Editors serve as custodians of scientific integrity and play a vital role in shaping the quality and reputation of AFNS. These guidelines provide practical instructions for editors on how to evaluate submissions, oversee peer review, and make ethical, transparent decisions.

Initial Assessment

Upon submission, editors must:

• Check alignment with the journal’s aims and scope.
• Verify adherence to submission and formatting requirements.
• Conduct plagiarism checks using similarity detection software.
• Reject immediately only if manuscripts are clearly unsuitable.

Reviewer Selection

Selecting appropriate reviewers is critical. Editors should:

• Choose reviewers based on expertise and independence.
• Avoid assigning reviewers with conflicts of interest.
• Ensure diversity in reviewer selection (geographical, institutional, career stage).
• Monitor reviewer workload to maintain fairness.

Managing Peer Review

AFNS operates a double-blind peer review system. Editors must:

1. Invite at least two reviewers per manuscript.
2. Set clear deadlines for timely review completion.
3. Encourage constructive, respectful, and evidence-based reviews.
4. Intervene if reviews contain inappropriate or biased comments.

Editorial Decisions

Editorial decisions should be transparent and based on reviewer feedback and editorial judgment. Possible decisions include:

• Accept: Rare at first submission; usually after revisions.
• Minor Revision: Issues can be addressed without further review.
• Major Revision: Requires substantial changes and re-review.
• Reject: Manuscript unsuitable or fails to meet scientific/ethical standards.

Ethical Responsibilities

Editors must ensure compliance with the Publication Ethics Policy. This includes:

• Addressing plagiarism, data fabrication, and duplicate submissions.
• Ensuring ethical approval for human and animal studies.
• Protecting author confidentiality throughout the process.

Conflicts of Interest

Editors must declare personal or professional conflicts of interest. Manuscripts authored by editors or close colleagues should be handled by independent editorial staff to ensure fairness.

Communication with Authors and Reviewers

Editors are responsible for maintaining professional, respectful communication. Decision letters should provide constructive feedback, acknowledging reviewer contributions while guiding authors toward improvement.

Confidentiality

Editors must handle manuscripts as confidential documents. Information may not be shared beyond those directly involved in the editorial process. Reviewer identities must remain protected.

Continuous Improvement

Editors are encouraged to participate in training, webinars, and updates on best practices in scholarly publishing. AFNS supports editors in building skills to adapt to evolving standards in open science and peer review.

The role of the editor extends beyond manuscript selection. It involves stewardship of scholarly integrity, mentorship for authors and reviewers, and service to the global scientific community. By following these guidelines, editors ensure AFNS remains a trusted and respected platform for food and nutritional science.