AFNS is dedicated to fostering integrity in every stage of the scholarly publishing process. This Ethics and Malpractice Statement sets out the principles and practices that guide our work, ensuring fairness, transparency, and accountability for authors, reviewers, editors, and readers. The statement draws on internationally recognized standards, including the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and the ICMJE guidelines.

Duties of Editors

• Fair Decision-Making: Manuscripts are evaluated solely on academic merit, relevance, and originality, independent of author identity or background.
• Confidentiality: Editors treat all manuscripts as confidential, sharing details only with those involved in the review and publication process.
• Conflict of Interest: Editors recuse themselves from handling submissions where conflicts exist.
• Misconduct Handling: Allegations of plagiarism, fabrication, or unethical practices are investigated with diligence and fairness.

Duties of Reviewers

• Objectivity: Reviews must be impartial, focused on the manuscript’s content, not personal views of the author.
• Confidentiality: Reviewers handle manuscripts as confidential documents.
• Timeliness: Reviews should be completed within the agreed period; delays should be communicated to the editorial office.
• Integrity: Reviewers must disclose conflicts of interest and report suspected ethical breaches.

Duties of Authors

• Originality: Authors must ensure their work is original and properly cites others’ contributions.
• Data Integrity: Data should be accurate, not manipulated, and made available where appropriate.
• Ethical Compliance: Research involving humans or animals must have appropriate approvals and informed consent.
• Disclosure: Authors must declare financial support and potential conflicts of interest.
• Corrections: If errors are discovered, authors should cooperate promptly in issuing corrections or retractions.

Publisher’s Responsibilities

AFNS works to maintain the integrity of the academic record. We ensure that:

• Retractions, corrections, or expressions of concern are issued transparently when needed.
• Archiving systems (LOCKSS, CLOCKSS, Portico) preserve all published work permanently.
• Policies remain aligned with evolving global standards of publication ethics.

Addressing Misconduct

Allegations of misconduct—including plagiarism, duplicate publication, falsified data, or unethical research—are taken seriously. Investigations follow COPE flowcharts and involve fair communication with all parties. Outcomes may include rejection, retraction, or institutional notification.

Commitment to Readers

Readers trust AFNS to deliver credible, ethical, and relevant research. Upholding this trust is central to our mission. Every article is reviewed rigorously, edited responsibly, and published transparently, ensuring its place within a durable and trustworthy scientific record.

Conclusion

Ethics is not a formality but the foundation of science. By following these principles, AFNS safeguards the dignity of authorship, the rigor of peer review, the independence of editorial decisions, and the trust of its readers. Together, these commitments strengthen both the journal and the field of food and nutritional science.