Last updated: September 1, 2026
Lessons From France (“the Site,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) respects your privacy and is committed to protecting personal information collected through this website.
This Privacy Policy explains what information may be collected when you visit Lessons From France, how it may be used, and the choices and rights available to you. It also includes important information about the editorial content, affiliate relationships and photography appearing on the Site.
PLEASE NOTE: All photographs, videos, and written content on this site are protected by international copyright law. Reproduction, redistribution, or use in any form is prohibited without prior written consent from the author. Please use this contact form to communicate with us.
1. Information We Collect
We may collect information in the following ways:
Information You Provide
You may voluntarily provide personal information when you:
- subscribe to a newsletter or mailing list;
- contact us through a contact form;
- purchase or request a digital product; or
- otherwise communicate with us.
This information may include your name, email address and any information you choose to include in your message.
Information Collected Automatically
When you visit the Site, certain technical information may be collected automatically through analytics technologies, cookies or similar tools. This may include:
- IP address;
- browser and device type;
- approximate geographic location;
- pages visited;
- referring website or source; and
- information about how visitors interact with the Site.
This information is primarily used to understand how the Site is being used and to improve its content and performance.
2. How We Use Personal Information
Information collected through the Site may be used to:
- provide and operate the Site;
- send newsletters or other communications you have requested;
- respond to messages and enquiries;
- provide access to digital products;
- understand website traffic and audience behavior;
- improve the Site, its content and user experience;
- administer affiliate relationships and other commercial activities; and
- comply with applicable legal obligations.
We do not sell your personal information.
3. Legal Basis for Processing
Where the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) applies, we process personal information only where there is an appropriate legal basis.
Depending on the circumstances, this may include:
- Consent, for example when you voluntarily subscribe to receive email communications or consent to non-essential cookies;
- Contractual necessity, where information is required in connection with a purchase or service you have requested;
- Legitimate interests, where reasonably necessary to operate, secure, analyze or improve the Site, provided those interests do not override your fundamental rights and freedoms; and
- Legal obligations, where information must be processed or retained to comply with applicable law.
You may withdraw consent at any time where processing is based on consent.
4. Newsletter and Email Communications
Lessons From France uses third-party email and newsletter services, including Substack, to manage subscriptions and distribute communications.
If you subscribe, your name, email address and related subscription information may be processed by the relevant service provider in accordance with its own privacy policy.
You may unsubscribe from marketing or newsletter emails at any time by using the unsubscribe link contained in those communications.
5. Analytics
The Site may use Google Analytics and similar analytics services to understand how visitors find and use the Site.
These services may collect information such as device information, approximate location, pages viewed and interactions with the Site.
Where required by applicable law, non-essential analytics technologies are used only after appropriate consent has been obtained.
6. Cookies
The Site may use cookies and similar technologies necessary for the operation of the website and, with your consent where required, for purposes such as analytics and affiliate tracking.
Cookies are small files stored on your device that can help websites function properly and provide information about how visitors use them.
Third-party embedded content, such as YouTube videos, may also use cookies or similar technologies.
Where required by law, you will be given the opportunity to accept or reject non-essential cookies through the Site’s cookie-consent mechanism.
You can also control or delete cookies through your browser settings. Disabling certain cookies may affect the way some parts of the Site function.
7. Digital Products and Payments
Lessons From France offers digital products that may be sold and delivered through third-party platforms, including Gumroad.
Payment and transaction information is processed by the relevant payment or e-commerce provider. Lessons From France does not directly store complete payment-card details.
Information relating to a purchase may be provided to us where necessary to administer the purchase, provide customer support, maintain business records or comply with legal obligations.
Third-party payment and e-commerce providers process information in accordance with their own privacy policies.
8. Affiliate Links
Some pages and articles on Lessons From France contain affiliate links. If you click an affiliate link and make a qualifying purchase, Lessons From France may receive a commission at no additional cost to you.
Lessons From France participates in affiliate programs, including the Amazon Associates Program.
As an Amazon Associate, Lessons From France earns from qualifying purchases.
Affiliate links may use cookies or similar technologies to attribute purchases or referrals to the Site. Where legally required, non-essential affiliate tracking technologies are subject to your cookie choices.
The inclusion of an affiliate link does not affect the editorial opinions expressed on the Site.
9. Third-Party Services and Links
The Site uses or links to third-party services that may include:
- Substack;
- Google Analytics;
- Gumroad;
- Amazon Associates;
- YouTube;
- Instagram;
- TikTok; and
- website hosting, security and technical-service providers.
Some pages on Lessons From France contain embedded YouTube videos. Embedded content may behave in the same way as if you visited the third-party website directly. YouTube or Google may collect information about your device and your interaction with embedded content and may use cookies or similar technologies, subject to your consent where required by law.
The Site also contains links to third-party websites and social-media platforms, including Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. If you follow one of these links, the third party’s own privacy policy and terms apply.
Lessons From France is not responsible for the privacy practices, security or content of websites or services operated by third parties.
10. International Data Transfers
Some third-party service providers used by Lessons From France may process or store personal information outside France or the European Economic Area.
Where required by applicable law, appropriate safeguards are used for international transfers of personal information, such as adequacy decisions, standard contractual clauses or other legally recognized transfer mechanisms.
11. Data Retention
Personal information is retained only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected, including to provide requested services, maintain appropriate business and financial records and comply with legal obligations.
Retention periods may vary depending on the type of information and the reason it was collected.
12. Your Privacy Rights
If you are located in the European Economic Area or another jurisdiction providing similar rights, you may have the right to:
- request access to personal information held about you;
- request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information;
- request deletion of your personal information in certain circumstances;
- request restriction of processing;
- object to certain processing;
- request data portability where applicable;
- withdraw consent where processing is based on consent; and
- lodge a complaint with the relevant data-protection authority.
In France, the supervisory authority is the Commission Nationale de l’Informatique et des Libertés (CNIL).
To exercise a privacy right concerning information controlled directly by Lessons From France, please contact us using the contact form.
13. Children’s Privacy and School Content
A significant part of Lessons From France documents French school food, school kitchens and food education.
We take the privacy and dignity of children seriously.
Photography, filming and reporting in schools are carried out with the knowledge and authorization of the relevant school, municipality or other responsible authority and in accordance with the permissions and procedures applicable to that setting.
We aim to avoid publishing identifying personal information about children unless its publication is appropriately authorized. Images and footage are selected and used with consideration for children’s privacy and dignity.
The Site is intended for a general audience and is not directed at children for the purpose of collecting their personal information. We do not knowingly solicit personal information directly from children through the Site.
If you believe that content on the Site raises a privacy concern involving a child, please contact us promptly.
14. Editorial Disclaimer
Lessons From France is an independent editorial website based on personal observation, reporting, research, interviews and experience of life in France.
While we make reasonable efforts to provide accurate and useful information, laws, regulations, school practices, municipal policies, prices and other circumstances can change and may vary between locations.
Information published on the Site is provided for general informational and editorial purposes and should not be considered legal, medical, nutritional, financial or other professional advice.
References to individual schools, municipalities, chefs, producers or other organizations do not necessarily imply endorsement of every view expressed on Lessons From France, nor do the views expressed on the Site necessarily represent those of any school, municipality or public authority.
15. Sponsored Content and Commercial Relationships
If Lessons From France publishes sponsored content, receives compensation for a commercial collaboration, or receives a product or service in circumstances requiring disclosure, that relationship will be disclosed appropriately.
Editorial opinions remain our own.
16. Copyright
Unless otherwise stated, original text, photography, video and other original material published on Lessons From France are protected by copyright and may not be reproduced, republished, distributed or used commercially without permission.
Brief quotations and links to Lessons From France are welcome where permitted by applicable law and accompanied by appropriate attribution.
For permission to reproduce or license content, please contact us.
17. Security
We take reasonable administrative and technical measures to protect personal information. However, no website, online transmission or storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure.
18. Changes to This Policy
This Privacy Policy & Disclaimer may be updated periodically to reflect changes to the Site, the services we use or applicable legal requirements.
The date at the top of this page indicates when it was most recently updated.
19. Contact
For questions about this Privacy Policy, privacy requests, permissions or other enquiries concerning Lessons From France, please use our contact form.