Privacy Policy

Last updated: 11 September 12, 2026

Who is responsible for your information

TortoiseFood.co.uk (“we”, “us” and “our”) is responsible for the personal information described in this policy. For privacy questions or to make a data-rights request, email contact@tortoisefood.co.uk.

Information we process

Enquiries. If you contact us by email or through the contact form, we process the information you choose to provide, which may include your name, email address and message.

Food Checker searches. If a food search does not return a result, we may retain the search term so that we can identify foods to research for the database. These records are designed to contain the search term only and are not intended to identify a visitor.

Technical and security information. Our website platform, hosting and security systems may process limited technical information needed to deliver and protect the website, such as IP address, requested pages and browser or device information.

Affiliate links. Some product links are affiliate links. When you select one, you leave TortoiseFood.co.uk and the retailer or affiliate network processes information under its own privacy policy. We do not receive your payment-card details or retailer account information.

Why we use information and our legal basis

We use enquiry information to respond and follow up on legitimate messages, and we use technical information to operate, secure and troubleshoot the site. Our legal basis for these uses is our legitimate interests in running a safe, useful tortoise-guidance service.

We use unsuccessful Food Checker search terms to improve the food database. Where a search term is not connected to an identifiable person, it is not personal data; where personal data is involved, our legal basis is the same legitimate interest in improving the service.

If we add optional analytics, advertising or other non-essential cookies, we will update this policy and obtain consent where the law requires it.

Cookies and external links

At the date above, our public pages are not configured to load third-party analytics or advertising tags. We use only any strictly necessary technology required to deliver, secure or administer the site, such as a logged-in session where applicable.

Links to retailers, social platforms and other third-party websites are governed by those organisations’ own privacy and cookie policies. They may use cookies or similar technology after you leave our site.

How long we keep information

We keep personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected:

• Enquiries are kept long enough to respond, manage any necessary follow-up and keep an appropriate record of the exchange, then deleted or anonymised.
• Unmatched Food Checker search terms are reviewed for database improvement and removed, aggregated or anonymised when they are no longer useful for that purpose.
• Technical logs are retained only for the limited period set by the relevant hosting or security service for security, troubleshooting and abuse prevention.
• We may keep information longer where necessary to meet a legal obligation, establish or defend legal claims, or address an active dispute.

Who we share information with

We do not sell or rent personal information.

We share information only where necessary with the services that operate the site or process an enquiry for us, such as our website platform and hosting provider, email provider and security services. Retailers and affiliate networks process information independently when you use an affiliate link. We do not control their processing.

International processing

Some service providers or retailers may process information outside the UK. Where UK GDPR applies to a transfer we control, we use an adequacy regulation or other appropriate safeguard required by law.

Your rights and how to contact us

Depending on the circumstances, you may ask us to access, correct, erase or restrict your personal information; object to processing based on legitimate interests; receive a portable copy where applicable; or withdraw consent where we rely on it.

Email contact@tortoisefood.co.uk to make a request. We may need to verify your identity and will respond within the period required by applicable law.

You can also complain to the UK Information Commissioner’s Office at ico.org.uk if you are unhappy with how we handle your information.

Children

This website is not directed at children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect their personal information. If you believe a child has provided personal information to us, please contact us and we will take appropriate steps to remove it.

Changes to this policy

We may update this policy when the site’s features, services or legal obligations change. The latest version will always be published on this page with its update date.