Terms and Conditions

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using this website and its services (the "Service"), you agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions ("Terms"). If you are accessing the Service on behalf of a school district, educational institution, or food service organization, you represent that you have the authority to bind that entity to these Terms.

2. Description of Service

This Service provides crediting documentation and meal pattern compliance information for products used in K12 school nutrition programs, including but not limited to:

• Product specification sheets
• USDA Child Nutrition Program crediting statements
• Nutritional analysis and allergen information
• CACFP eligibility documentation
• USDA Smart Snacks compliance information

3. Educational and Informational Purpose

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER:

This Service provides information for educational and reference purposes only. While we strive for accuracy:

• Not Official USDA Guidance: The information provided does not constitute official USDA guidance or regulatory interpretation
• Professional Responsibility: Users remain solely responsible for verifying all crediting information and ensuring compliance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations
• Independent Verification Required: School nutrition professionals must independently verify all product crediting and compliance information before use in meal programs
• Manufacturer Data Reliance: Information is derived from manufacturer-provided specification sheets and may change without notice

4. No Warranty of Accuracy

THE SERVICE AND ALL INFORMATION PROVIDED ARE OFFERED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED.

We make no representations or warranties regarding:

• The accuracy, completeness, or currency of any crediting information
• The compliance of any product with current USDA or state requirements
• The suitability of any product for your specific meal program needs
• The continued availability or formulation of any listed product

5. User Responsibilities

Users of this Service agree to:

• Verify all crediting information with current manufacturer specification sheets
• Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local child nutrition regulations
• Maintain appropriate documentation for audit purposes
• Use professional judgment in applying crediting information to meal programs
• Not rely solely on this Service for regulatory compliance decisions
• Contact manufacturers directly to confirm current product specifications

6. Limitation of Liability

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW:

• We shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, or punitive damages arising from use of this Service
• We assume no liability for errors, omissions, or changes in product formulations
• We are not responsible for any regulatory violations, audit findings, or financial penalties resulting from reliance on information provided
• Users assume all risk associated with use of the information provided

7. Intellectual Property Rights

Our Content

The compilation, organization, and presentation of information on this Service is our intellectual property. Users may:

• Access and view information for their internal business purposes
• Print or download materials for use in their meal programs
• Share crediting documentation with relevant staff and auditors

Users may not:

• Reproduce, redistribute, or resell our compilations or databases
• Use automated tools to scrape or harvest data from the Service
• Remove or alter any proprietary notices or attributions

Manufacturer Information

Product specifications, nutritional data, and crediting statements remain the intellectual property of their respective manufacturers. This Service serves as an aggregator and reference tool.

8. Third-Party Information and Links

This Service may contain information derived from or links to third-party sources, including:

• Manufacturer websites and specification sheets
• USDA resources and guidance documents
• Industry organizations and associations

We do not control and are not responsible for third-party content, and inclusion does not constitute endorsement.

9. Changes to Products and Information

Product formulations, specifications, and crediting statements may change at any time. We endeavor to maintain current information but:

• Cannot guarantee real-time updates when manufacturers change products
• Are not notified of all formulation changes
• May experience delays in updating information
• Recommend users verify critical information before use

10. Subscription Terms, Fees, and Refund Policy

10.1 Subscription Fees

Access to this Service requires a paid subscription. Subscription fees are:

• Billed in advance on a monthly, annual, or other agreed-upon basis
• Non-refundable except as expressly stated in Section 10.3
• Subject to change with notice as provided in Section 10.4
• Exclusive of any applicable sales tax, VAT, or other governmental fees, which are the subscriber's responsibility

10.2 Non-Refundable Subscriptions

ALL SUBSCRIPTION FEES ARE NON-REFUNDABLE ONCE THE SUBSCRIPTION PERIOD BEGINS.

Specifically:

• No Refunds After Activation: Once your subscription is activated and you gain access to the Service, no refunds will be provided for any unused portion of the subscription period
• No Pro-Rated Refunds: If you cancel your subscription before the end of the subscription term, you will not receive a refund or credit for any remaining days, weeks, or months
• Voluntary Cancellation: Cancellation of your subscription for any reason (including dissatisfaction with the Service, lack of use, budget constraints, or any other reason) does not entitle you to a refund
• Service Interruptions: Brief service interruptions, maintenance periods, or temporary unavailability do not entitle you to refunds or credits
• Account Termination for Violations: If your account is terminated for violation of these Terms (including password sharing or unauthorized distribution), no refund will be provided

10.3 Limited Exceptions

Refunds may be considered only in the following circumstances:

• Pre-Activation Cancellation: If you cancel within 24 hours of purchase and before accessing any Service content or features, a full refund may be provided at our sole discretion
• Duplicate Charges: If you are accidentally charged twice for the same subscription period, the duplicate charge will be refunded
• Technical Error: If a technical error on our part results in incorrect billing, we will refund the erroneous amount
• Extended Outage: If the Service is completely unavailable for more than 7 consecutive days due to our technical failure (not including scheduled maintenance), you may be entitled to a pro-rated credit for the outage period

All refund requests must be submitted in writing to support@mealpatternpro.com within 30 days of the charge in question.

10.4 Price Changes

We reserve the right to modify subscription fees at any time:

• Current Subscribers: Price changes will not affect your current subscription term. You will be notified at least 30 days before your renewal date if prices will increase for your next term
• New Subscribers: New subscription fees apply to all new subscriptions immediately upon posting
• No Obligation to Renew: If you do not agree to a price increase, you may cancel your subscription before the renewal date without penalty (but no refund for the current term)

10.5 Automatic Renewal

Subscriptions automatically renew at the end of each term unless:

• You cancel before the renewal date
• Your payment method fails
• We terminate your account

You are responsible for canceling before renewal if you do not wish to continue.

Automatic renewals are non-refundable once processed.

10.6 Payment Methods and Authorization

By providing payment information, you:

• Authorize us to charge the payment method for all subscription fees
• Represent that you have authorization to use the payment method
• Agree to update payment information if it changes
• Acknowledge that failed payments may result in service suspension

10.7 Cancellation Process

To cancel your subscription:

• Log into your account and follow the cancellation process, or
• Contact us at support@mealpatternpro.com with your cancellation request
• Cancellation must be completed before your renewal date to avoid charges for the next term
• Upon cancellation, you retain access through the end of your paid term

10.8 No Refunds for Policy Violations

If your account is suspended or terminated due to:

• Password sharing or account sharing violations
• Unauthorized distribution of Service content
• Violation of any terms in Section 13 (Account Sharing and Document Distribution Restrictions)
• Any other breach of these Terms

You will NOT receive any refund for the remaining subscription period. This policy is strictly enforced.

11. Privacy and Data Collection

Our collection and use of information is governed by our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms by reference. By using this Service, you consent to our data practices as described in our Privacy Policy.

12. User Accounts and Security

If the Service requires user accounts:

• You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials
• You agree to notify us immediately of any unauthorized access
• You are responsible for all activities under your account
• We reserve the right to terminate accounts that violate these Terms

13. Account Sharing and Document Distribution Restrictions

13.1 Prohibition on Account Sharing

Each account subscription is licensed for use by a single school district, food service management company, or other authorized entity ("Subscribing Entity") only. Account sharing is strictly prohibited. Specifically:

• No Credential Sharing: You may not share login credentials (usernames, passwords, access codes, or authentication tokens) with any individual or entity outside your Subscribing Entity
• Single Entity Use: Account access is limited to employees, contractors, and authorized representatives of the Subscribing Entity who require access for legitimate business purposes
• No Multi-District Sharing: Individual district subscriptions may not be shared with other school districts, cooperative purchasing groups, or sister organizations, even within the same geographic area or management structure
• No Concurrent Use Outside Entity: Simultaneous logins from different organizations or entities not covered by the subscription are prohibited

13.2 Document and Content Distribution Restrictions

Materials, documents, databases, and information accessed through the Service are licensed for internal use by the Subscribing Entity only:

• No External Distribution: You may not distribute, share, forward, or provide access to downloaded materials, crediting documents, databases, or other Service content to entities outside your organization
• No Sharing with Other Districts: School districts may not share downloaded materials with other districts, even informally or within cooperative groups
• No Public Posting: You may not post Service content to public websites, shared drives accessible to external parties, or collaborative platforms that include non-subscribers
• Limited Internal Sharing: Materials may only be shared internally among employees and authorized contractors of the Subscribing Entity who have a legitimate need for meal program compliance purposes

13.3 Permitted Internal Use

The following uses within the Subscribing Entity are permitted:

• Sharing documents with your district's food service staff, nutrition directors, and administrators
• Providing crediting documentation to internal auditors or compliance officers
• Including appropriate crediting information in internal procurement and menu planning documents
• Sharing with your district's contracted food service management company (if applicable to your subscription tier)
• Providing documentation during official USDA or State Agency Administrative Reviews when requested by auditors

13.4 Monitoring and Enforcement

We employ technical measures to detect and prevent unauthorized account sharing and content distribution:

• Activity Monitoring: We monitor account usage patterns, including login locations, IP addresses, concurrent sessions, and access frequency
• Anomaly Detection: Unusual access patterns (such as logins from multiple geographic locations, excessive downloads, or simultaneous sessions from unrelated IP addresses) may trigger investigation
• Device Tracking: We may limit the number of devices or locations from which an account can access the Service
• Download Tracking: We monitor download volumes and patterns to detect unauthorized redistribution

13.5 Consequences of Violations

Violations of these account sharing and distribution restrictions will result in immediate action:

• Account Suspension: Immediate suspension of account access pending investigation
• Account Termination: Permanent termination of the violating account without refund
• Additional Accounts Terminated: If multiple accounts are found to be sharing improperly, all related accounts may be terminated
• Legal Action: We reserve the right to pursue legal remedies, including claims for breach of contract, copyright infringement, and recovery of damages
• Financial Liability: Violating accounts may be held financially liable for: lost subscription revenue from entities that received unauthorized access, legal fees and costs of investigation and enforcement, statutory and actual damages as permitted by law

13.6 Reporting Violations

We encourage users to report suspected account sharing or unauthorized distribution:

• Reports can be submitted to support@mealpatternpro.com
• Whistleblower protections apply; reporting parties may remain anonymous
• We investigate all credible reports of violations

13.7 Legitimate Multi-Location Access

We recognize that legitimate school district operations may require access from multiple locations:

• Multi-Building Districts: Single district subscriptions include access for all schools and facilities within that district
• Remote Work: Authorized employees may access the Service from home or remote locations for legitimate work purposes
• Mobile Access: Access from personal devices used for work purposes by authorized employees is permitted
• Temporary Access: Short-term access for substitutes, temporary staff, or consultants working directly for the Subscribing Entity is permitted

If you have questions about whether a specific use case constitutes legitimate access or prohibited sharing, contact us before proceeding.

13.8 Subscription Options for Multiple Entities

If multiple school districts, cooperatives, or organizations wish to access the Service:

• Individual Subscriptions Required: Each separate legal entity requires its own subscription
• Multi-District Pricing: We offer discounted pricing for cooperative purchasing groups, consortiums, and multi-district agreements
• Enterprise Solutions: Contact us for custom pricing for regional service centers, state agencies, or large food service management companies serving multiple clients

13.9 Educational Institution Verification

We may require verification that accounts are being used by legitimate educational institutions and authorized personnel:

• Proof of employment or authorization may be requested
• School district or organization verification may be required during signup
• Periodic re-verification may be required to maintain access

14. Prohibited Uses

Users may not:

• Use the Service for any unlawful purpose
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to any portion of the Service
• Interfere with or disrupt the Service or servers
• Transmit any viruses, malware, or harmful code
• Impersonate any person or entity
• Collect or harvest information about other users
• Use the Service in any way that could damage our reputation or business
• Share account credentials or provide access to unauthorized third parties
• Distribute Service content to non-subscribers
• Circumvent technical measures designed to prevent unauthorized access or sharing

15. Compliance with Child Nutrition Programs

Users acknowledge that:

• Final responsibility for Child Nutrition Program compliance rests with the school food authority
• State agencies and USDA have ultimate authority over crediting determinations
• This Service does not replace professional judgment or regulatory guidance
• Audit findings and regulatory interpretations may differ from information provided

16. Updates and Modifications to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. Changes will be effective upon posting to the Service. Continued use of the Service after changes constitutes acceptance of the modified Terms. Material changes will be indicated by updating the "Last Updated" date.

17. Geographic Scope and Regulatory Variations

This Service is designed primarily for use in United States K12 school nutrition programs. Users in other jurisdictions must ensure compliance with their local requirements. State-specific regulations may impose additional requirements beyond federal standards.

18. Termination

We reserve the right to:

• Terminate or suspend access to the Service at any time, with or without cause
• Modify or discontinue any aspect of the Service
• Refuse service to anyone for any reason

Upon termination, your right to use the Service immediately ceases.

19. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the Service, its owners, operators, employees, and affiliates from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, and expenses (including reasonable attorney fees) arising from:

• Your use of the Service
• Your violation of these Terms
• Your violation of any applicable laws or regulations
• Any crediting or compliance decisions made based on information from the Service
• Unauthorized account sharing or content distribution by you or parties you provided access to

20. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid, that provision will be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary, and the remaining provisions will remain in full force and effect.

21. Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and the Service regarding use of the website and supersede any prior agreements.

22. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

These Terms shall be governed by the laws of Indiana, without regard to conflict of law provisions. Any disputes arising under these Terms shall be resolved in the courts of Marion County, Indiana.

23. Acknowledgment

By using this Service, you acknowledge that:

• You have read and understood these Terms and Conditions
• You agree to be bound by these Terms
• You understand the limitations and disclaimers contained herein
• You will use the Service responsibly and in compliance with all applicable laws

Important Notice to School Nutrition Professionals

This Service is a tool to assist in your work but does not replace your professional expertise, judgment, or responsibility. Always:

• Verify current manufacturer CN labels and specification sheets
• Consult with your State Agency when uncertain
• Maintain proper documentation for Administrative Reviews
• Stay current with USDA policy memos and guidance
• Use your professional training and experience in making crediting decisions

Your responsibility to ensure program compliance remains paramount.