Journal profile · Toxicology
Food and Chemical Toxicology
ISSN 0278-6915 · eISSN 1873-6351 · Elsevier Ltd · ENGLAND · Monthly · Founded 1982
Food and Chemical Toxicology: CAS Zone 4 · Medicine (2025 upgraded edition); impact factor 3.16; hybrid open access; APC about USD 4,670; median 75 days to acceptance (104 articles, last 24 months); community-reported acceptance: about 47.14%; 595 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Food and Chemical Toxicology is published by Elsevier Ltd and is in Zone 4 of Medicine in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Contact Dermatitis and Allergies, Pesticide Exposure and Toxicity and Animal testing and alternatives, together about 36.5% of its articles. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
Affiliated with the Chinese Society of ToxicologyFood and Chemical Toxicology (FCT) is an internationally renowned journal that publishes original research articles and reviews on toxic effects and toxic mechanisms of natural or synthetic chemicals occurring in the human environment (present in food and/or the human environment). The scope of the journal includes drugs, consumer chemicals/products (e.g. cosmetics); agricultural chemicals/products (e.g. pesticides) and industrial chemicals (e.g relevant to occupational exposure). Areas such as safety evaluation of novel foods and ingredients, biotechnologically-derived products and nanomaterials are included in the scope of the journal. In these cases, a comprehensive characterisation of the materials under evaluation is necessary. FCT also encourages submission of papers on inter-relationships between nutrition and toxicology and on in vitro techniques, particularly those fostering the 3 Rs.In addition, the journal also publishes Special Issues focussed on selected subject areas. These issues typically involve new areas of interest or concern and there will be some flexibility in the papers considered in terms of scope.The principal aim of the journal is to publish high impact, scholarly work and to serve as a multidisciplinary forum for research in Toxicology. Papers submitted will be judged on the basis of scientific originality and contribution to the field, quality and subject matter.Contributors who do not heed the requirements outlined in the instructions to authors and Editorials risk manuscript rejection without further consideration.Studies should address at least one of the following:Adverse physiological/biochemical or pathological changes induced by specific defined substances,New techniques for assessing potential toxicity,Mechanisms underlying toxic phenomena,Toxicological examinations of specific chemicals or consumer products, both those showing adverse effects and those demonstrating safety, that meet current standards of scientific acceptability.Authors must clearly and briefly identify what novel toxic effect (s) or toxic mechanism (s) of the chemical are being reported and what their significance is in the abstract.Studies that consider time- and dose-response effects are likely to be considered more reliable and therefore considered more favourably.Manuscripts describing research involving the following areas will not be considered:materials/substances of only local interest,materials/substances for which the chemical composition is not clearly defined,only pharmacological properties or potentially beneficial effects, chemical analyses of toxins in foods without addressing the toxic implication to humans [i.e. a risk assessment should be included],unrealistic human doses, inappropriate route(s) of exposure, or in vitro experiments that do not reflect serum levels in humans without a compelling justification.FCT is committed to the highest standards. Only papers that have not been previously published, that fit in the above-mentioned scope, and which have been reviewed by experts in the field prior to publication will be considered for eventual publication. Cover letters must be included and state that the manuscript is new and original and not under consideration for publication elsewhere. Co-authors should be individuals who have contributed substantially to the content of the papers. All authors must declare any potential conflict of interest and all financial support.Any papers offered re-submission after review must contain a separate letter containing a response to all the points raised by the Editors and reviewers.
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Toxicology
Editor-in-chief Matthew WrightPublisher website
Editorial board by country: 13 in mainland China (about 23%); most named United States 15, Mainland China 13, Austria 8, United Kingdom 7, Italy 3 (56 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Contact Dermatitis and AllergiesMedicine12.9%
- Pesticide Exposure and ToxicityAgricultural and Biological Sciences12.2%
- Animal testing and alternativesVeterinary11.4%
- Carcinogens and Genotoxicity AssessmentBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology9.4%
- Effects and risks of endocrine disrupting chemicalsEnvironmental Science7.1%
- Mycotoxins in Agriculture and FoodAgricultural and Biological Sciences4.4%
- Phytochemicals and Antioxidant ActivitiesMedicine3.8%
- Genomics, phytochemicals, and oxidative stressBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology3.7%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Medicine Zone 4
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Medicine | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Food Science & Technology | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Toxicology | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Medicine Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Medicine | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Food Science & Technology | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Toxicology | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Medicine Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Medicine | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Food Science & Technology | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Toxicology | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
Database indexing
SCIEScopusLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Editions, and major and minor categories, are shown separately and never merged into one zone; check which edition your institution uses before you submit or report.
Metrics
Impact metrics and publication volume
Impact
- Impact factor
- 3.16LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher)
- 3.2Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 9.9LetPub ·
- CiteScore (publisher)
- 9.9Publisher website ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 0.75LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 1.09LetPub ·
- h-index
- 149LetPub ·
- h-index
- 260OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 10,713OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 3.07OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 3.1%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 13.6%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 558LetPub ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 18,648 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 419 | 89 | 88 |
| 2025 | 595 | 233 | 1,510 |
| 2024 | 716 | 168 | 3,718 |
| 2023 | 735 | 137 | 7,572 |
| 2022 | 684 | 130 | 12,555 |
| 2021 | 693 | 211 | 14,188 |
Sources count differently and were observed at different times, so each source's own value is kept; "publisher" marks figures from the journal's website.
Review & acceptance
Review time and acceptance
Review time from article dates manuscript dates registered with PubMed · to
75 daysMedian, submission to acceptance · P25–P75 52 days – 106 days
- Acceptance to online
- median 2 days (104 articles)
- Submission to online
- median 80 days
- Sample
- 104 articles with submission and acceptance dates (1,220 in the window); the latest was accepted on
Only articles that were accepted and published are counted, not the time spent on rejected manuscripts, so this usually runs longer than a publisher's "time to first decision".
Other sources
- Average review time (community reports)
- about 3.3 monthsLetPub ·
- Average acceptance (community reports)
- 47.14%LetPub ·
- Submission to first decision
- 1 daysPublisher website ·
- First decision after review
- 34 daysPublisher website ·
- Submission to acceptance
- 70 daysPublisher website ·
- Acceptance to publication
- 2 daysPublisher website ·
- Peer review
- Single anonymous peer reviewPublisher website
Community reports come from authors' own submissions (confidence 0.5) and are not a promise from the journal; for publisher figures, the journal's own definitions apply.
Fees & open access
APC and open-access policy
Hybrid open accessLetPub
A subscription journal in which authors can pay to publish their article open access.
| Source | APC | Fee waiver | License | Observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenAlex | USD 4,670 / EUR 4,370 / GBP 3,740 / JPY 579,220 | — | — | |
| Publisher website | USD 4,220 | — | — |
A hybrid journal charges the APC only when the author chooses open access; publishing under the subscription model is usually free.
The journal's website is authoritative for fees; sources were observed at different times and each keeps its own value, without averaging.
Submission
Article types and submission policies (journal website)
Open calls for papers2, by deadline
Publisher websiteWhat to prepare5 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- ≤ 200 words
- Keywords
- 1–7
- Reference style
- Author–date
- Highlights
- Optional
- Graphical abstract
- Optional
Article types accepted4
- letterThe Journal's main purpose is the publication of papers reporting and interpreting original unpublished toxicological research, particularly studies promoting a…Length not stated
- letters to the editorThe Journal's main purpose is the publication of papers reporting and interpreting original unpublished toxicological research, particularly studies promoting a…Length not stated
- reviewThe Journal's main purpose is the publication of papers reporting and interpreting original unpublished toxicological research, particularly studies promoting a…Length not stated
- short communicationThe Journal's main purpose is the publication of papers reporting and interpreting original unpublished toxicological research, particularly studies promoting a…Length not stated
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Authorship, Conflicts of interest, License & copyright, Open access, Peer review, Preprints
- AI use Declaration of generative AI use
Authors must declare the use of generative AI tools in the manuscript preparation process upon submission of the paper.Generative AI and AI-assisted technologies (“AI tools”) have been rapidly adopted in research and scholarly publishing, offering significant benefits while requiring clear standards for responsible and transparent use.Authors preparing a manuscript for this journal may use AI tool…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Authorship Group authorship
Group authorship refers to the attribution of an article to a defined and named group of authors whose members have contributed to the work. Examples include research consortia, clinical trial groups, collaborative networks, task forces or working groups, expert panels or consensus groups, and participatory research groups. Group authorship must be declared on the title page at submission. When av…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Conflicts of interest Declaration of competing interests
All authors must disclose any financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations that could inappropriately influence or bias their work. Examples of potential competing interests include:EmploymentConsultanciesStock ownershipHonorariaPaid expert testimonyPatent applications or registrationsGrants or any other fundingAffiliation with the journal as an Editor or Advisory Board …
Source ↗Publisher website ·- License & copyright License options
Authors will be offered open access user license options which will determine how you, and third parties, can reuse your open access article. We advise that you review these options and any funding body license requirements before selecting a license option.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access Open access
We refer you to our open access information page to learn about open access options for this journal.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Peer review Peer review
Single anonymized review process. Model summary
This journal follows a single anonymized review process. Your submission will initially be assessed by our editors. If your submission is deemed suitable, it will typically be sent to be reviewed by a minimum of two reviewers for an independent expert assessment of the scientific quality. The decision as to whether your article is accepted or rejected for publication will be made by our editors.Re…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Preprints Preprints
Preprint sharingAuthors may share preprints in line with Elsevier's article sharing policy. Sharing preprints, such as on a preprint server, will not count as prior publication.We advise you to read our policy on multiple, redundant or concurrent publication.
Source ↗Publisher website ·
Excerpts are quoted from the journal's website; "model summary" lines are written by Workers AI and checked against the text. The journal's website is authoritative.
Profile
Publication details and official links
- Publisher
- Elsevier Ltd
- Country or region
- ENGLAND
- Language
- Multi-Language
- Frequency
- Monthly
- Founded
- 1982
- ISSN
- 0278-6915
- Electronic ISSN
- 1873-6351
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗LetPub
- Submission system ↗Publisher website
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Food and Chemical Toxicology
What CAS zone is Food and Chemical Toxicology in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Food and Chemical Toxicology is in Zone 4 of Medicine, and in Zone 3 of the minor category Food Science & Technology / Toxicology. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 3 of Medicine. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of Food and Chemical Toxicology?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 3.16; CiteScore 9.9, h-index 260.
How long does peer review take at Food and Chemical Toxicology?
Based on the dates recorded on 104 articles published between October 2024 and October 2026 (the last 24 months), the median time from submission to acceptance is 75 days (interquartile range 52–106 days); authors report an average review time of about 3.3 months; the community-reported acceptance is “about 47.14%”. Article statistics cover accepted papers only, publisher figures follow the journal's own definitions, and community reports come from authors' own submissions; none is a promise from the journal.
What are the manuscript requirements of Food and Chemical Toxicology?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: ≤ 200 words; Keywords: 1–7; Reference style: Author–date; Highlights: Optional; Graphical abstract: Optional. A model extracted these from the author guidelines and each was checked against the text; check the latest version on the journal's website before submitting.
Where are the editorial board members of Food and Chemical Toxicology based?
Of the 56 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 13 (about 23%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are United States (15), Mainland China (13) and Austria (8). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Food and Chemical Toxicology?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Food and Chemical Toxicology is indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Is Food and Chemical Toxicology open access, and what is the APC?
Food and Chemical Toxicology is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 4,670.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, Publisher website, OpenAlex; every figure is tagged with its source and the date it was observed, and conflicting values are kept per source. LetPub source page: view ↗ (archived 2026-08-25). Last updated: .