Aims and Scope
Journal of Food Science and Hygiene (JFSH) publishes research advancing food safety, quality, processing, and preservation through chemistry, microbiology, engineering, and biotechnology approaches within the food production chain.
Food Safety
Food Chemistry
Food Microbiology
Food Processing
Food Biotechnology
Core Research Domains
Food Safety and Hygiene
- Contaminant detection and quantification methods
- Foodborne pathogen surveillance and control
- Risk assessment models for food safety
- Sanitation protocols in food production facilities
- Environmental contaminants in food matrices
- Food safety management systems (HACCP, ISO 22000)
Typical fit: Development of rapid detection methods for Salmonella in poultry processing plants using biosensor technology.
Food Chemistry and Biochemistry
- Nutrient composition analysis and stability
- Food additive chemistry and safety evaluation
- Flavor chemistry and aroma compound identification
- Lipid oxidation mechanisms and prevention
- Protein structure-function relationships in foods
- Natural toxins and antinutritional factors
Typical fit: Characterization of polyphenol degradation kinetics during thermal processing of fruit juices.
Food Microbiology
- Pathogen behavior in food systems
- Spoilage microorganism ecology and control
- Probiotic strain characterization and stability
- Microbial food poisoning mechanisms
- Antimicrobial interventions in food preservation
- Fermentation microbiology and starter cultures
Typical fit: Evaluation of bacteriophage cocktails for controlling Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat meat products.
Food Processing and Preservation
- Novel thermal and non-thermal processing technologies
- High-pressure processing and pulsed electric fields
- Packaging materials and active packaging systems
- Shelf-life extension strategies
- Cold chain management and storage optimization
- Drying, freezing, and cryopreservation techniques
Typical fit: Optimization of ultrasound-assisted extraction parameters for bioactive compounds from agricultural by-products.
Secondary Focus Areas
Food Biotechnology
Enzyme applications in food processing, genetic modification of food crops for improved traits, fermentation biotechnology, and microbial production of food ingredients.
Food Engineering
Process optimization, heat and mass transfer in food systems, computational fluid dynamics modeling, equipment design, and automation in food manufacturing.
Food Nanotechnology
Nanoencapsulation of bioactive compounds, nanomaterials in food packaging, nanosensors for quality monitoring, and safety assessment of nanomaterials in food.
Food Physical Chemistry
Rheological properties of food systems, emulsion and foam stability, crystallization phenomena, water activity and moisture sorption, and texture analysis.
Food Quality Control
Analytical method development and validation, quality assurance systems, sensory evaluation techniques, authenticity testing, and traceability systems.
Food Legislation and Standards
Regulatory framework analysis, food labeling requirements, international food standards harmonization, and compliance assessment methodologies.
Emerging Research Areas
Article Types and Editorial Priorities
Priority 1
Fast-track review (4-6 weeks to first decision)
Original Research Articles
Systematic Reviews
Meta-Analyses
Methods and Protocols
Priority 2
Standard review (6-8 weeks to first decision)
Short Communications
Technical Notes
Data Descriptors
Perspectives
Mini-Reviews
Priority 3
Selective consideration (case-by-case editorial assessment)
Case Studies
Opinion Pieces
Commentaries
Letters to Editor
Manuscript Length Guidelines: Original research (4,000-8,000 words), Reviews (6,000-10,000 words), Short communications (2,000-3,000 words), Methods (3,000-5,000 words). All word counts exclude references, tables, and figures.
Editorial Standards and Requirements
Reporting Guidelines
- CONSORT for randomized trials
- PRISMA for systematic reviews
- ARRIVE for animal studies
- STROBE for observational studies
- MIQE for qPCR experiments
Data Transparency
- Raw data deposition in public repositories
- Statistical analysis code sharing
- Detailed methodology descriptions
- Supplementary materials for protocols
- Material availability statements
Ethics Requirements
- IRB approval for human subject research
- IACUC approval for animal studies
- Informed consent documentation
- Conflict of interest disclosure
- Funding source transparency
Publication Policies
- Preprints permitted (arXiv, bioRxiv)
- Registered reports encouraged
- Post-publication peer review enabled
- Corrections and retractions policy
- ORCID integration required
Peer Review Model: JFSH employs double-blind peer review as standard practice. Authors may request open peer review, where reviewer identities are disclosed upon publication. All reviews are constructive and focus on scientific merit, methodological rigor, and scope alignment.
Publication Metrics and Performance
35 days
Average Time to First Decision
55%
Acceptance Rate
65 days
Average Time to Publication
Open
Article Processing Charges
Open Access Policy: JFSH is a fully open access journal. All articles are immediately available upon publication under Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 license, allowing maximum dissemination and reuse. Authors retain copyright. Article processing charges (APCs) support editorial operations, peer review management, and publishing infrastructure. Waivers available for authors from low-income countries.
Questions About Scope? If you are uncertain whether your manuscript fits within JFSH's scope, we encourage pre-submission inquiries. Contact the editorial office with a 250-word abstract and brief explanation of how your work aligns with our core domains. We typically respond within 5 business days with scope assessment and submission guidance.
