Food Science and Hygiene - Proposed Special Issue
Launch themed collections in food safety research.
Why Propose a Special Issue
Special issues provide a venue for coordinated work on emerging food safety and hygiene challenges.
We welcome proposals on topics such as pathogen surveillance, sanitation innovations, or food quality systems.
Special issues can focus on foodborne pathogens, hygiene innovations, or preservation technologies.
Include calibration and validation details for analytical instruments.
Describe batch effects and correction methods in multi site studies.
Provide a rationale for selected microbial indicators or biomarkers.
Describe steps taken to minimize cross contamination.
Impact Focus
Proposals should include timeline, editorial team, and expected contribution areas.
Describe sample handling timelines to avoid bias in microbiological results.
Clarify storage temperatures and shelf life conditions for samples.
Discuss limitations related to food matrix complexity or sample size.
Document packaging conditions or transport variables when relevant.
Proposal Components
Include a theme description, list of potential contributors, and a realistic timeline for submissions and review.
Guest editors should outline how they will coordinate peer review and maintain quality standards.
Clear reporting of food safety methods improves reproducibility across laboratories.
When using sensory data, report panel training and scoring scales.
Include references to standards or regulatory guidance where applicable.
Clarify whether results generalize across processing environments.
Explain how sensory or consumer data were validated.
Planning Timeline
Concept
Define the theme and scope in a brief concept summary.
Outreach
Identify potential contributors and guest editor support.
Review Plan
Outline peer review workflow and timelines.
Launch
Coordinate call for papers with the editorial office.
Document hygiene practices and sanitation protocols so readers can compare results.
Provide uncertainty measures for key food safety outcomes.
Describe quality assurance steps for laboratory and processing environments.
Explain how missing data were handled in analyses.
Provide context for cost, scalability, or implementation feasibility.
What a Strong Proposal Includes
Proposal Checklist
- Theme summary and rationale
- Expected contributors and regions
- Submission timeline and milestones
- Proposed guest editor roles
Quality Safeguards
- Clear peer review plan
- Conflict of interest management
- Methodological rigor expectations
- Transparent acceptance criteria
Explain how contamination risks were assessed and mitigated during experiments.
Explain how confounders were handled in observational food studies.
Explain how sanitation verification was performed and documented.
Report effect sizes relative to practical thresholds for safety or quality.
Describe how water activity or pH influenced microbial outcomes.
Editorial Support
The editorial office supports special issue planning and can be reached at [email protected].
Summaries connecting findings to consumer protection strengthen real world impact.
Report software versions and packages to support reproducibility.
Report statistical corrections for multiple testing when necessary.
Include details on control samples and reference materials.
Report how allergen controls were verified during processing.
