Nestlé USA's Online Privacy Policy
Effective Date: 10/25/2006
Welcome!
Thank you for visiting a Nestlé USA (“Nestlé USA,” “we,” or “our”) website. The following is a description of how we collect, store, and use the personal information you provide us through any of the websites operated by Nestlé USA, including the one you are currently visiting ("Nestlé USA Privacy Policy" or “Privacy Policy”).
We encourage you to read this Privacy Policy before you submit any personal information on this website. For a complete description of our online privacy practices, please click on the topics of interest provided below.
Note: If you are a parent or legal guardian and are interested in learning about Nestlé USA’s policy regarding the collection and use of personal information from children under 13, please see our Children’s Privacy Policy at the bottom of this page. Please be aware, however, that our Children’s Privacy Policy applies to a very small number of the Nestlé USA Websites, specifically those with strong appeal to children under 13 or that knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.
- What does the Nestlé USA Privacy Policy apply to?
- What information do we collect from you?
- How do we use the information we collect?
- What are the consequences if you refuse to disclose your personal information?
- Do we use cookies or other passive collection tools?
- Who collects the information on our Websites?
- With whom, if anyone, do we share your personal information?
- Your California Privacy Rights
- How do we help ensure the security of your information?
- How can you access or modify your information?
- How can you make other choices regarding the use of your information?
- How can you ask a question or file a complaint regarding this Privacy Policy?
- What are our information collection practices regarding children under 13?
What does this Privacy Policy apply to?
Our Website and Information Collected Online
The Nestlé USA Privacy Policy currently applies to any website operated by Nestlé USA and that posts a direct link to this Privacy Policy (“Nestlé USA Website(s),” “Website(s),” or “Site(s)”). In addition, the privacy practices set forth in this Privacy Policy pertain only to the on-line collection of information through the Nestlé USA Websites, but do not apply to information that may be collected by Nestlé USA off-line.
Websites Not Covered by this Privacy Policy
This Privacy Policy does not apply to websites maintained by other companies or organizations to which we link, including websites that are operated by our parent or affiliate companies or that are not otherwise a part of the Nestlé USA family of websites (collectively, “third party sites”). These third party sites may include but are not limited to websites operated by:
- our parent company, Nestlé SA (e.g., nestle.com);
- our international affiliates (e.g., Nestlé Canada);
- joint ventures such as Beverage Partners Worldwide (e.g., nestea.com);
- other U.S. subsidiaries of Nestlé SA such as Dreyer’s Ice Cream and Nestlé Waters North America (e.g., nestle-waters.com);
- online stores that sell Nestlé products (e.g., mybrandsinc.com, careexpress.com, imprintstore.com, and rei.com); and,
- Nestlé USA that are directed to businesses (e.g., vend-nesquik.com and nestlefoodservices.com).
We encourage you to read the privacy policy of the third party sites to which you link before you submit any personal information to that site. We are not responsible, and disclaim any liability for the independent practices or content of any third party site.
Special Note to Non-U.S. Visitors
We have no intention of collecting personal information from non-U.S visitors through our Websites. This Privacy Policy is intended to meet the laws and requirements of the United States, which may not necessarily be consistent with the laws and regulations of your home country. Any information that you provide to Nestlé USA will be treated in accordance with this Privacy Policy.
Your Acceptance / Changes to this Privacy Policy
By using a Nestlé USA Website, you are accepting the practices described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree to this Privacy Policy, please do not use this Website. We reserve the right to make changes to this Privacy Policy. Any changes will be posted in this Privacy Policy and material changes will generally apply only to activities and information collected on a going forward basis. If we materially change how we use your previously collected personal information, we will notify you by email and may give you a choice to consent to or opt-out from the desired change. We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy whenever you come back to this Site to make sure you are aware of any changes and how your information may be used. Your continued use of this Website or any other Nestlé USA Website signifies your acceptance of these changes.
What types of information do we collect?
To simply browse our Websites, we do not ask you to provide any information. However, if you wish to participate in many of the features and services the Nestlé USA Websites and brands have to offer, we may ask you to provide certain personal and/or demographic information. Personal information (as used in this Privacy Policy) refers to any information that can be used to personally identify you or contact you online or offline. This may include, for example, your name, postal address, e-mail address, phone number (“personally identifiable information”) as well as other non-personally identifiable information or demographic information such as your date of birth, age, gender, habits or preferences when such information is tied to your personally identifiable information (collectively, “personal information”).
Personal information is only collected with your knowledge (i.e., if you voluntarily provide it to us through one of the many online forms available on the Nestlé USA Websites) and will usually take the form of:
- Registration or sign-up on a Nestlé USA Website (“general website registration”);
- Sign up for a newsletter that is specific to an event, product, or website and that is not included under general website registration;
- Sweepstakes, contests, or other promotions;
- Surveys and polls;
- Message boards and other interactive activities;
- Purchase of a Nestlé product through an online store to which we link;
- E-cards, tell-a-friend, or other one-time use features;
- Feedback, questions, or comments through one of our Contact or “Ask the Expert” forms;
- Information submitted in a business capacity (e.g., resumes, media requests, etc.);
- Information collected through our Nutritional Sites;
- Signing up a friend to participate in product-specific campaigns; or,
- Any other request that requires the submission of personal information (e.g., Consumer Panel, Product Request, “Where to Buy,” etc.)
Note: depending on the Nestlé USA site that you are visiting, some or many of the activities listed above may not be available.
The types and amount of information collected for the features listed above will vary depending on the activity. The requested personal information may include: first and last name, email address, home address (including city and state), and telephone number (work or home). For some activities, you may be asked to create a username and/or password and/or to provide additional, demographic information, including: (i) your age or date of birth, (ii) gender, (iii) frequency of use, purchase, and consumption of certain Nestlé products and/or other similar products, (iv) facts about your household or lifestyle, and/or, (v) other information relevant to the Nestlé product you’ve purchased or the specific Site which you are visiting (for example, if you are registering on verybestbaby.com or verybestkids.com, you may be asked to provide information about the children in your household, including their names, genders, and birthdates).
If demographic information is collected for an activity that also requires personal information, we may combine the demographic information with your personal information. Combining data allows us to customize the notices we send you and the content we provide you according to your interests and preferences. For more on how we use your information, please read the section on use below.
How do we use the information we collect?
Generally, all information collected is used for the purpose for which the information was collected or as otherwise identified at the point of collection or in this Privacy Policy. For example, if you sign up or register on a Nestlé USA Website (“general website registration”), the information you provide is used to offer you the benefits and privileges that typically come along with registration. This may include access to and use of exclusive or personalized content or activities on the Nestlé USA Websites (e.g., message boards, upload features, personalized recipe boxes, etc.), participation in special events and promotions (contests, sweepstakes, coupons, etc.), and the ability to receive the communications or marketing material you select at the time of registration or that automatically come with your registration. Similarly, if you contact us via an online contact form or through one of our Ask the Expert features, your information is used to respond to your inquiry or comment, and in some instances, post the answers to your question in anonymous form on the relevant Website. For additional specifics about some of the features available on the Nestlé USA Websites, please see below.
When registering or providing information on our Sites, you may also be given the option (through a check box or otherwise) to have your information used for an activity or service different from the primary activity or service that you are requesting. For example, if you are signing up for a contest or other promotion, you may also be able to sign up for newsletters or alerts from the Site hosting the promotion or from other Nestlé USA Sites or products. If you choose to receive these additional services, Nestlé USA will use your information to provide them to you.
From time to time, we are approached by reputable third party companies and organizations that provide products or services that we believe may be of interest to you. To extend these products or services to you, we may use your personal information (e.g., email address) to send out notices on their behalf. We see this as a value-added service helping you find useful products or services. Our goal is to limit the notices and communications to those that we think you would appreciate receiving. Please note that all such mailings come strictly from Nestlé USA and your personal information is not shared with these other companies.
We may also use your personal and/or demographic information for our internal marketing and demographic studies, so we can constantly improve, personalize, and customize the products and services we provide you and to better meet your needs. This may include occasionally combining, updating, or otherwise enhancing the personal information collected through a Nestlé USA Website with data we receive from outside records or third parties.
The following provides additional information about certain features on our Websites:
- Newsletters and Email
If you provide us your email address and/or mailing address (whether as part of our general website registration or for a specific newsletter or communication), the contact information you provide will be used to send you the specific newsletter, communication, or literature requested. In addition, you may receive communications introducing you to other Nestlé brands or Websites. These materials may come in the form of regular mail or email, depending on the Site you register on and the information you provide during registration.
We may also use your email address to send you transactional or administrative communications (e.g., confirmation email when you sign up for, or unsubscribe from, a specific registration or activity), as well as certain service-related announcements (e.g., notices about updates to our Privacy Policy, discontinued features or programs on our Websites, changes to our online services or technical support policies, or other related changes). Collectively, these types of communications are referred to in this Privacy Policy as “Administrative Communications.”
- Sweepstakes, Contests, and Promotions
To enter an online sweepstakes, contest, or other promotion (collectively, “Promotions”), you may be required to first register on a Nestlé USA Website. The information collected as part of a Promotion is used to determine your eligibility, notify you whether you are a winner, and/or fulfill and deliver prizes. If you are a winner, certain information about you (such as your name and picture) may get posted to the relevant Nestlé USA Website. If children under 13 are allowed to participate in a Promotion, we first obtain parental consent, if required.
For more information about Nestlé USA Promotions, please see the official rules or details posted with the specific Promotion.
- Surveys and Polls
There are two types of surveys or polls that may be conducted on the Nestlé USA Websites. One is where purely demographic or survey information (e.g., age, gender, household information, and other interests, etc.) is requested and the information is not linked to any personally identifiable information about you. In other cases (such as during account registration), we may collect this same information and combine it with your personally identifiable information. If children under 13 are allowed to participate in surveys or polls that collect or are linked to personally identifiable information, a parent’s prior verifiable consent will be obtained.
- Message boards and other interactive features
We may provide interactive features that allow you to post or publish messages, stories, pictures, or artwork on our Websites. Although we strive to protect those who use and participate in these activities, we encourage you to be wary of giving out personal information or images about yourself in public areas such as on a message board or other online community-type feature. Such information can be collected and used by people you don't know. As such, we cannot guarantee the security and privacy of, and are not responsible for, any information you post in these areas. Your use of these features is at your own risk.
Please note that if we choose to post a picture or message that you provide us through one of these features, we may post, along with the picture or message, certain n