Privacy Policy

Effective Date: December 1, 2025

Food Safety News ("we," "us," "our," or "FSN") is committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring you have a positive experience on our website. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website, including all subdomains and associated services, and when you interact with us through other means.

Please read this Privacy Policy carefully. If you do not agree with our policies and practices, please do not use our site. By accessing and using Food Safety News, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by all the provisions of this Privacy Policy.

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Information You Provide Directly

We collect information you voluntarily provide to us, including but not limited to:

• Account Information: When you create an account or register for a membership, we collect your name, email address, postal address, and phone number.
• Payment Information: When you purchase an FSN+ paid membership, payment information is collected directly by Stripe, our payment processor. We do not store your credit card details on our servers. Stripe handles all payment processing in accordance with PCI DSS compliance standards.
• Communication Information: When you contact us via email, phone, or through our website contact forms, we collect the information you provide, including your message content.
• User-Generated Content: If you are a paid member and participate in our comments section, we collect the comments and any associated metadata you provide.
• Survey and Feedback Information: If you participate in surveys, contests, or provide feedback, we collect the information you submit.
• Newsletter Preferences: When you manage your email subscription preferences, we record your choices regarding which newsletters you wish to receive (FSN Daily, FSN Weekly, or none).

1.2 Information Collected Automatically

When you visit our website, we automatically collect certain information about your device and how you interact with our site:

• Website Analytics: We use Plausible Analytics and Ghost's built-in analytics partner TinyBird to understand how visitors use our website, including which pages are visited most frequently, how long visitors spend on our site, and what content is most popular. These analytics help us improve our website and content offerings.
• Cookies: Our website uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience. Cookies are small files stored on your device that help us recognize you on return visits, maintain your login session, and personalize your experience. You can control cookie settings through your browser preferences. Please note that disabling cookies may limit certain website functionality.
• Log Data: Our servers automatically record information such as your IP address, browser type, operating system, pages visited, and the time and date of your visits.
• Device Information: We may collect information about the device you use to access our website, such as device type, operating system, and unique device identifiers.

2. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

2.1 What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files stored on your device that allow websites to recognize you and remember your preferences. We use cookies to enhance your experience on our website, maintain your login sessions, and understand how visitors use our site.

2.2 Types of Cookies We Use

Essential Cookies: These cookies are necessary for our website to function properly. They enable core functionality such as user authentication, account login, and session management. These cookies are always active and cannot be disabled without preventing the website from functioning.

Analytical Cookies: We use analytical cookies through Plausible Analytics and TinyBird to understand how visitors interact with our website. These cookies collect anonymous information about page views, time spent on pages, and user navigation patterns. This information helps us improve our website content and functionality. Plausible Analytics is privacy-focused and does not use third-party cookies or track users across websites.

Marketing and Advertising Cookies: These cookies are used by our advertising and marketing partners to deliver targeted ads and measure campaign effectiveness. Specifically:

• Google AdSense uses cookies to serve targeted advertisements based on your browsing interests. These cookies apply only to non-paying visitors.
• Taboola uses cookies to personalize content recommendations and advertisements. These cookies apply only to non-paying visitors.
• Outpost uses cookies to track email engagement and marketing campaign performance for our member conversion campaigns.

Preference Cookies: These cookies remember your choices, such as your email subscription preferences (FSN Daily vs. FSN Weekly), language preferences, and other customization settings so you don't have to re-enter them on future visits.

2.3 Third-Party Cookies

Some of our service providers may place cookies on your device to provide their services. These include:

• Stripe (payment processing)
• Ghost (website hosting and member management)
• Outpost (email marketing automation)
• Google AdSense (targeted advertising)
• Taboola (content recommendations and ads)
• Plausible Analytics and TinyBird (website analytics)

These third parties use cookies in accordance with their own privacy policies, which we encourage you to review.

2.4 Cookie Control and Opt-Out

Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through browser settings. You can typically:

• Accept or reject cookies when prompted
• Delete cookies already stored on your device
• Set your browser to warn you before accepting cookies
• Disable cookies entirely (though this may limit website functionality)

To manage cookie preferences, refer to your browser's help documentation or settings menu. Common browsers include instructions for managing cookies at:

• Chrome: https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95647
• Firefox: https://support.mozilla.org/en-us/kb/cookies-information-websites-store-on-your-computer
• Safari: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201265
• Edge: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-edge/security/manage-cookies

Important Note: Disabling cookies may prevent certain website features from working properly, including the ability to maintain your login session, access member-only content, and receive personalized recommendations.

2.5 Do Not Track

Some browsers include a "Do Not Track" feature. Food Safety News does not currently respond to Do Not Track signals, as there is no industry-wide standard for recognizing such signals. However, you can manage tracking through browser settings and cookie controls as described above.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• Account Management: To create and manage your account, process membership registrations, and verify your identity.
• Payment Processing: To process your membership payments securely through Stripe and maintain billing records.
• Service Delivery: To deliver the services you request, including access to our newsletters and member-only content.
• Email Communications: To send you newsletters (FSN Daily or FSN Weekly based on your preferences), membership confirmations, billing information, and other transactional communications. We will also send promotional emails if you have a free membership, inviting you to become an FSN+ paying member. You can manage your email preferences at any time.
• Marketing and Conversion: To identify and reach readers who have not yet created an account to encourage newsletter signups, and to convert free members to paid membership through targeted promotional campaigns.
• Website Improvement: To analyze website usage patterns, improve our website's functionality, enhance user experience, and develop new features.
• Legal Compliance: To comply with applicable laws, regulations, and legal processes.
• Safety and Fraud Prevention: To protect against fraudulent activity, unauthorized access, and other security threats.
• Customer Support: To respond to your inquiries and provide customer service.

4. Information Sharing and Disclosure

3.1 Service Providers

We work with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in operating our website and conducting our business. These service providers are contractually obligated to use your information only to the extent necessary to provide services to us and are required to maintain the confidentiality of your information.

Our primary service providers include:

• Stripe: Processes all payment information for FSN+ memberships. Stripe does not receive or store sensitive payment card details on our servers; all payment processing occurs through Stripe's secure payment infrastructure.
• GiveButter: Processes donations to Food Safety News. When you make a donation through GiveButter, we collect your name, email address, and payment information to process your tax-deductible donation. GiveButter handles all donation payment processing securely and does not store sensitive payment card details on our servers. Your donation information is used to generate tax documentation for your charitable contribution. Please review GiveButter's privacy policy for more information about how they collect and use your data.
• Ghost: Hosts our website and manages member accounts, email delivery, and website analytics integration with TinyBird.
• TinyBird: Provides website analytics integrated into our Ghost platform to help us understand visitor behavior and website performance.
• Plausible Analytics: Provides privacy-focused website analytics to monitor site performance and user engagement.
• Outpost: Manages our email marketing automation, including signup confirmation sequences, member engagement campaigns, and promotional campaigns to convert free members to paid members. When you sign up for our free newsletter or provide your email address through our website popups, Outpost receives your email address and related engagement data to deliver these campaigns on our behalf.
• OneTrust: Manages cookie consent preferences on our website. OneTrust collects information about which cookies you consent to and stores your cookie preference choices. This allows us to respect your preferences regarding non-essential cookies on future visits to our website. Please review OneTrust's privacy policy for more information about how they handle your consent data.
• Concierge AI Technologies, Inc.: Provides our AI-powered search tool. When you communicate with our website's AI Concierge, our service provider Concierge AI Technologies, Inc. receives and stores your communications on our behalf.
• Google AdSense: Displays targeted advertisements on our website. Google AdSense collects data about your browsing behavior, interests, and device information to serve relevant ads. This data collection applies only to non-paying visitors (public and free members). FSN+ paid members do not see programmatic ads. Please review Google's privacy policy for more information about how Google collects and uses your data.
• Taboola: Displays content recommendations and advertisements on our website. Taboola collects data about your browsing behavior and interactions to personalize content recommendations and ads. This data collection applies only to non-paying visitors (public and free members). FSN+ paid members do not see programmatic ads. Taboola's services are scheduled to end on February 4, 2026, after which Taboola will no longer collect data through our website. Please review Taboola's privacy policy for more information about how Taboola collects and uses your data.

3.2 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information when required by law or when we have a good faith belief that disclosure is necessary to:

• Comply with applicable laws, regulations, or legal processes, including subpoenas or court orders
• Enforce our Terms of Service and other agreements
• Protect the safety, rights, and property of Food Safety News, our users, and the public
• Prevent or investigate possible wrongdoing or fraud

3.3 No Sale of Personal Information

We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties for their marketing purposes. Any sharing of your information occurs only as described in this Privacy Policy and is necessary for the operation of our website and services.

3.4 Business Transfers

If Food Safety News is involved in a merger, acquisition, bankruptcy, dissolution, reorganization, or similar transaction or proceeding, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will provide notice before your information becomes subject to a different privacy policy.

5. Email Communications and Subscription Management

4.1 Newsletter Options

When you subscribe to Food Safety News, you have the following options:

1. Unsubscribe completely from all Food Safety News email communications
2. Become an FSN+ paid member to access all premium content and features
3. Remain on our free newsletter list and receive the FSN Weekly newsletter instead of the FSN Daily newsletter

You can manage your email preferences at any time by updating your account settings or by following the unsubscribe link in any email we send you.

4.2 Marketing Emails

If you have a free newsletter subscription, we may send you promotional emails encouraging you to become an FSN+ paid member. These emails are part of our membership conversion strategy. You can opt out of promotional emails at any time while maintaining your free newsletter subscription, or you can unsubscribe completely from all communications.

4.3 Transactional Communications

Regardless of your email preferences, we will send you transactional communications such as membership confirmations, billing statements, and other service-related notices necessary to manage your account.

6. Data Retention

We retain your information for as long as necessary to provide our services, fulfill the purposes described in this Privacy Policy, and comply with applicable law. Specifically:

• Account Information: Retained as long as your account remains active, plus a reasonable period for record-keeping purposes
• Payment Information: Not retained on our servers; handled entirely by Stripe in accordance with their data retention policies
• Email Communications: Retained for as long as you remain subscribed to our newsletters
• Analytics Data: Retained in accordance with our analytics providers' retention schedules
• User-Generated Content: Retained as long as your account remains active; you may request deletion of your comments

You may request deletion of your personal information at any time by contacting us, except where we are required to retain it by law.

7. Security

We are committed to protecting your personal information. We implement appropriate technical, administrative, and physical safeguards designed to protect your information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These safeguards include:

• HTTPS encryption for all data transmitted between your browser and our website
• Secure payment processing through Stripe's PCI DSS-compliant infrastructure
• Regular security audits and updates to our systems
• Restricted access to personal information by authorized employees only

However, no security system is impenetrable. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and notifying us immediately if you suspect unauthorized access to your account.

8. Your Privacy Rights

7.1 Access and Portability

You have the right to access the personal information we maintain about you. You can view and update your account information by logging into your account at any time.

7.2 Correction and Updates

You may correct or update your account information at any time through your account settings. If you need assistance, please contact us.

7.3 Deletion Requests

You have the right to request deletion of your personal information, subject to certain exceptions. We may retain information as required by law or for legitimate business purposes. To request deletion, please contact us with your request details.

7.4 GDPR Rights (European Residents)

If you are located in the European Union, United Kingdom, or other jurisdictions covered by GDPR, you have the following additional rights:

• Right of Access: You can request a copy of the personal data we hold about you
• Right to Rectification: You can request correction of inaccurate personal data
• Right to Erasure: You can request deletion of your personal data under certain circumstances
• Right to Restrict Processing: You can request that we limit how we use your information
• Right to Data Portability: You can request your information in a portable format
• Right to Object: You can object to our processing of your information, including for marketing purposes
• Right to Lodge a Complaint: You have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the information provided in the "Contact Us" section below.

7.5 CCPA Rights (California Residents)

If you are a California resident, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) grants you the following rights:

• Right to Know: You can request what personal information we collect, use, share, and sell
• Right to Delete: You can request deletion of personal information we have collected from you
• Right to Opt-Out: You can opt out of any potential sale or sharing of your personal information
• Right to Correct: You can request correction of inaccurate personal information
• Right to Limit Use: You can limit our use of your personal information to what is necessary to provide you with our services

You also have the right to non-discrimination for exercising your CCPA rights. To exercise any of these rights, please submit a request through our website or contact us using the information below.

9. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites, including those of our partners and advertisers. This Privacy Policy applies only to Food Safety News and does not cover the practices of third-party websites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites before providing your information or interacting with them. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of third-party websites.

10. Children's Privacy

Food Safety News does not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 13. Our website and services are not directed toward children under 13. If we become aware that we have collected personal information from a child under 13 without verifiable parental consent, we will promptly delete such information. If you believe we have collected information from a child under 13, please contact us immediately.

11. International Data Transfers

Food Safety News is based in the United States. Information we collect may be transferred to, stored in, and processed in the United States or other countries. If you are located outside the United States, by using our website you consent to the transfer of your information to the United States, which may have different data protection laws than your home country. If you are a resident of the European Union or other jurisdictions with laws protecting personal data, we will implement appropriate safeguards, including Standard Contractual Clauses, to protect your information in accordance with GDPR requirements.

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We reserve the right to update, modify, or change this Privacy Policy at any time. Any substantial changes will be posted on this page with an updated effective date. If we make material changes to how we use your personal information, we will provide you with notice by email or prominent notice on our website prior to implementing the change. Your continued use of our website after any modifications constitutes your acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.

13. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, wish to exercise your privacy rights, or have concerns about our privacy practices, please contact us:

Food Safety News 

Email: pgustafson@foodsafetynews.com 

Website: www.foodsafetynews.com

For GDPR-related inquiries and to designate a Data Protection Officer contact, please include "GDPR" in the subject line of your email.

For CCPA-related inquiries, please include "CCPA" in the subject line of your email.

We will respond to your inquiry within 30 days or as otherwise required by applicable law.

Last Updated: December 1, 2025