The Asian-Australasian Journal of Food Safety and Security (AAJFSS) is an open-access, peer-reviewed international journal dedicated to advancing scientific knowledge and technological innovations in the fields of food safety, food security, and public health nutrition. The journal aims to serve as a global platform for researchers, academicians, and policymakers to share high-quality and novel findings that address emerging issues affecting the safety, quality, and availability of food. AAJFSS encourages interdisciplinary research that integrates microbiology, biotechnology, environmental sciences, nutrition, policy studies, and social sciences to ensure a safe and sustainable global food supply. By publishing timely and impactful studies, the journal seeks to contribute to informed policy-making, scientific advancement, and the achievement of long-term food security worldwide. To facilitate diverse scholarly contributions, the journal publishes editorials, comprehensive review articles, original full-length research articles, short communications, and case reports. The aims and scope of the journal are very wide, but are not limited to, the following areas,
Food Microbiology: Research highlighting microbial contamination, foodborne pathogens, and spoilage organisms in food systems. Studies exploring detection methods, microbial ecology, and control strategies are emphasized.
Food Microbial Ecology: Studies addressing the interactions of microorganisms within food environments. Research exploring microbial succession, biofilm formation, and their implications on food quality is encouraged.
Food Hygiene and Sanitation: Research focusing on hygiene practices in food production, processing, and handling. Studies addressing contamination control, sanitation standards, and hygiene policy development are supported.
Food Fermentation and Biotechnology: Studies exploring traditional and industrial fermentation processes that enhance food flavor, nutrition, and safety. Research highlighting microbial starter cultures, metabolic pathways, and functional food production is welcomed.
Food Safety and Risk Assessment: Research addressing chemical and microbial risk assessment in food systems. Studies exploring hazard identification, exposure assessment, and risk communication are encouraged.
Food Toxicology: Studies addressing the toxicological impacts of natural toxins, additives, and contaminants. Research exploring mechanisms of toxicity and strategies for detoxification is featured.
Chemical and Physical Hazards in Food: Research highlighting detection, quantification, and control of heavy metals, pesticide residues, and physical contaminants. Studies exploring monitoring systems for hazard reduction are prioritized.
Food Process Systems Design and Control: Studies exploring innovative processing systems for ensuring food quality and safety. Research addressing automation, control technologies, and optimization of production systems is encouraged.
Food Preservation and Shelf Life Extension: Research focusing on preservation methods such as refrigeration, dehydration, and natural preservatives. Studies exploring packaging innovation and bio-based preservation systems are emphasized.
Food Packaging Technology: Studies addressing advanced materials, nanotechnology, and smart packaging systems. Research highlighting packaging interactions, sustainability, and food integrity maintenance is valued.
Public Health Nutrition: Research exploring dietary patterns, nutrient deficiencies, and community-based nutrition interventions. Studies addressing the relationship between diet, disease prevention, and health outcomes are welcomed.
Food Safety Regulations and Policy: Studies exploring national and international frameworks governing food quality and safety. Research addressing harmonization of standards, compliance, and enforcement strategies is emphasized.
Food Security and Sustainability: Research focusing on food availability, accessibility, and utilization under global challenges. Studies addressing sustainable food systems, climate impacts, and resilience strategies are encouraged.
Agricultural Production and Food Safety: Studies addressing the interface between agriculture and food safety. Research highlighting good agricultural practices, pesticide management, and crop contamination control is valued.
Post-Harvest Technology: Research exploring storage, transportation, and handling methods to reduce food loss. Studies addressing innovations in post-harvest management and cold chain systems are encouraged.
Food Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering: Studies exploring genetically modified organisms (GMOs), biofortified crops, and molecular techniques enhancing food safety. Research addressing consumer perception and risk management is welcomed.
Nutrition and Functional Foods: Research highlighting bioactive compounds, nutraceuticals, and dietary supplements. Studies exploring their roles in promoting health and preventing disease are encouraged.
Economic Aspects of Food Security: Studies addressing the economics of food production, distribution, and affordability. Research highlighting market dynamics, trade policies, and global food supply chains is prioritized.
Social Dimensions of Food Security: Research exploring social inequality, food access, and cultural practices influencing food consumption. Studies addressing food justice and community empowerment are encouraged.
Technological Innovations in Food Safety: Studies exploring modern analytical tools, biosensors, and digital technologies for food safety monitoring. Research highlighting blockchain traceability and AI-based inspection systems is welcomed.
Microbial and Chemical Risk Assessment: Research addressing quantitative risk modeling and integrated hazard analysis. Studies exploring predictive microbiology and probabilistic assessment techniques are valued.
Climate Change and Food Security: Studies exploring the impacts of climate variability on crop yield, food distribution, and nutrition. Research addressing adaptation strategies and resilience-building measures is encouraged.
Water Quality and Food Production: Research highlighting the importance of safe water in food processing and agriculture. Studies addressing contamination sources, purification methods, and regulatory standards are prioritized.
Food Supply Chain Management: Studies exploring logistics, storage, and traceability in food supply chains. Research addressing digital transformation and blockchain technologies in ensuring food authenticity is featured.
Foodborne Disease Surveillance and Control: Research addressing epidemiological patterns and outbreak investigation of foodborne illnesses. Studies exploring early detection systems and public health interventions are emphasized.
Food Authentication and Traceability: Studies exploring molecular and analytical techniques for verifying food origin and authenticity. Research addressing fraud detection and consumer trust in food labeling is valued.
Consumer Behavior and Food Safety Awareness: Research highlighting public perception, knowledge, and attitudes toward food safety practices. Studies exploring educational interventions and behavioral models are encouraged.
Policy Matters in Nutrition and Food Safety: Studies addressing global nutrition policies, regulatory frameworks, and institutional responses. Research exploring cross-sectoral collaboration and governance models is welcomed.
Economic and Technological Aspects of Global Food Security: Research exploring the influence of technology, trade, and innovation on global food systems. Studies addressing economic resilience and policy adaptation are emphasized.
Emerging Foodborne Pathogens and Antimicrobial Resistance: Studies exploring novel microbial threats to food safety and public health. Research addressing antimicrobial use in agriculture and mitigation strategies is prioritized.
Types of articles
AAJFSS publishes the following categories of manuscripts to accommodate diverse scholarly contributions and promote rigorous scientific communication,
The Asian-Australasian Journal of Food Safety and Security adheres to the I4OC standard for open citations, ensuring that all content is accessible to users or institutions free of charge. Users are allowed to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or link to the full texts of the articles in this journal without asking prior permission from the publisher or the author. This is in accordance with the BOAI (Budapest Open Access Initiative) definition of open access.
All articles published by the Asian-Australasian Journal of Food Safety and Security are made freely and permanently accessible online without delay. The full text of all content is available for free and open access immediately upon publication, with no embargo period. There is also no requirement for users to register in order to read content. Articles are posted online as soon as they are ready for publication, ensuring rapid dissemination of research findings.
Each article is assigned a unique Crossref DOI (Digital Object Identifier), making it instantly searchable and citable. The articles are open access and licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Asian-Australasian Journal of Food Safety and Security is registered in Open Policy Finder (formerly known as Sherpa Romeo), which is an online resource that aggregates and presents publisher and journal open access policies from around the world. The articles in Asian-Australasian Journal of Food Safety and Security are deposited as Crossref metadata which are preserved by the CLOCKSS (Controlled Lots of Copies Keep Stuff Safe) system.
The AAJFSS is committed to upholding the highest standards of content quality and ethical integrity through a meticulous editorial process. The journal adheres to a well-defined editorial workflow, as illustrated in the accompanying flow chart, to ensure these standards are met.
The editorial process for the AAJFSS typically involves the following stages-
Submission of the manuscript: The process begins when authors submit their research manuscripts to AAJFSS for potential publication. Authors are required to follow the journal’s submission guidelines, which typically include manuscript structure, reference format, and file type.
Technical check: Upon manuscript submission, it undergoes a technical check. This step ensures that the manuscript complies with AAJFSS’s specific formatting and submission requirements. It includes evaluating the manuscript’s structure, adherence to reference formatting, and compatibility with the required file format.
Similarity check: To maintain academic integrity and ethical publishing standards, a similarity check is performed on the submitted manuscript. Specialized software, such as iThenticate/Turnitin, may be employed to identify any instances of plagiarism or excessive similarity to previously published works.
Editor assigned: Once the manuscript passes the initial checks, it is assigned to an editor with expertise in the relevant field. The editor’s role is to oversee the review process, facilitate communication between authors and reviewers, and make editorial decisions based on peer review feedback.
Peer review: The assigned editor selects peer reviewers who are experts in the field of submitted manuscript. These reviewers evaluate the manuscript’s quality, methodology, significance, and validity. They provide detailed comments and recommendations to the editor (for more details, please refer to the review policy).
Editorial decision: Following the peer review process, the editor makes a decision regarding the manuscript. This decision can result in several outcomes:
Minor/major revision: If revisions are requested, authors receive feedback and guidance from peer reviewers and the editor. Authors are expected to address these comments and suggestions in their revised manuscript.
Revision reviewed by editor: After authors make revisions, the editor reviews the revised manuscript to ensure that all suggested changes have been adequately addressed. The editor plays a pivotal role in the final decision-making process.
Rejection after revision: Manuscripts that fail to meet the journal’s quality standards or do not adequately address the reviewers’ concerns may be rejected at this stage.
Send for more revision: If the revisions remain incomplete or unsatisfactory, authors may be asked to make further revisions until the manuscript aligns with the journal’s standards and reviewers’ expectations.
Similarity check for revised manuscript: To verify that any potential issues of plagiarism or excessive similarity have been resolved in the revised manuscript, a similarity check may be repeated.
Accepted: Once the manuscript fully aligns with the journal’s standards and the editor’s satisfaction, it is formally accepted for publication, pending the completion of subsequent steps.
Author invoice: Authors may receive an invoice for publication fees, depending on the journal’s policies. These fees can vary and may cover various publication costs.
Copyediting: The manuscript undergoes a copyediting process to rectify language, grammar, style, and formatting issues. This step ensures that the manuscript is clear, consistent, and adheres to AAJFSS’s editorial standards.
English editing: In cases where English is not the author’s native language, additional English editing may be performed to enhance the manuscript’s readability and overall quality.
Galley proof approval: Authors receive a formatted version of the manuscript, often referred to as “galley proof.” They review and approve this final version to check for any remaining errors or issues before publication. This step is crucial to ensure the manuscript’s accuracy and readiness for publication.
Publication: Upon final approval, the manuscript is officially published in AAJFSS. It becomes accessible to the scientific community and readers. A DOI (Digital Object Identifier) is typically assigned for reference purposes, and the manuscript is archived within the journal, making it part of its scholarly record.
The AAJFSS is committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity in scholarly publishing. Plagiarism, in any form, is considered a serious violation of academic and ethical standards. AAJFSS has a strict plagiarism policy in place to ensure the originality of the work we publish.
What is plagiarism?
The texts or work submitted to AAJFSS will be considered as plagiarized, which includes, but is not limited to, the following:
Plagiarism screening with professional tools
All submitted manuscripts to AAJFSS are strictly screened for similarity using advanced plagiarism detection software such as Turnitin and/or iThenticate. This process ensures that submitted works are original and free from unethical reproduction of previously published content. This process is implemented both at the initial submission stage and after the revised version is received from the author. The similarity reports generated by these tools are carefully reviewed by the editorial team both at the initial submission stage and after the revised version is received from the author. Manuscripts showing significant overlap with previously published works—without appropriate citation or justification—will be subject to scrutiny, clarification, or outright rejection, depending on the extent of the duplication.
Consequences of plagiarism
Authors are expected to adhere to the highest standards of academic integrity and ethical conduct. If plagiarism or any form of academic misconduct is detected, AAJFSS follows a strict protocol,
Preventing plagiarism
Authors submitting to AAJFSS are encouraged to take the following steps to prevent plagiarism:
Plagiarism induced by repository deposition of thesis or manuscript
Authors who intend to submit manuscripts or theses to AAJFSS that have been previously deposited in institutional, preprint, or other repositories must adhere to the following guidelines to prevent repository-induced plagiarism:
The Asian-Australasian Journal of Food Safety and Security (AAJFSS) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of scientific integrity, transparency, and academic excellence. All submitted manuscripts undergo a rigorous, structured, and unbiased peer-review process to ensure the publication of high-quality and ethically sound research. The review system is designed to evaluate the originality, methodological rigor, clarity, scientific contribution, and relevance of each submission within the journal’s scope.
Initial editorial assessment
Upon submission, each manuscript undergoes a preliminary evaluation by the editorial office to ensure,
Manuscripts that do not meet these requirements may be returned to the authors for correction or rejected prior to peer review.
Peer-review model
AAJFSS follows a single-blind peer-review system, in which,
All research manuscripts are evaluated by at least two independent experts with appropriate subject expertise. Reviewers are selected based on their academic qualifications, research experience, and publication record in the relevant field. The peer-review process focuses on,
Reviewer reports are treated as strictly confidential and will not be disclosed without explicit permission.
Reviewer invitation and responsibilities
Reviewers are expected to provide constructive, unbiased, and evidence-based comments that assist both the editors in decision-making and the authors in improving their manuscripts.
Editorial decision and author revision
After receiving reviewer comments,
Authors are required to:
Failure to submit the revised manuscript within the specified timeframe will result in the manuscript being considered rejected, and its submission record may be removed from the journal system.
Where necessary, revised manuscripts may be returned to the original reviewers for further evaluation to ensure that concerns have been adequately addressed.
Final decision authority
The final decision regarding publication rests with the Editor-in-Chief or a designated member of the Editorial Board. Decisions are based on,
Review timeline
Under normal circumstances, if the review and revision processes proceed smoothly, a final decision (acceptance or rejection) is typically reached within 6-8 weeks from the date of complete submission. However, the timeline may vary depending on reviewer availability, the extent of revisions required, and the responsiveness of authors.
Commitment to ethical standards
AAJFSS upholds strict ethical standards in accordance with internationally recognized publishing guidelines. The journal does not tolerate plagiarism, data fabrication, data falsification, duplicate submission, or unethical research practices. Any ethical concerns identified during review may result in rejection or further investigation.
Membership
Asian-Australasian Journal of Food Safety and Security is a member of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).
All articles published in Asian-Australasian Journal of Food Safety and Security are open access, which means the articles are universally and freely available online. In addition, the authors retain copyright of their article, and grant any third party the right to use, reproduce and disseminate the article. Allowing the authors to retain copyright of their work permits wider distribution of their work on the condition it is correctly attributed to the authors. All newly published articles licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
AAJFSS’s self-archiving policy is aimed at promoting open access to scientific research and encouraging the dissemination of knowledge. It allows researchers to share their findings more widely and ensures that the work is not locked behind paywalls or restricted access.
The self-archiving policy of AAJFSS allows authors to self-archive their research works at any stage of the publication process, including pre-submitted manuscripts, submitted manuscripts, manuscripts under review, accepted manuscripts, and published articles. This policy empowers authors to store their own scholarly work in their respective institutional repositories or non-profit subject-based preprint servers. It is important to note that this self-archiving privilege is extended to authors for non-commercial purposes, in line with our commitment to fostering open access and the wider dissemination of scientific knowledge.
Pre-submitted manuscript
Authors are strongly encouraged to share their pre-submission manuscript on preprint servers or repositories prior to submitting it to AAJFSS. This proactive step enables authors to engage with researchers and experts in their specific field, even before the completion of the publication process in AAJFSS. This early dissemination can potentially lead to increased citations for the author’s work.
A note in the cover letter during submission should include details about the pre-submitted manuscript, such as the name of the repository where it is deposited and the corresponding DOI number. This information ensures transparency and allows for easy accessibility to the pre-submitted work.
It is the responsibility of the author to communicate with the assigned editor regarding any voluntary comments received from subject experts in the deposited repositories. While AAJFSS adheres to its own editorial and review policy, the journal also values and respects rigorous comments provided by subject experts on the deposited manuscript. The ultimate decision on whether to incorporate these voluntary comments into the final review and revision process lies with the assigned editor.
Submitted manuscript
Authors are permitted to archive their manuscripts after submitting them to the journal but prior to the initiation of the peer review process. To ensure transparency and proper documentation, authors are required to send an email to the journal’s editorial office. This email should include details about the repository where the manuscript is archived, along with the corresponding DOI number.
Under review state
Authors are granted permission to archive their manuscripts even while the material is undergoing review by the journal’s editors and reviewers. To uphold transparency and maintain accurate documentation, authors must send an email to the journal’s editorial office. This email should contain pertinent information regarding the repository in which the manuscript is archived, in addition to the associated DOI number.
Accepted manuscripts
After the journal has accepted the manuscript for publication, authors have the liberty to archive the accepted version, typically the final version authored by the author before any formatting or copyediting by the journal. In line with the commitment to transparency and accurate documentation, authors are required to send an email to the journal’s editorial office. This email should include essential details regarding the repository where the manuscript is archived, along with the corresponding DOI number.
Published articles
After the article has been formally published in the journal, authors retain the privilege to archive it. At this juncture, it is crucial to update the DOI associated with the pre-print to the one provided by the journal for the published version. Authors are actively encouraged to disseminate and share the published article through various means, including but not limited to social media platforms (such as Facebook, X.com, LinkedIn), research platforms (like ResearchGate, Academia.edu, SlideShare, Figshare, PublicationsList.org), institutional repositories (on the university website or research platforms), personal websites, and blogs. This approach supports wider dissemination and access to the published research.
This journal annually publishes two issues (May and November) under the continuous publication model, beginning with Volume 6, Issue 2. This means that as soon as an article is ready to be published, it will be immediately assigned to an issue online rather than waiting for other articles to be completed, resulting in faster access to the final version.
All articles featured in the Asian-Australasian Journal of Food Safety and Security are made available to the public through an open access format. An Article Processing Charge (APC) is imposed on papers that have successfully undergone the peer-review process and have been accepted for publication. The specific APC rates are outlined below for your reference. It is important to note that AAJFSS does not levy any charges for manuscript submission, editorial processing, page usage, or color printing. Furthermore, it is imperative to mention that AAJFSS does not impose any fees for the withdrawal of manuscripts. Additionally, we provide the opportunity for the publication of errata, corrigenda, addenda, corrections, and retractions at no cost to the authors.
Inland: Authors of Bangladesh will be levied @ BD Tk. 10,000/- per accepted manuscript.
Foreign: Author(s) of manuscripts originating from outside Bangladesh have to pay @ US $ 200 for each accepted article.
Payment Options
1. You can make your payment directly into our bank account (please check invoice) and e-mail the bank wire transfer receipt to us.
2. If you want to make your payment through Western Union, MoneyGram, International Money Express (IME), Xpress Money, Prabhu Money Transfer, TransFast, Merchantrade International Remittance System (MIRS), bKash, or any other means, please write an e-mail to: editor.ebupress.aajfss@gmail.com. We will respond to you with further instructions on how you can pay the APC of an accepted article.
Article processing charges (APCs) received from authors.
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