Privacy Policy

Who we are

Prep Brook (“we,” “us,” or “our”) runs the website prepbrook.com. We publish research-based guides about juicing, blending, plant-milk making, drinkware, and drink-prep tools.

This policy explains what information we collect, why we collect it, and the choices you have. It applies to prepbrook.com only. Other websites we link to have their own policies.

Information we collect

Information you give us

If you email us, we receive your name, your email address, and whatever you write in the message. You decide what to share. Please do not send sensitive details such as payment information or health records.

If comments are open on a post and you leave one, WordPress stores the name, email address, and comment you enter, along with your IP address and browser details to help catch spam. An anonymized string made from your email address (called a hash) may be sent to the Gravatar service to check whether you use a profile picture there.

Information collected automatically

When you visit, some technical details are collected automatically by our analytics and hosting tools:

• Your IP address (used to estimate your general location, such as your country or city)
• Browser type, device type, and screen size
• Pages you view, how long you stay, and the site that sent you here
• The date and time of your visit

We use this to understand which guides help people and which need work. We do not use it to identify you personally.

How we use information

• To answer your emails and fix errors you report
• To see which guides are useful, so we can improve and update them
• To keep the site secure, block spam, and stop abusive traffic
• To meet legal duties, such as responding to a valid legal request

We do not use your information for automated decisions that have legal or similar effects on you.

Analytics (Google Analytics)

We use Google Analytics, connected through the Site Kit by Google plugin, to measure visits. Google Analytics uses cookies and similar technology to collect the visit data listed above and sends it to Google for processing.

You can learn how Google uses this data at How Google uses information from sites that use its services. You can block Google Analytics in your browser with the Google Analytics opt-out add-on.

Affiliate links and stores

Many product links on Prep Brook are affiliate links, mostly to Amazon. When you click one, you leave our site. The store may set its own cookies to record that you came from Prep Brook, so we can earn a small commission if you buy.

We do not see your name, address, or payment details from these stores. Amazon only shows us summary reports, such as which products were ordered through our links. Your activity on Amazon is covered by Amazon’s own privacy notice. Read more in our Affiliate Disclosure.

Cookies

Cookies are small text files stored by your browser. We use them for security, analytics, and comment preferences. Our Cookie Policy lists each type, who sets it, and how to turn it off.

When we share information

We do not sell your personal information. We do not share it for cross-context behavioral advertising. We only share information in these limited cases:

• Service providers who help us run the site, such as hosting, security, and analytics companies. They may only use the data to provide their service to us.
• Legal reasons, when we believe the law, a court order, or a valid government request requires it, or to protect the safety of our readers and our site.
• Business changes, if Prep Brook is sold or merged. The new owner would have to respect this policy or tell you about any change.

How long we keep information

• Emails: kept as long as needed to reply and keep a short record, then deleted within two years.
• Analytics data: kept for no longer than 14 months, based on the retention setting in our Google Analytics account.
• Comments: kept with the post they belong to, unless you ask us to remove them.

Your privacy rights

Wherever you live, you can ask us to show you, correct, or delete the personal information we hold about you. Email hello@prepbrook.com with the subject line “Privacy request.” We may ask a simple question to confirm the request is really from you.

California residents

Under the California Consumer Privacy Act, as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act, you have the right to know what personal information we collect, to delete it, to correct it, and to opt out of its sale or sharing. We do not sell or share personal information, and we do not collect sensitive personal information. We will never treat you differently for using these rights. We answer verified requests within 45 days. We also honor the Global Privacy Control (GPC) signal sent by your browser as an opt-out request.

Visitors in the EU, UK, and similar regions

We process data based on our legitimate interest in running and improving a useful, secure website, and on your consent where the law requires it, such as for analytics cookies. You may also object to processing, restrict it, ask for a copy of your data, or complain to your local data protection authority. We answer within one month.

Children’s privacy

Prep Brook is written for adults and is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has sent us information, email hello@prepbrook.com and we will delete it.

How we protect information

We use HTTPS encryption across the site, keep our software updated, and limit who can access site data. No website can promise perfect security, but we work hard to protect what little information we hold.

International visitors

Prep Brook and the services we use are based in, or process data in, the United States. If you visit from another country, your information may be transferred to and stored in the United States, where privacy laws may differ from those in your country.

Changes to this policy

We may update this policy when our tools or the law change. When we do, we will change the “Last updated” date at the top of this page. Big changes will be explained clearly on this page.

Contact us about privacy

Questions or requests about your privacy? Email hello@prepbrook.com. We reply within two business days.