Privacy Policy

Privacy Policy

Last updated: December 3, 2025

This Privacy Policy explains how The Expat Cook collects, uses, and protects your personal information when you visit the blog at expatcook.recipes, subscribe to the newsletter, or interact with its content. By using this website or subscribing to the newsletter, you agree to the practices described in this policy.

Information We Collect

We may collect the following types of information:

  • Newsletter sign-up data: When you subscribe to the newsletter, The Expat Cook collects your email address and, if you choose to provide it, your name. A double opt-in process is used, which means you must confirm your subscription by clicking a link in a confirmation email before you are added to the list.
  • Email engagement data: The newsletters may include tracking technologies (for example, tracking pixels and tagged links) that indicate whether an email has been opened and which links have been clicked.
  • Website usage data: Cookies and similar technologies may be used to understand how visitors use the site (such as pages visited, time spent on pages, and general location based on IP). This information is generally aggregated and not used to identify you personally unless you have provided identifying information (for example, by subscribing to the newsletter).

How We Use Your Information

Your information is used for the following purposes:

  • To send you the newsletter, recipes, and other content you have requested.
  • To manage your subscription, including handling confirmations, unsubscribes, and suppression lists.
  • To understand what content is most interesting and useful to readers, and to improve the blog and newsletter.
  • To comply with legal obligations and protect the rights, property, or safety of The Expat Cook and its users.

The Expat Cook does not sell or rent your personal data to third parties.

Email Tracking

The Expat Cook uses email engagement data to better understand which topics and recipes readers enjoy most. This may include:

  • Whether you open a newsletter email.
  • Which links you click within the email.
  • Technical information that your email provider or device makes available, such as the type of email client or approximate location.

If you prefer not to be tracked in this way, you can:

  • Disable automatic image loading in your email client (tracking pixels typically load as images).
  • Avoid clicking links in the email.
  • Unsubscribe from the newsletter using the link provided at the bottom of every email.

Data Storage and Security

Your data is stored using reputable third-party providers and appropriate security measures are applied to help protect your personal data against loss, misuse, and unauthorized access. While no system can be completely secure, reasonable technical and organizational measures are used to keep your data as safe as possible.

GDPR and UK Data Protection

For the purposes of the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR), the EU General Data Protection Regulation (EU GDPR), and the UK Data Protection Act 2018, the data controller responsible for your personal data is:

The Expat Cook

Registered in the United Kingdom

Email: info@expatcook.recipes

Your personal data is processed in accordance with these laws and only for the purposes described in this policy.

Legal Bases for Processing

The Expat Cook processes your personal data on the following legal bases:

  • Consent: When you subscribe to the newsletter using the double opt-in form, you provide clear consent for your email address (and any other details you provide) to be used to send you newsletters and related communications, and to track basic engagement such as opens and link clicks.
  • Legitimate interests: Aggregated analytics about website and email performance may be processed to understand audience preferences and improve the content and delivery of the newsletter, in a way that does not override your fundamental rights and freedoms.

You can withdraw your consent at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in any email or by contacting info@expatcook.recipes. Withdrawal of consent does not affect the lawfulness of processing that took place before the withdrawal.

Types of Data and Purposes

The Expat Cook may process the following categories of personal data:

  • Identification and contact data: Email address and, if provided, your name.
  • Subscription data: Date and time of sign-up, confirmation of the double opt-in, and IP address at the time of registration where logged by the system.
  • Email interaction data: Information about whether an email was opened, which links were clicked, and certain technical information supplied by your email client or device (such as device type, email client type, and approximate location where available).

These data are used for:

  • Sending you the newsletter, recipes, and related communications you signed up for.
  • Measuring and improving the performance, relevance, and deliverability of emails.
  • Maintaining accurate subscription records and managing suppression lists to ensure you do not receive emails after you unsubscribe.

Data Processors and International Transfers

The Expat Cook uses Mailgun as an email delivery and tracking service provider to send newsletters and record engagement data such as opens and clicks. Mailgun acts as a data processor and processes your personal data only on documented instructions from The Expat Cook and under contractual commitments to confidentiality and data protection.

Because Mailgun’s infrastructure may be located outside the United Kingdom or the European Economic Area, your personal data may be transferred internationally. When such transfers occur, appropriate safeguards are implemented, such as standard contractual clauses or other measures required by data protection law, to ensure your data is protected to a standard essentially equivalent to that in the UK and EU.

Data Retention

Personal data associated with your newsletter subscription is kept for as long as you remain an active subscriber. If you unsubscribe, your email address may be retained in a suppression list for a reasonable period to ensure you do not receive further marketing emails and to meet legal obligations.

Aggregated or anonymised analytics data that no longer identifies you personally may be retained for longer to analyze trends and improve the blog and newsletter.

Your Data Protection Rights

Under UK and EU data protection law, you have the right to:

  • Request access to your personal data and obtain a copy of the information held about you.
  • Request correction of any inaccurate or incomplete personal data.
  • Request deletion of your personal data in certain circumstances (for example, where it is no longer needed for the purposes for which it was collected, or where you have withdrawn consent and there is no other legal basis for processing).
  • Request restriction of processing in specific situations.
  • Object to processing based on legitimate interests, and object to direct marketing at any time.
  • Request data portability in certain circumstances, by asking for your data in a structured, commonly used, machine-readable format and, where technically feasible, for it to be transmitted to another controller.

To exercise any of these rights, you can contact:

info@expatcook.recipes

Your identity may need to be verified before your request is processed. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) or, if you are located in the EU, with your local data protection authority.

Third-Party Services

The Expat Cook may use third-party service providers to operate the website and newsletter, such as:

  • Email service providers.
  • Website hosting providers.
  • Analytics tools.

These service providers process personal data only as necessary to perform services on behalf of The Expat Cook and are subject to contractual obligations regarding confidentiality and data protection.

Cookies and Similar Technologies

The website may use cookies and similar technologies to improve your browsing experience, remember your preferences, and gather statistics on how the site is used. You can manage or disable cookies through your browser settings, although doing so may affect how some parts of the site function.

If the blog implements a separate Cookie Policy or banner, that document may provide additional details about the specific cookies used.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy may be updated from time to time to reflect changes in legal requirements or in how The Expat Cook operates. The “Last updated” date at the top of this page indicates when the most recent changes were made. You are encouraged to review this page periodically to stay informed about how your information is protected.

Contact

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or about how your personal data is handled, you can contact:

info@expatcook.recipes