Editorial Policies

AFNS is committed to maintaining the highest standards of editorial practice. These policies provide clarity for authors, reviewers, and readers—ensuring that each article published is the product of rigorous review, transparent decision-making, and ethical responsibility. They are grounded in the values of fairness, accountability, and respect for the scientific process.

Editorial Independence

The editorial team operates free from commercial influence. Decisions regarding acceptance or rejection are based solely on scholarly merit, originality, and relevance. Advertising, sponsorship, or institutional affiliations never influence editorial outcomes.

Peer Review Standards

All submissions undergo a double-blind peer review. Editors select reviewers with appropriate expertise, ensuring evaluations are fair and thorough. Feedback is constructive, respectful, and aimed at improving quality. Authors receive clear communication at each stage of the process.

Authorship and Contributions

Authorship must reflect genuine scholarly contributions. Each author should have participated in conception, design, analysis, or interpretation, and approved the final version. Gift, ghost, or honorary authorship is not permitted. Contributors who do not meet authorship criteria should be acknowledged appropriately.

Ethical Oversight

AFNS follows the ethical principles of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). Cases of suspected plagiarism, data manipulation, duplicate submission, or misconduct are investigated carefully. Retractions, corrections, or expressions of concern are issued when necessary, with full transparency.

Confidentiality

Manuscripts are treated as confidential documents. Editors and reviewers respect the privacy of authors and the integrity of unpublished work. Content may not be shared or used without consent. Reviewer and author identities remain anonymous during peer review.

Conflict of Interest

Editors, reviewers, and authors must declare any personal, financial, or institutional interests that could influence their judgment. Conflicts are managed openly, and in cases of potential bias, responsibilities are reassigned to maintain fairness.

Data Transparency

Authors are encouraged to make data available in repositories or supplementary files, enhancing reproducibility and trust. Where human subjects are involved, appropriate approvals and informed consent must be documented. Clinical trials must be registered in recognized databases.

Corrections and Retractions

When errors or misconduct are identified, AFNS acts promptly. Corrections clarify honest mistakes, while retractions address serious breaches. These actions are recorded transparently and remain permanently linked to the original publication for accountability.

Editorial Values

Above all, editorial work is guided by values: fairness in evaluation, respect for authors, accountability to readers, and service to the broader scientific community. These principles give life to the policies and ensure that AFNS remains a trusted platform for advancing food and nutritional science.