Privacy Policy

1. Information we collect

We collect information that you provide directly to us, including:

• Contact information, such as your mobile phone number.
• SMS information, including text messages you send to us, survey responses you provide by SMS, opt-in status, opt-out status, and related messaging records.
• Study responses, including diet-related survey responses and other information you choose to provide as part of the study.
• Demographic information, such as age, gender, race/ethnicity, country or region, and other demographic details you choose to provide.
• Participation information, such as enrollment status, consent status, survey completion status, reminders sent, and withdrawal requests.
• Account or authentication information, if you create or use an account on our website.

We may also collect basic technical information when you use our website, such as IP address, browser type, device information, pages visited, referring pages, and approximate location derived from technical data.

2. Cookies and analytics

We may use authentication-related cookies or similar technologies that are necessary to operate the website, maintain login sessions, prevent fraud, and provide secure access to study features.

We may also use privacy-conscious website analytics to understand how visitors use the website and improve the study experience. We do not use analytics to send unrelated marketing messages to participants.

3. How we use information

We use the information we collect to:

• Enroll participants in the Plant-Based Study.
• Send study-related SMS messages.
• Ask survey questions by SMS and receive SMS responses.
• Send reminders during the 14-day study period.
• Follow up based on your study responses or incomplete survey responses.
• Manage consent, opt-ins, opt-outs, support requests, and withdrawal requests.
• Operate, maintain, secure, and improve the website and study systems.
• Conduct scientific research and analyze study data.
• Create aggregated or de-identified research results.
• Comply with legal, regulatory, ethical, institutional, security, and recordkeeping obligations.

We do not use your phone number to send unrelated marketing or promotional messages.

4. SMS / text messaging terms

By providing your mobile phone number and opting in to receive SMS messages from the Plant-Based Study, you agree to receive study-related text messages from Alliance Foundation.

These messages may include survey questions, reminders, follow-up questions, completion prompts, and other messages related to your participation in the Plant-Based Study.

The study lasts approximately 14 days. Message frequency may vary based on your participation and responses. During the study period, you may receive multiple messages per day, including survey questions and follow-up questions. We may also send reminders, including weekly reminders and reminders if you do not complete study activities.

Message and data rates may apply.

You can opt out at any time by replying STOP. After you reply STOP, we may send one final confirmation message to confirm that you have been unsubscribed. You can request help by replying HELP or by contacting us at support@plantbasedstudy.org.

Opting out of SMS messages may affect your ability to participate in parts of the study that rely on SMS.

5. How we share information

We may share information as needed to operate, administer, support, and analyze the Plant-Based Study, including with:

• Authorized Alliance Foundation personnel and study team members.
• Service providers that help us operate the study, such as SMS providers, hosting providers, database providers, analytics providers, authentication providers, security providers, and technical support providers.
• Our database and infrastructure providers, including systems such as Supabase and custom databases.
• Researchers, advisors, consultants, or reviewers involved in the study.
• Institutional review boards, ethics committees, sponsors, auditors, regulators, or similar parties if the study later becomes subject to such review or oversight.
• Law enforcement, courts, regulators, or other parties when we believe disclosure is required by law or necessary to protect rights, safety, security, or integrity.

We do not sell your personal information.

We do not sell, rent, share, or disclose your mobile phone number, SMS opt-in information, or SMS consent status to third parties or affiliates for their own marketing or promotional purposes.

6. Research, aggregated, and de-identified data

We may use study responses and demographic information for scientific research, analysis, publications, presentations, reports, and other research-related purposes.

Where practical, we will use aggregated or de-identified information that does not directly identify individual participants. De-identified or aggregated research data may be retained and used for research purposes for a longer period than directly identifiable contact information.

No de-identification process can completely eliminate all risk of re-identification.

7. Data retention

The active study period lasts approximately 14 days, but we may retain information for longer as needed to conduct the study, analyze results, maintain research integrity, respond to participant requests, comply with legal or ethical obligations, resolve disputes, and maintain security and audit records.

We generally aim to retain identifiable contact information, such as phone numbers, only as long as reasonably necessary for study administration, participant communications, compliance, support, and recordkeeping.

We may retain de-identified or aggregated research data for a longer period, including for future research, publication, verification, or scientific analysis.

We may periodically review retained information and delete, de-identify, or archive information when it is no longer needed for the purposes described in this Privacy Policy.

8. International participants

The Plant-Based Study may be available to participants in multiple countries. By participating in the study or using our website, you understand that your information may be processed and stored in countries other than the country where you live, including countries that may have different data protection laws.

Where required, we will handle personal information in accordance with applicable privacy and data protection laws.

9. Your choices and rights

You may withdraw from the Plant-Based Study at any time by contacting us at support@plantbasedstudy.org.

You may also:

• Opt out of SMS messages by replying STOP.
• Request help by replying HELP.
• Ask questions about your information.
• Request access to, correction of, or deletion of certain personal information, subject to applicable law and study recordkeeping requirements.

If you withdraw from the study, we will stop sending you study-related SMS messages unless legally or operationally necessary to confirm your request. We may retain information already collected where needed for research integrity, legal compliance, recordkeeping, security, or de-identified analysis.

10. California privacy rights

If you are a California resident, you may have certain rights under California privacy laws, subject to applicable exceptions. These may include the right to request access to certain personal information we collect about you, the right to request correction or deletion of certain personal information, and the right to know how we use and disclose personal information.

We do not sell your personal information. We do not share your personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising.

To make a privacy request, contact us at support@plantbasedstudy.org.

11. Eligibility and minors

The Plant-Based Study is intended for individuals who are 18 years of age or older.

We do not knowingly collect personal information from individuals under 18. If we learn that we have collected personal information from someone under 18 without appropriate authorization, we will take reasonable steps to delete or de-identify that information, unless retention is required by law or necessary for safety, security, or compliance.

12. Security

We use reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational safeguards designed to protect the information we collect.

However, no website, database, SMS system, or electronic transmission is completely secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security.

SMS messages may not be encrypted and may be accessible to your mobile carrier, people with access to your device, or others depending on your phone settings and service provider.

13. Third-party services

We use third-party services to operate the Plant-Based Study, including services for SMS messaging, website hosting, authentication, databases, analytics, security, and technical support.

These third parties may process information on our behalf as needed to provide services to us, comply with law, or protect their systems and users.

14. Links to other websites

Our website may contain links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices, security, or content of third-party websites.

15. Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. If we make changes, we will post the updated Privacy Policy on this page and update the effective date.

16. Contact us

For questions about this Privacy Policy, the Plant-Based Study, SMS messages, or your information, contact us at: