Food Science and Hygiene - Reviewer Guidelines
Guidance for effective and ethical peer review.
Reviewer Responsibilities
Reviewers assess methodological rigor, data integrity, and clarity of conclusions in food safety research.
Reviewers assess methodological soundness, data quality, and clarity of conclusions.
Summaries connecting findings to consumer protection strengthen real world impact.
Explain how confounders were handled in observational food studies.
Describe quality assurance steps for laboratory and processing environments.
Clarify whether results generalize across processing environments.
Document packaging conditions or transport variables when relevant.
Review Priorities
Confidentiality and conflict of interest policies must be respected.
Include calibration and validation details for analytical instruments.
Report software versions and packages to support reproducibility.
Explain how sanitation verification was performed and documented.
Explain how missing data were handled in analyses.
Explain how sensory or consumer data were validated.
Evaluation Focus
- Sound sampling and contamination control
- Transparent reporting of hygiene methods
- Relevance to food safety practice or policy
- Statistical validity and reproducibility
Clear reporting of food safety methods improves reproducibility across laboratories.
Describe sample handling timelines to avoid bias in microbiological results.
Describe batch effects and correction methods in multi site studies.
Report statistical corrections for multiple testing when necessary.
Report effect sizes relative to practical thresholds for safety or quality.
Provide context for cost, scalability, or implementation feasibility.
Review Flow
Assess Methods
Check sampling and contamination control.
Validate Evidence
Confirm detection limits and outcomes.
Weigh Impact
Consider regulatory or industry relevance.
Document Feedback
Provide clear, actionable guidance.
Document hygiene practices and sanitation protocols so readers can compare results.
When using sensory data, report panel training and scoring scales.
Clarify storage temperatures and shelf life conditions for samples.
Provide a rationale for selected microbial indicators or biomarkers.
Include details on control samples and reference materials.
Describe how water activity or pH influenced microbial outcomes.
Confidentiality
Reviewer confidentiality and conflict of interest policies must be respected.
Explain how contamination risks were assessed and mitigated during experiments.
Provide uncertainty measures for key food safety outcomes.
Include references to standards or regulatory guidance where applicable.
Discuss limitations related to food matrix complexity or sample size.
Describe steps taken to minimize cross contamination.
Report how allergen controls were verified during processing.
