Publication Ethics and Editorial Guidelines

Upholding ethical standards in publishing is essential for maintaining the integrity, quality, and reliability of scientific research. These principles also ensure that individuals are properly credited for their ideas and contributions.

Journal of Food Science and Food Safety follows the ethical guidelines established by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) and strives to implement these best practices across its editorial processes.

Manuscript Evaluation

All submitted articles undergo a peer review process to ensure they meet the journal’s academic criteria. Once a submission passes initial editorial screening, it is sent to independent reviewers, whose identities are kept confidential from the authors.

In certain case especially those involving complex ethical or societal considerations the journal's Research Integrity team may consult external experts or editors to determine how to proceed. This could include seeking specialized reviewers, involving additional editors, or discontinuing the review process.

Plagiarism

Authors must not copy text, figures, or ideas from others without proper attribution. Every source must be cited at the point of use, and any reused language should be clearly acknowledged. Manuscripts that are found to contain plagiarized content whether previously published or unpublished will be rejected, and authors may face penalties. Corrections or retractions will be issued for already published work if necessary.

Duplicate and Redundant Submissions

The journal only accepts original work that hasn't been published elsewhere, including in other languages. However, work that was previously posted as a preprint, in a thesis, or on an institutional repository may still be considered.

Manuscripts should not be under review elsewhere while being considered by this journal. Submissions found to be under concurrent review may be rejected, and authors may face sanctions.

If a submitted manuscript builds upon the authors previously published or under-review work, it must clearly cite and explain how the new submission differs. Reuse of one's own wording or figures should be properly cited, and permission may be required if substantial reuse occurs.

Extended versions of previously presented conference papers are accepted only when fully disclosed, significantly updated, and all permissions are secured.

Submitting similar results in multiple articles or splitting data improperly across publications can lead to rejection, article merging requests, or even retractions.

Citation Practices

Submissions that include references with the intent of artificially boosting citations of particular authors or journals may lead to sanctions. Editors and reviewers are also prohibited from pressuring authors to include citations solely to increase citation metrics for themselves, their colleagues, or specific journals.

Data Integrity

Falsification or fabrication of results, including manipulating images or data, is considered serious misconduct. If detected, it may lead to retraction of the article and disciplinary action against the authors.

Authorship and Contributions

Each listed author must have made a meaningful contribution to the research and agree to be listed. Contributions should be clearly described, and the journal encourages using the CRediT taxonomy for author roles. The submitting author must provide an ORCID ID and ensure that all co-authors have approved the manuscript. Authorship changes after submission must be approved by all involved.

Non-authors who contributed to the research or manuscript should be acknowledged with their permission. Submissions must come from one of the listed authors only.

Conflicts of Interest

Conflicts of interest (COIs) arise when external factors could potentially influence the research or its evaluation. These must be disclosed at every stage of the research and publishing process.

If authors are unsure whether something qualifies as a COI, they should declare it or consult the editorial office. Failing to disclose conflicts may lead to rejections, retractions, or other corrective actions.

Conflicts to be declared include (but are not limited to):

• Financial: Payments or benefits related to the research
• Affiliations: Employment or advisory roles in interested organizations
• Intellectual property: Related patents or trademarks
• Personal: Close personal relationships
• Ideological: Beliefs or advocacy positions relevant to the work
• Academic: Competitors or individuals criticized in the work

All potential conflicts must be stated in a "Conflicts of Interest" section. If there are none, a standard declaration should be included. Funding sources must also be detailed in a separate "Funding Statement.”

Any third parties with an interest in the outcome of the research, or who contributed to its design or development, must be disclosed.

Editorial and Reviewer Responsibilities

Editors and reviewers must recuse themselves from handling manuscripts if they have any personal or professional connection to the authors or the subject matter that could compromise impartiality.

Reviewers are expected to disclose any remaining concerns confidentially to the editor. Prior discussions about the manuscript between reviewers and authors must also be disclosed.

Ethical Violations and Sanctions

Breaches of the journal's ethical policies regardless of where the misconduct occurred may result in:

• Immediate rejection of the manuscript and other works from the same authors
• A submission ban for a period (typically 1 to 3 years)
• Removal from editorial or reviewer roles

Investigations

Concerns regarding ethical or research misconduct should be reported to the journal's Research Integrity team. The journal may request data, consult additional experts, or contact institutions as needed. Identities of whistleblowers will be protected.

Corrections and Retractions

If errors or ethical issues are identified in a published paper, the journal may issue a correction (corrigendum or erratum) or, in severe cases, retract the article. All authors will be asked to approve any such notices. Retractions follow the ICMJE Retraction Guidelines and are considered when conclusions are significantly impacted or misconduct is evident.