Conflict of Interest

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Transparency regarding potential conflicts of interest is essential to uphold the integrity of scientific publishing. Current Research in Nutrition and Food Science (CRNFS) adheres to the principles outlined by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and expects all participants in the publication process to disclose any competing interests that may influence their judgment, objectivity, or impartiality.

Policy Framework

1. Disclosure Obligations
All parties involved in manuscript submission, review, and editorial decision-making—authors, reviewers, and editors—are required to disclose any financial, professional, or personal affiliations that might constitute a conflict of interest. These include, but are not limited to:

• Financial compensation or support from entities with a vested interest in the research outcomes.
• Ownership of intellectual property related to the manuscript.
• Professional relationships or personal ties that may bias the research process or outcomes.

Failure to disclose competing interests constitutes a breach of ethical publishing standards and may result in manuscript withdrawal or retraction.

2. Author Responsibilities
Authors are mandated to include a comprehensive statement of competing interests within their manuscript. The following elements should be disclosed:

• Sources of financial or material support, with a clear acknowledgment of the role of sponsors in the study design, data collection, analysis, and publication.
• Non-financial interests that could be perceived as influencing the research outcomes.

Authors must affirm that all disclosed competing interests are accurate and comprehensive at the time of submission. In cases where competing interests are identified post-publication, corrective actions will be taken, including issuing a corrigendum or retraction if warranted.

3. Reviewer Responsibilities
Reviewers must decline invitations to evaluate manuscripts where a conflict of interest could impair their objectivity. Potential scenarios include direct competition with the authors, collaboration with the research group, or financial stakes in the research findings. Reviewers are further required to treat all submissions with confidentiality and to refrain from exploiting privileged information for personal or professional gain.

4. Editorial Oversight
The Editorial Board is committed to making unbiased decisions and ensuring that all contributors adhere to the journal’s conflict of interest policy. Editors must:

• Recuse themselves from decision-making where a conflict exists.
• Verify that appropriate declarations of interest are provided by authors and reviewers.
• Publish relevant disclosures alongside articles to ensure transparency.

In addition, editors may consult COPE resources and flowcharts to address suspected or undisclosed conflicts of interest.

Management of Undisclosed Conflicts

Undisclosed conflicts of interest undermine the integrity of the scholarly record. If such conflicts are identified, the journal will:

1. Conduct a thorough investigation, guided by COPE flowcharts such as the Flowchart for Undisclosed Conflict of Interest in Submitted Manuscripts.
2. Contact the involved parties to obtain further clarification.
3. Issue appropriate actions, which may include publishing an addendum, issuing a correction, or retracting the manuscript.

Severe breaches will be referred to institutional or legal authorities, as appropriate.

Adherence to COPE Guidelines

As a member of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), CRNFS aligns its practices with the ethical standards and procedures recommended by COPE. Authors, reviewers, and editors are encouraged to consult the following resources:

• COPE Guidelines on Competing Interests
• COPE Flowchart on Managing Conflicts in Submitted Manuscripts

These documents provide further insights into the identification and resolution of competing interests in scholarly publishing.