Privacy Policy

Effective date: October 9, 2026

This Privacy Policy explains how CheffApproved (cheffapproved.com) collects, uses and shares information about you. CheffApproved is run by OurCheff (Michaelangelo Larive), based in Southwest Florida, USA. In this policy, “we,” “us” and “our” mean CheffApproved and OurCheff. If you have questions, email [email protected].

The short version

  • We collect very little directly: what you type into a comment, an email to us, or a newsletter signup.
  • Like almost every website, our host keeps basic server logs, and we use cookies for analytics and (once we run ads) advertising.
  • Ad partners such as Google may use cookies to show you personalized ads. You can opt out, and visitors in the EU/UK are asked for consent first.
  • We never sell your name or email address. You can ask us to see, correct or delete your data at any time.

Information we collect

  • Comments. If you comment on a recipe, we collect your name, email address, website (optional), comment, IP address and browser user-agent to help detect spam. Your name and comment are shown publicly. Your email is never shown.
  • Contacting us. If you email us or use a contact form, we keep your name, email address and message so we can reply.
  • Newsletter. We plan to offer an email newsletter and free recipe guides through Kit (formerly ConvertKit). If you sign up, Kit stores your email address, first name (if you give it), and whether you open or click our emails. You can unsubscribe with one click in any email.
  • Server logs. Our hosting provider (BigScoots) and security services automatically log technical data such as IP address, browser type, device, referring page, pages visited and the date and time. This is used for security, troubleshooting and site performance.
  • Cookies and similar technologies. Small files and identifiers stored in your browser. See the Cookies section below and our Cookie Policy.

How we use information

  • To run, secure and improve the site and fix problems.
  • To reply to you and moderate comments.
  • To send the newsletter and free guides you asked for.
  • To understand which recipes people like (analytics).
  • To show ads that pay for the site, once ads are live.
  • To comply with the law.

Cookies

Cookies help the site work and tell us how it is used. We use: necessary cookies (for example, remembering your cookie choices and comment details); analytics cookies (such as Google Analytics); and advertising cookies (from Google and other ad partners, once ads are live). Visitors in the EU, UK and Switzerland see a banner and non-essential cookies stay off until you agree. You can change your choice any time using the Cookie settings link in the site footer, or by blocking or deleting cookies in your browser. Full details are in our Cookie Policy.

Google Analytics and Google Search Console

We use Google Analytics to see how visitors use the site (pages viewed, time on page, general location, device type). Google Analytics uses cookies and processes your IP address; we do not use it to identify you personally. You can learn how Google uses this data at How Google uses information from sites that use its services, and you can opt out with the Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on. We also use Google Search Console, which reports how our pages appear in Google search results. It does not place cookies on this site.

Advertising

We plan to show ads to keep CheffApproved free. Ads may be served by Google AdSense and by third-party ad partners or ad management companies (such as Mediavine or Raptive) and their partners.

  • Third-party vendors, including Google, use cookies, web beacons (small invisible images) and similar technologies to serve ads based on your prior visits to this site and other sites on the internet, and to measure how ads perform.
  • Google’s use of advertising cookies, including the DoubleClick (DART) cookie, enables Google and its partners to serve ads to you based on your visits to this site and/or other sites on the internet.
  • You can opt out of personalized advertising from Google by visiting Google Ads Settings (adssettings.google.com).
  • You can opt out of many third-party vendors’ use of cookies for personalized advertising at www.aboutads.info/choices, or in the EU at youronlinechoices.eu.
  • Ad partners may collect information such as IP address, browser and device information, pages viewed, cookie identifiers and approximate location. They have their own privacy policies, and we will list our ad management partner here when we begin working with one.
  • In the EU, UK and Switzerland we use Google Consent Mode v2 and a consent banner (and, where required, an IAB TCF-certified consent platform) so that personalized ads are only shown with your consent.

Pinterest, Instagram and other embedded content

Some pages include “Pin it” or share buttons and embedded posts from Pinterest, Instagram or other sites. Embedded content behaves as if you visited the other site, and those companies may set cookies, collect data about you and track your interaction with the embedded content, especially if you are logged in to them. See the Pinterest privacy policy and the Instagram privacy policy.

Email delivery (Resend)

Emails sent by the website itself, such as comment notifications and contact replies, are delivered through Resend, an email delivery service. Resend processes the recipient address and message content only to deliver the email.

Who we share information with

We share information only with service providers who help us run the site (hosting, email delivery, newsletter, analytics, advertising and spam protection), when required by law, or as part of a business sale or reorganization. We do not sell your name, email address or comments. Under some US state laws, letting ad partners use cookies for personalized (“targeted”) advertising may count as a “sale” or “sharing” of personal information. See the section below on how to opt out.

How long we keep data

  • Comments and their metadata are kept as long as the comment stays on the site.
  • Emails you send us are kept as long as needed to help you, and usually no longer than 3 years.
  • Newsletter data is kept until you unsubscribe or ask us to delete it.
  • Server logs are usually kept for 30 to 90 days.
  • Google Analytics data is kept for 14 months.
  • Cookie lifetimes are listed in our Cookie Policy. Your cookie consent choice is remembered for up to 12 months.

Your rights if you are in the EU, UK or Switzerland (GDPR)

We process your data based on your consent (analytics and advertising cookies, newsletter), our legitimate interests (security, server logs, comment moderation and answering your messages), and legal obligations. You have the right to access, correct or delete your data; to restrict or object to processing; to data portability; and to withdraw consent at any time without affecting earlier processing. You can also complain to your local data protection authority. Because we are based in the United States, your data will be processed in the US; our providers use safeguards such as the Standard Contractual Clauses or the EU-US Data Privacy Framework. To use any of these rights, email [email protected]. We will reply within 30 days.

Your rights in California and other US states (CCPA/CPRA and state privacy laws)

If you live in California, Virginia, Colorado, Connecticut, Utah, Texas, Oregon or another state with a consumer privacy law, you have the right to: know what personal information we collect, use and disclose; access and get a copy of it; correct it; delete it; opt out of the “sale” or “sharing” of personal information and of targeted advertising; and not be discriminated against for using these rights. In the last 12 months, the categories we may have collected are identifiers (name, email, IP address, cookie IDs), internet activity (pages viewed and interactions), approximate location, and inferences used for advertising. We do not collect sensitive personal information for advertising. You can send a request yourself or through an authorized agent by emailing [email protected]. We may need to confirm your identity first. If we deny your request, you can appeal by replying to our decision, and you may contact your state Attorney General if you are not satisfied.

Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information

We never sell your name or email address for money. But once ads are live, ad partners may use cookies to show you personalized ads, which some state laws treat as “selling” or “sharing.” You can opt out at any time:

  • Click Cookie settings (also in the site footer) and turn off advertising and analytics cookies, or use the “Do Not Sell or Share” option shown to US visitors.
  • Turn on Global Privacy Control (GPC) in your browser. We treat a GPC signal as a valid opt-out request for that browser.
  • Email [email protected] with the subject “Do Not Sell or Share.”
  • Use the industry tools at aboutads.info/choices and adssettings.google.com.

Because cookies are tied to a browser, you need to opt out in each browser and on each device you use.

Children’s privacy

CheffApproved is a general-audience recipe site and is not directed at children under 13. Some recipes are written for kids, but they are meant for parents and caregivers. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13, in line with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). If you believe a child under 13 has given us personal information, email [email protected] and we will delete it.

Security

The site uses HTTPS encryption, and we limit who can access your data. No website is 100% secure, but we take reasonable steps to protect your information.

Links to other sites

Our recipes link to other websites, including OurCheff.com and stores. We are not responsible for their privacy practices, so please read their policies.

Changes to this policy

We will update this policy when we add new services (for example, when ads or the newsletter go live). The effective date at the top shows when it last changed. If the changes are significant, we will post a notice on the site.

Contact us

CheffApproved, run by OurCheff (Michaelangelo Larive)
Southwest Florida, USA
Email: [email protected]