Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry Formatting Requirements: Complete Author Guide

In our analysis of JAFC-targeted manuscripts, the formatting problem is usually not one isolated style error. It is an editorial triage pattern: the ACS package looks complete, but the significance statement, TOC graphic, analytical validation, and molecular-scope evidence do not yet tell the same story. Editors consistently screen for that mismatch before reviewers spend time on the detailed chemistry.

JAFC publishes several article types with specific length requirements.

Word counts exclude the abstract, references, and figure/table captions. The 7,000-word limit for Articles gives sufficient space for detailed analytical methods and results. JAFC papers often require extensive method descriptions because the food and agricultural chemistry community values reproducibility.

Rapid Reports are for time-sensitive findings. They're shorter but still need complete data. Don't think of them as preliminary reports; they should contain a complete study, just one that's focused on a single finding.

JAFC has a broad scope but draws a line at certain topics. Pure food technology (processing optimization without chemical analysis), nutrition studies without chemical characterization, and purely environmental monitoring without agricultural context are outside scope. Make sure your paper has a clear chemistry component.

Abstract:

• Approximately 150 words for Articles (not rigidly enforced but should be concise)
• Unstructured, single paragraph
• No citations
• Should state what was done, what was found, and why it matters
• Include key quantitative results

TOC graphic (mandatory):

• Width: 3.25 inches (8.25 cm)
• Height: 1.75 inches (4.45 cm)
• Must visually summarize the main finding
• Minimal text within the graphic
• Accompanied by a brief TOC synopsis (2-3 sentences)
• Submitted as a separate file in TIFF, EPS, or high-resolution PDF

The TOC graphic is one of JAFC's most distinctive requirements. It's not optional. The graphic appears in the journal's online and print table of contents and is the first thing browsing readers see. Make it informative and visually clear. Don't just shrink your most complex figure into the TOC format; create a dedicated graphic that communicates the essence of your paper.

Common TOC graphic approaches for JAFC papers:

• Show the food source, the analytical method, and the key finding in a left-to-right flow
• Highlight the main chemical structures identified
• Use a simple schematic showing the extraction-to-analysis pipeline
• Display a key graph with the most striking result

JAFC follows ACS figure guidelines.

Figure requirements:

Chemical structure drawing standards:

• Use ChemDraw with ACS Document 1996 settings
• Bond length: 14.4 pt
• Bond width: 0.6 pt
• Atom labels: Arial 10-pt
• Consistent style throughout the manuscript
• IUPAC nomenclature and numbering conventions

Table requirements:

• Every column must have a header
• Horizontal rules at top, bottom, and below headers
• No vertical rules
• Footnotes use lowercase superscript letters
• SI units throughout
• Standard deviations or SEM for all measurements
• Statistical significance notation (superscript letters for group comparisons)

For JAFC specifically, chromatographic data figures (HPLC, GC-MS, LC-MS) should include peak identification, retention times, and clear axis labels. Mass spectra should show key fragment ions with proposed structural assignments. These are the data types reviewers scrutinize most carefully.

JAFC uses the ACS numbered reference style.

In-text citations: Superscript numbers after punctuation. Multiple references: ^1-3 or ^1,3,5.

Reference list format (numbered):

(1) Smith, A. B.; Jones, C. D.; Brown, E. F. Identification of phenolic acids in fermented soybean products by UHPLC-QTOF-MS. J. Agric. Food Chem. 2025, 73, 4567-4578.

Key formatting rules:

• Author names: Surname, initials (separated by semicolons between authors)
• Journal titles abbreviated per CAS Source Index (CASSI) conventions
• Year, volume, page range (no issue number)
• Reference number in parentheses at the start of each entry
• DOIs not typically included in ACS formatted references
• "et al." after the first 10 authors if more than 10

The ACS reference style uses semicolons between authors, not commas. This is different from Vancouver/NLM style and catches authors who are reusing bibliographies from non-ACS submissions. Make sure your reference manager is set to "ACS" or "JAFC" output style.

CAS Source Index abbreviations are specific to ACS. They're similar to, but sometimes different from, NLM abbreviations. For example, "Analytica Chimica Acta" is abbreviated as "Anal. Chim. Acta" in both systems, but some journal abbreviations differ. Use the CASSI search tool to verify abbreviations.

JAFC calls its supplementary material "Supporting Information" (SI), following ACS convention.

Common SI content for JAFC:

• Extended chromatographic data and mass spectra
• Full NMR data for characterized compounds
• Additional statistical analyses
• Calibration curves and method validation data
• Extended tables of identified compounds
• Sensory evaluation details

Formatting:

• Submit as a single PDF file
• Number pages sequentially
• Label as Figure S1, Table S1, etc.
• Include a table of contents at the beginning
• SI undergoes peer review
• Include a "Supporting Information" paragraph at the end of the manuscript describing the SI contents

ACS journals have a specific format for the SI availability paragraph. It typically reads: "The Supporting Information is available free of charge on the ACS Publications website at DOI: [to be inserted]. Description of contents (PDF)."

Both are accepted through ACS Paragon Plus.

Word submissions:

• ACS Word template available from the ACS author guidelines
• Standard formatting: double-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman
• Line numbers
• Figures at end of manuscript

LaTeX submissions:

• Use the achemso package (ACS article class)
• Available on CTAN and Overleaf
• Handles ACS reference formatting automatically
• Submit source files and compiled PDF

The achemso LaTeX package is well-maintained and handles JAFC-specific formatting, including the ACS reference style. If you're a LaTeX user, it's straightforward. The agricultural and food chemistry community is primarily Word-based, but LaTeX is perfectly acceptable.

JAFC has several expectations that go beyond standard ACS formatting.

1. TOC graphic is non-negotiable. Missing the TOC graphic is a guaranteed administrative return. Prepare it before you start the submission process. Don't try to create it last-minute from an existing figure; design it specifically as a summary graphic.

2. Chemical compound characterization standards. For new compounds isolated from food or agricultural sources, JAFC expects full characterization: HRMS, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, IR, melting point (for solids), and optical rotation (for chiral compounds). Partial characterization won't be accepted for novel compound claims.

3. Concentration reporting. JAFC expects concentrations reported on a dry weight basis unless otherwise justified. If fresh weight is used, state the moisture content. For extracts, report both per gram of extract and per gram of original material. Be consistent throughout.

4. Statistics must be appropriate. JAFC reviewers pay close attention to statistical analysis. For comparing multiple groups, use ANOVA with appropriate post-hoc tests (Tukey's, Duncan's). For dose-response studies, include IC50 or EC50 calculations with confidence intervals. Report the statistical software used.

5. Ethical sourcing statement. If your research uses plant material, state the source, cultivar (if applicable), and any permits required for collection. For endangered or regulated species, additional documentation may be needed.

6. Safety information. If your paper involves hazardous chemicals (pesticides, mycotoxins, heavy metals), include a brief safety note in the Experimental section describing precautions taken.

7. ACS AuthorChoice and open access. JAFC articles are behind the ACS paywall by default, but authors can select ACS AuthorChoice for open access publication (with an APC). ACS articles become freely available 12 months after publication through ACS's Green OA policy.

Based on frequent returns at JAFC:

• Missing TOC graphic (most common reason for return)
• TOC graphic at wrong dimensions
• ACS reference style errors (commas instead of semicolons between authors)
• Using NLM journal abbreviations instead of CASSI abbreviations
• Chemical structures not drawn to ACS standards
• Missing or incomplete compound characterization data
• Statistics not described adequately
• Concentration units inconsistent (fresh weight vs. dry weight)

For quick answers to the most common JAFC formatting questions, see the FAQ section at the top of this page.

In our pre-submission review work with manuscripts targeting Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, four patterns generate the most consistent desk-rejection outcomes.

TOC graphic wrong ACS dimensions or synopsis absent. JAFC requires a TOC graphic at 3.25 inches wide by 1.75 inches tall (ACS landscape format), 300 dpi minimum. A 50-word TOC synopsis is also required. Papers with square TOC graphics carried over from Elsevier-formatted drafts, or missing the synopsis entirely, are returned administratively before review.

Pesticide residue or contaminant studies lack validated analytical methods. JAFC reviewers apply strict analytical method validation standards for residue and contaminant studies: LOD, LOQ, recovery (reported as mean and RSD across at least three concentration levels), matrix-matched calibration curves, and uncertainty estimation. Studies reporting food safety concentrations without these validation data are returned before peer review regardless of the relevance of the findings.

Food chemistry scope is limited to extraction yield without chemical characterization. JAFC publishes the chemistry of agricultural and food systems, not processing technology. Papers that optimize an extraction procedure (solvent ratio, temperature, time) and report yield or antioxidant activity by DPPH without characterizing the specific compounds extracted (phenolic profile by LC-MS, anthocyanin identification by NMR) are desk-rejected for insufficient chemical depth.

Agricultural science scope is agronomy or crop science rather than chemistry. JAFC covers the chemical aspects of agricultural production: pesticide residues, natural product chemistry from plants, soil chemistry, and food safety chemistry. Papers focused on crop yield, agronomic management practices, or soil biology without a chemical analysis component are desk-rejected for scope.

A Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry submission readiness check evaluates manuscript scope, ACS formatting compliance, and analytical validation completeness against these desk-rejection patterns.