Publishing Ethics - FoodNutriX: International Journal of Food and Nutrition Advancements

Policies and Procedures for Handling Allegations of Author Misconduct

At FoodNutriX Journal, our Editors and Editorial Staff are committed to thoroughly investigating allegations of scientific misconduct. We have developed "Ethics in Publishing: Policies and Procedures for Handling Allegations of Author Misconduct" to guide our team in addressing ethical issues. Upholding fairness, objectivity, and transparency, we prioritize the integrity of our journal and the research it publishes. Through these policies, we promote responsible research conduct and maintain the trust of our readers, authors, and the scientific community.

Expectations Regarding Ethical Standards for Publishing in FoodNutriX

The "Pakistan Food and Nutrition Organization" places strong emphasis on upholding ethical standards in scholarly publishing for authors submitting to and publishing in the "FoodNutriX: International Journal of Food and Nutrition Advancements" (IJFNA). Authors are expected to maintain the highest level of integrity and to ensure that their work submitted to or published in the journal is devoid of any scientific misconduct. Therefore, authors are expected to:

1. Claim Authorship Responsibility: Authors must take credit only for work they have genuinely produced. It is imperative that they accurately represent their contributions to the research.
2. Properly Acknowledge Prior Work: Authors are responsible for appropriately citing the work of others, as well as their own related work. This acknowledgment should be diligently carried out by authors, not by the Organization, the editors, or the reviewers.
3. Submit Original Research: Authors are expected to submit only original work to FoodNutriX, without any part of it having been previously published in print or online, or being considered for publication elsewhere, including peer-reviewed articles in other journals, non-peer-reviewed articles (e.g., reviews) in other journals, or book chapters.
4. Obtain Consent for Content Disclosure: Authors should determine whether the disclosure of certain content requires the prior consent of other involved parties, and if so, they must obtain that consent before submission.
5. Preserve Primary Data: Original research results and primary data should be securely maintained in the laboratory and in accordance with the requirements of funding organizations to ensure accessibility and transparency.
6. Adhere to Journal Policies: Authors are expected to strictly follow the journal's authorship and image preparation guidelines, as detailed in the 'Guide to Authors' provided by the "FoodNutriX: International Journal of Food and Nutrition Advancements".

These expectations are vital to maintain the scholarly integrity and reputation of both the authors and the journal, ensuring the dissemination of high-quality, ethical research in the field of food sciences.

All authors of submitted articles bear complete responsibility, to the extent of their professional expertise, for the accuracy of their paper.

Concerns or suspicions of scientific misconduct associated with papers submitted to or published in the "FoodNutriX: International Journal of Food and Nutrition Advancements" will be addressed through the prescribed procedure as detailed below.

Procedure for Addressing Allegations of Scientific Misconduct and Ethical Violations

Scientific misconduct in the realm of publishing encompasses, but is not restricted to, the following:

1. Fraud: Involves fabricating research findings, suppressing, altering, or inappropriately manipulating data, or images.
2. Duplicate Publication: Occurs when an article is published in the "FoodNutriX: International Journal of Food and Nutrition Advancements" and subsequently in another journal, or vice versa.
3. Simultaneous Submission: Refers to the act of submitting the same manuscript to multiple journals concurrently.
4. Plagiarism: Entails using content from another author's work and presenting it as one's own.
5. Self-Plagiarism: Involves republishing one's own previously published material from the primary literature without citing the earlier publication.

These allegations will be addressed according to the following procedure.

Procedure for Addressing Allegations of Misconduct

1. Any allegations of scientific misconduct or ethical violations will be forwarded to the Chairman of the Organization. Individuals making verbal allegations will be advised by the Chairman that the Organization will only act upon written allegations.
2. The Chairman will collaborate with the Editor-in-Chief to determine whether immediate action is required or if an Ethics Review Committee should be convened. This committee will include an editorial board member from the "FoodNutriX: International Journal of Food and Nutrition Advancements, the Editors-in-Chief of FoodNutriX (ex officio, nonvoting), and the Chairman of the Organization (ex officio, nonvoting).
3. Depending on the outcome of step 2, the Chairman may refer the allegations to the Ethics Review Committee, which will assess whether further actions are warranted.
4. If further action is deemed necessary, the Chairman will formally notify the author in writing of the allegations. The author will be granted a 30-day window to provide a written response.
5. The Ethics Review Committee will consider all pertinent information, including the author's response, in reaching its conclusions.
6. The Ethics Review Committee will determine the appropriate course of action, which may vary from returning the manuscript to the author to prohibiting further publication. In the case of legal review, the Chairman will consult with Board of Governance before the Organization takes action. It is essential to acknowledge that the Organization's inquiry will be focused on its role as a publisher and will not exceed the scope of this interest. If deemed necessary, the author's affiliated institution may be informed. Such notification will be for information purposes only, allowing the institution to consider an independent investigation.
7. Once a decision is reached, the author will receive written notification of the outcome and any actions taken by the Organization. If the decision is adverse, the author may appeal to the Board of Governance within 14 days of receiving the decision. The appeal procedures will be determined by the Board of Governance.

All information concerning allegations and subsequent investigations will be kept confidential by the Ethics Review Committee, other Organizations members, and staff involved in the matter. It will not be disclosed to third parties unless stipulated in steps 6 and 7. All actions, including phone conversations, must be documented in every instance, even those resolved immediately. Copies of correspondence should be provided to the Organization's Director Information. A summary of alleged scientific misconduct or ethical violations, with no names or other identifying information, should be included in the journal staff report delivered to the Organization's Director Information.