Privacy Policy

Welcome to The Cozy Kitchen ("we," "us," or "our"). We are committed to protecting your personal information and your right to privacy. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and what rights you have in relation to it.

If you have any questions after reading this policy, please contact us at hello@mealamerican.com.

1. Information We Collect

Information You Provide Directly

• Newsletter sign-ups: your email address when you subscribe to our mailing list.
• Contact form submissions: your name, email address, and message content.
• Comments: your name, email, and any content you submit in comment sections.

Information Collected Automatically

• Usage data: pages visited, time spent, referring URLs, and click patterns — collected via Google Analytics.
• Device information: browser type, operating system, screen resolution, and IP address.
• Cookies: small files stored in your browser to improve site functionality and serve relevant ads (see Section 5).

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Send you our weekly newsletter and recipe updates (only if you subscribed)
• Respond to your messages and support requests
• Analyze site traffic and improve the user experience
• Display relevant advertising through our ad partners (Google AdSense)
• Comply with legal obligations

We never sell your personal information to third parties. We do not use your data for automated decision-making or profiling in ways that have legal or significant effects on you.

3. Email Newsletter

By subscribing to our newsletter, you consent to receive weekly recipe emails. You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the "Unsubscribe" link at the bottom of any email. We use a third-party email service provider (Mailchimp) to manage our list — your email address is stored on their servers in accordance with their own privacy policy.

4. Third-Party Services

We use the following third-party services that may collect data independently:

• Google Analytics: website traffic analysis. You can opt out using the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.
• Google AdSense: advertising. Google may use cookies to serve ads based on your prior visits to this and other websites.
• Amazon Associates: we participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program. We earn a small commission on qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
• Pinterest Save Button: enables sharing recipes to Pinterest. Subject to Pinterest's Privacy Policy.

5. Cookies

We use the following types of cookies:

• Strictly necessary cookies: required for the site to function (e.g., session cookies).
• Analytics cookies: help us understand how visitors use the site (Google Analytics).
• Advertising cookies: used by Google AdSense to show relevant ads.
• Functional cookies: remember your preferences (e.g., saved recipes).

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Note that disabling certain cookies may affect site functionality.

6. Data Retention

We retain your email address as long as you remain subscribed to our newsletter. Contact form submissions are kept for up to 2 years. Analytics data is retained for 26 months as per Google's default settings.

7. Your Rights

Depending on your location (including under the California Consumer Privacy Act for California residents), you may have the right to:

• Access the personal data we hold about you
• Request correction of inaccurate data
• Request deletion of your data ("right to be forgotten")
• Opt out of the sale of personal information (note: we do not sell data)
• Withdraw consent at any time where processing is based on consent

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at hello@mealamerican.com.

8. Children's Privacy

The Cozy Kitchen is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided us with personal data, please contact us and we will delete it promptly.

9. Security

We implement industry-standard security measures including SSL/TLS encryption, secure hosting, and access controls. However, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security of your data.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. When we make significant changes, we'll update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page and, where appropriate, notify newsletter subscribers. Continued use of the site after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

11. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy, please reach out:

• Email: hello@mealamerican.com
• Mailing address: The Cozy Kitchen LLC, PO Box 4821, Nashville, TN 37201