Scope and Article Types

Food Science and Hygiene publishes research on food safety, hygiene systems, quality assurance, and nutritional stability. Manuscripts should focus on measurable improvements to food safety or public health outcomes.

Submissions may include original research, applied studies, methodological innovations, or evidence syntheses that advance food safety practice.

Provide a clear food safety or hygiene analysis plan, including sampling design and validation steps.

Report cleaning verification methods and sanitation logs where relevant.

Include calibration and validation details for analytical instruments.

Provide a rationale for selected microbial indicators or biomarkers.

Explain how cleaning validation was documented and audited.

Provide context for environmental monitoring results.

Safety Workflow Expectations

For microbiology studies, report culture conditions, detection limits, and confirmation methods.

Document batch effects or seasonal variability when applicable.

Describe sample handling timelines to avoid bias in microbiological results.

Discuss limitations related to food matrix complexity or sample size.

Include batch sampling schedules and rationale for frequency.

Describe how sanitation frequencies were selected.

Manuscript Structure

Prepare manuscripts with structured abstract, introduction, methods, results, and discussion. Clearly connect hygiene methods to safety outcomes.

Provide concise titles and keywords that reflect the food safety focus.

• Structured abstract with objectives and conclusions
• Clear methods with sampling and analysis details
• Results with effect sizes and uncertainty
• Discussion of implications and limitations

Describe processing parameters, storage conditions, and equipment settings in sufficient detail.

Describe how traceability data were used to interpret results.

When using sensory data, report panel training and scoring scales.

Clarify whether results generalize across processing environments.

Discuss temperature monitoring and corrective actions during storage.

Report verification steps for analytical accuracy and precision.

Food Safety Reporting Standards

Report sampling methods, contamination control steps, and analytical validation clearly. Provide enough detail for replication and regulatory review.

Include code availability statements when feasible and specify software versions used in analysis.

Include data availability statements or access routes for restricted datasets.

Clarify the rationale for selected hazard indicators or biomarkers.

Provide uncertainty measures for key food safety outcomes.

Explain how missing data were handled in analyses.

Clarify how supplier quality assurance informed the study design.

Explain any deviations from standard protocols and reasons.

Data and Code Availability

We encourage sharing analytic code and documentation to support reproducibility and secondary analysis.

If data are restricted, describe the access request process and expected timelines.

Use reporting guidelines appropriate for clinical or food safety research when relevant.

Report how storage conditions were monitored and documented.

Explain how confounders were handled in observational food studies.

Report effect sizes relative to practical thresholds for safety or quality.

Describe traceability practices for ingredient and product lots.

Discuss implications for small scale or artisanal production.

Figures, Tables, and Supplements

Use tables and figures to summarize safety outcomes, contamination levels, and validation results. Provide high resolution visuals with descriptive captions.

Supplementary files may include protocols, additional results, or regulatory documentation.

• Include units, detection limits, and reference ranges
• Label food matrices and sampling points clearly
• Ensure tables are interpretable without the main text

Define key hygiene terms, standards, and abbreviations on first use.

Explain any deviations from standard protocols and their impact.

Report software versions and packages to support reproducibility.

Include details on control samples and reference materials.

Explain the role of packaging materials in contamination control.

Summarize implications for consumer health and safety messaging.

Ethics, Compliance, and Reporting

Describe ethics approvals for studies involving human subjects or sensitive data. For industry data, report consent or data sharing permissions.

Explain how regulatory standards informed the study design and interpretation.

Explain how regulatory or quality standards informed the study design.

Include notes on operator training when relevant to hygiene outcomes.

Describe batch effects and correction methods in multi site studies.

Describe steps taken to minimize cross contamination.

Report how shelf life endpoints were determined and validated.

Statistical Reporting and Reproducibility

Report effect sizes, confidence intervals, and model diagnostics to support interpretation of safety outcomes. Explain missing data handling and sensitivity analyses for key assumptions.

For multivariate models or predictive tools, describe feature selection, validation steps, and limitations that affect implementation.

Summarize limitations related to food matrix complexity or scale.

Summarize how findings inform practical food safety decisions.

Clarify storage temperatures and shelf life conditions for samples.

Document packaging conditions or transport variables when relevant.

Document pre and post intervention hygiene performance.

Data Presentation and Quality Assurance

Summarize key safety outcomes with clear units, reference ranges, and definitions so results are interpretable across disciplines.

When reporting composite indices or risk scores, explain component measures and provide rationale for their construction.

Report how contamination thresholds align with policy or industry requirements.

Clear reporting of food safety methods improves reproducibility across laboratories.

Include references to standards or regulatory guidance where applicable.

Explain how sensory or consumer data were validated.

Include clear definitions for critical control points.

Preprints and Prior Dissemination

Preprints are permitted. If a manuscript has been posted previously, disclose the preprint DOI and ensure the final article links back to the published version.

Declare prior conference abstracts or technical reports related to the submission.

Disclose any public datasets released before submission and link to the permanent record.

Provide details on sensory panels, if applicable, including training and scoring.

Document hygiene practices and sanitation protocols so readers can compare results.

Describe quality assurance steps for laboratory and processing environments.

Provide context for cost, scalability, or implementation feasibility.

Summarize risk assessment methods and assumptions used.

Submission Steps

Submit through ManuscriptZone or the Simple Submission Form. Both routes follow the same peer review workflow.

Include a cover letter summarizing scope alignment, hygiene methods, and key findings.

• ManuscriptZone submission: https://oap.manuscriptzone.net/
• Simple submission form: https://openaccesspub.org/manuscript-submission-form

Include validation steps for analytical methods and reference materials.

Explain how contamination risks were assessed and mitigated during experiments.

Explain how sanitation verification was performed and documented.

Describe how water activity or pH influenced microbial outcomes.

Describe how laboratory contamination was prevented.

After Acceptance

Accepted manuscripts undergo copyediting, layout, and proof review. Authors confirm accuracy before publication.

APC invoices are issued after acceptance. Publication proceeds after payment confirmation or approved waivers.

Describe how sampling bias was minimized across production batches.

Summaries connecting findings to consumer protection strengthen real world impact.

Report statistical corrections for multiple testing when necessary.

Report how allergen controls were verified during processing.

Explain how sensory outcomes link to safety or quality metrics.