The editorial team plays a critical role in safeguarding the quality and credibility of published research. These Editorial Responsibilities outline the ethical and professional standards expected of all editors and members of the editorial board.

Commitment to Fairness

Editors must treat all submissions impartially, without discrimination based on nationality, institutional affiliation, gender, religion, or personal beliefs. Decisions are guided solely by the manuscript’s scientific merit, originality, and relevance to the journal’s scope.

Confidentiality

Manuscripts under review are confidential documents. Editors must ensure that no information is shared with individuals outside the review process, except as authorized by the editorial workflow. Reviewer identities must remain protected, and internal deliberations must be kept secure.

Conflict of Interest

Editors must avoid handling submissions in which they have competing interests—financial, institutional, or personal. When conflicts arise, the manuscript must be reassigned to another qualified editor to preserve impartiality.

Peer Review Oversight

Editors oversee the peer review process by:

• Selecting appropriate, independent reviewers with relevant expertise.
• Ensuring reviews are timely, constructive, and respectful.
• Monitoring reviewer performance and addressing potential misconduct.
• Providing balanced decisions informed by evidence and reviewer input.

Ethical Vigilance

Editors must uphold the journal’s Publication Ethics Policy and respond to allegations of misconduct. This includes investigating cases of plagiarism, data fabrication, redundant publication, or ethical violations in human and animal research. When warranted, corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern must be issued transparently.

Decision Transparency

All editorial decisions should be documented, justified, and communicated clearly to authors. Constructive feedback should guide authors in improving their work, even in cases of rejection.

Support for Authors and Reviewers

Editors serve as facilitators of scholarly communication. Their role includes:

• Providing authors with clear guidance on submissions and revisions.
• Offering timely responses to queries and concerns.
• Recognizing and supporting the contributions of reviewers.
• Encouraging transparency in authorship, data sharing, and conflicts of interest.

Continuous Learning

Editors should remain engaged with emerging trends in scholarly publishing, open science, and peer review ethics. Participation in editorial training and COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) workshops is strongly encouraged.

Stewardship of the Journal

Beyond managing manuscripts, editors contribute to the strategic growth of AFNS by:

• Promoting the journal within the scientific community.
• Identifying emerging research areas for special issues.
• Advising on indexing, archiving, and global dissemination strategies.

Editorial responsibilities extend beyond routine manuscript management—they represent a commitment to scientific integrity, inclusivity, and progress. By fulfilling these responsibilities, editors ensure AFNS remains a trusted and respected platform in the field of food and nutritional science.