b/src/components/moderation/SubmissionChangesDisplay.tsx
@@ -229,10 +229,15 @@ export function SubmissionChangesDisplay({
                   <h4 className="text-sm font-medium">Creation Data (with moderator edits highlighted)</h4>
                   <div className="grid gap-2">
                     {changes.fieldChanges.map((change, idx) => {
-                      // Highlight fields that were modified (not just added)
-                      const wasEditedByModerator = change.changeType === 'modified' && 
-                        item.original_data && 
-                        item.original_data[change.field] !== undefined;
+                      // Highlight fields that were added OR modified by moderator
+                      const wasEditedByModerator = item.original_data && 
+                        Object.keys(item.original_data).length > 0 &&
+                        (
+                          // Field was modified from original value
+                          (change.changeType === 'modified') ||
+                          // Field was added by moderator (not in original submission)
+                          (change.changeType === 'added' && item.original_data[change.field] === undefined)
+                        );
                       
                       return (
                         <div key={idx} className={wasEditedByModerator ? 'border-l-4 border-blue-500 pl-3 bg-blue-50/50 dark:bg-blue-950/30 rounded' : ''}>
diff --git a/src/lib/submissionChangeDetection.ts b/src/lib/submissionChangeDetection.ts
index e7d012a5..00ef3a25 100644
--- a/src/lib/submissionChangeDetection.ts
+++ b/src/lib/submissionChangeDetection.ts
@@ -157,21 +157,64 @@ export async function detectChanges(
   let hasLocationChange = false;
 
   if (action === 'create') {
-    // For creates, all fields are "added" - be more permissive to show all data
-    Object.entries(itemData).forEach(([key, value]) => {
-      // For creates, exclude only system fields and internal metadata
-      const systemFields = ['id', 'created_at', 'updated_at', 'slug', 'images', 'image_assignments'];
-      const shouldShow = !systemFields.includes(key) && value !== null && value !== undefined && value !== '';
+    // Check if this creation was edited by a moderator
+    const hasModeratorEdits = originalData && Object.keys(originalData).length > 0;
+    
+    if (hasModeratorEdits) {
+      // Compare item_data with original_data to detect moderator changes
+      const allKeys = new Set([
+        ...Object.keys(itemData),
+        ...Object.keys(originalData)
+      ]);
       
-      if (shouldShow) {
-        fieldChanges.push({
-          field: key,
-          oldValue: null,
-          newValue: value,
-          changeType: 'added',
-        });
-      }
-    });
+      allKeys.forEach(key => {
+        if (!shouldTrackField(key)) return;
+        
+        const oldValue = originalData[key];
+        const newValue = itemData[key];
+        
+        // Skip if both are empty
+        const oldEmpty = oldValue === null || oldValue === undefined || oldValue === '';
+        const newEmpty = newValue === null || newValue === undefined || newValue === '';
+        
+        if (oldEmpty && newEmpty) return;
+        
+        // Detect the type of change
+        if (!isEqual(oldValue, newValue)) {
+          fieldChanges.push({
+            field: key,
+            oldValue,
+            newValue,
+            changeType: oldEmpty && !newEmpty ? 'added' :    // Moderator added new field
+                       newEmpty && !oldEmpty ? 'removed' :   // Moderator removed field
+                       'modified',                           // Moderator changed value
+          });
+        } else if (!newEmpty) {
+          // Field unchanged - show as 'added' (part of original submission)
+          fieldChanges.push({
+            field: key,
+            oldValue: null,
+            newValue,
+            changeType: 'added',
+          });
+        }
+      });
+    } else {
+      // No moderator edits - show all fields as 'added' (original behavior)
+      Object.entries(itemData).forEach(([key, value]) => {
+        const systemFields = ['id', 'created_at', 'updated_at', 'slug', 'images', 'image_assignments'];
+        const shouldShow = !systemFields.includes(key) && value !== null && value !== undefined && value !== '';
+        
+        if (shouldShow) {
+          fieldChanges.push({
+            field: key,
+            oldValue: null,
+            newValue: value,
+            changeType: 'added',
+          });
+        }
+      });
+    }
   } else if (action === 'edit') {
     // Compare each field
     const allKeys = new Set([