Privacy Policy

At Food Safety Ontario (foodsafetyontario.com), your privacy is fundamental to how we operate. As a resource dedicated to Ontario food safety certification, workplace compliance, and legal/regulatory guidance, we understand that visitors may have heightened privacy concerns—whether you’re an employer, food handler, manager, student, or simply seeking accurate compliance information. Many users rely on our site for research on certification, legal requirements, and workplace best practices, which may touch on sensitive topics such as regulatory obligations, workplace scenarios, or personal responsibilities. For this reason, privacy, anonymity, and data minimization are central to our approach. This policy explains, in detail, what information we do and do not collect, how it’s used, and the safeguards in place to protect your privacy as you use our guides, checklists, and tools. If you have privacy-related questions, please contact us at support@foodsafetyontario.com.

What Information is NOT Collected

• No user registration: You are not required to create an account or provide any personal details to access any resources.
• No personal or financial data: We do not collect, request, or store names, addresses, payment information, or sensitive identifiers.
• No user profiling: We do not build user profiles or track individual browsing beyond anonymous analytics.
• No e-commerce or affiliate tracking: This site does not sell products, collect payment info, or use affiliate links.
• No persistent identifiers: We do not issue persistent user IDs or tie analytics data to specific individuals.

1. Information We Collect

• Personal Information You Provide: The only way we may receive your personal information is if you contact us directly by email. In that case, we receive your email address and any information you choose to share in your message. We do not use this information for marketing or share it with third parties, except as required by law.
• Automatic Data Collection (Anonymous Analytics): For site improvement and security, we collect anonymized usage data such as page views, browser and device type, operating system, referral source (e.g., search engine), and broad geographic region (not precise location). IP addresses are logged by our web server for security and anti-abuse purposes, but are not used for profiling or tracking individuals. Analytics platforms (such as Google Analytics) process this data in aggregate and do not provide us with the ability to identify individuals. No data is combined to form personal profiles.
• Analytics Data Types: Examples of collected analytics data include (but are not limited to): number of visits per page, time spent on site, type of device (desktop/mobile/tablet), web browser version, referring website, anonymized IP (e.g. last octet masked), and general region (city or province). No names, emails, or contact details are collected in analytics.
• Cookies (Technical Details): We use cookies only as necessary for technical operation and analytics. Session cookies help ensure proper display and function; persistent cookies may be used for analytics (e.g., to distinguish between new and returning users) but do not store personal data. Analytics cookies may be set by Google Analytics or similar providers. You can manage or delete cookies via your browser settings (see below for details).

Cookie Management & Opt-Out

Session cookies expire when you close your browser; persistent cookies remain for a set period (usually up to 2 years for analytics). You can delete or block cookies at any time through your browser privacy controls. For more details, refer to your browser’s help section or visit AllAboutCookies.org. If you wish to opt out of analytics cookies, you may use Google’s browser add-on or adjust your ad preferences as detailed below.

2. Use of Information

We use collected data solely for the following purposes:

• Providing, improving, and maintaining the functionality and content of the site.
• Analyzing usage trends and site performance (in aggregate, anonymous form only).
• Monitoring site security and preventing abuse or malicious activity (e.g., IP logging for server security).
• Responding to user inquiries or legal requests, if you contact us directly by email.

We do not: sell, rent, trade, or share your data with third parties for marketing or profiling. Analytics data is retained for up to 26 months (per Google Analytics default) and then automatically deleted. Email correspondence is retained only as long as necessary to resolve your inquiry or for legal purposes. We may disclose information only if required by law (e.g., lawful subpoena, court order) or to prevent abuse or threats to the integrity of the site.

3. Google Adsense & Third-Party Advertising

This site may display advertisements provided by third-party ad partners, such as Google Adsense. These partners may use cookies or similar tracking technologies to deliver relevant ads, measure ad performance, and personalize content. When ads appear, third-party ad networks may receive your device’s IP address, browser type, referring site, and information about your visit to our site or others. No personal information (such as your name or email) is shared with advertisers by this site.

Ad Personalization: Google and its partners may use non-personally identifiable information (such as your browsing history on this and other sites) to serve relevant ads. You can opt out of personalized advertising by visiting Google Ad Settings, or opt out of interest-based advertising from many providers at aboutads.info/choices. For more details, see Google’s Ads Privacy & Terms.

Privacy Initiatives: Google and its advertising partners participate in industry initiatives such as the Digital Advertising Alliance, which set standards for ad privacy and user controls.

4. Affiliate Links and External Services

Food Safety Ontario does not use affiliate marketing, sponsored product links, or e-commerce tracking. We do not receive commissions for external referrals, nor do we track purchases or user activity on other sites. All external links are provided for educational or informational purposes only.

5. Analytics

We use Google Analytics (or similar platforms) to gather anonymous, aggregated statistics about how our site is used. Google Analytics collects data such as page views, bounce rates, device/browser type, and referral sources. IP anonymization is enabled—your full IP address is never stored by analytics providers. We do not combine analytics data with any personal information. Analytics are used solely to improve site content and usability. You can learn more or opt out by visiting Google Analytics Opt-Out.

6. Data Security

We use appropriate technical and organizational measures to safeguard your information, including:

• Secure Hosting: Our servers are located in secure facilities in Canada or North America, protected by physical and electronic security measures.
• HTTPS Encryption: All traffic to and from our site is encrypted using TLS/SSL protocols.
• Access Controls: Only authorized personnel have access to server backends and analytics dashboards.
• Regular updates: Site software is routinely updated to address security vulnerabilities.

Limitations: While we take reasonable steps to protect your data, no internet transmission or digital storage is 100% secure. If you contact us by email, please do not include sensitive personal or financial details. You are responsible for maintaining your own device and browser security.

7. Data Storage & Retention

Information is stored on secure servers located in Canada or North America. Analytics data (e.g., Google Analytics) is retained for the default period (typically up to 26 months) and then deleted automatically. Email correspondence is retained only as long as necessary to resolve your issue or for legal compliance, after which it is securely deleted. We do not store user data in databases or files outside these scenarios.

8. Links to External Sites

This site contains links to external websites not operated by us, including government agencies (e.g., Ontario Ministry of Health), public health authorities, recognized training providers, and regulatory bodies. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of these third-party sites. Always review each site’s privacy policy before sharing any information or completing forms. See our Ontario Food Safety Checklists for deeper compliance resources.

9. Children’s Privacy

This site is not intended for children under the age of 16, and no content is targeted at or designed for minors. We do not knowingly collect or solicit personal information from children. If we learn that personal data from a child has been submitted, we will promptly delete it. If you believe a child has provided information, please email us immediately.

10. Your Rights & Choices

You have the right to request access to, correction of, or deletion of any personal information we may hold about you (e.g., from email correspondence), subject to legal and operational requirements. To exercise your rights, email us at support@foodsafetyontario.com. We comply with applicable Canadian privacy law (PIPEDA), and will respond to verified requests within 30 days. You may also request details about our data handling practices or make complaints to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada.

For more information on certification processes, see our Ontario Food Safety Certification Requirements page. For common questions about privacy, visit our FAQ.

11. International Visitors

This site is operated in Canada and governed by Canadian law. If you access this site from outside Canada, please be aware that any information you provide may be transferred to, stored, and processed in Canada or North America. By using the site, you consent to this transfer and to the application of Canadian privacy standards, which may differ from those in your country.

12. Policy Updates

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in law, technology, or our site’s practices. When changes are made, we will post the updated policy on this page and update the "Last Updated" date below. We encourage you to review this page periodically to stay informed about data protection practices. Material changes will be clearly indicated at the top of this page.

13. Contact Us

For privacy-related questions, concerns, or requests about your data, please email us at support@foodsafetyontario.com. We aim to respond to privacy inquiries within 5 business days. Please note: we handle privacy questions only—general inquiries about food safety resources may not receive a response through this channel.