Terms of Use

Last updated: September 30, 2026

Please read these Terms before using our websites. They explain your responsibilities, how our content may be used, and the limitations that apply to our website services. Nothing in these Terms limits rights that cannot be waived under applicable law.

1. About these Terms

These Terms of Use (“Terms”) govern your use of GermanFoods.org and TheTasteOfGermany.com, including their mobile versions and related subdomains (the “Sites”). The Sites are owned and operated by German Foods North America, LLC (“we,” “us,” or “our”), a limited liability company.

Our business mailing address is 615 Lofstrand Lane, Rockville, MD 20850, United States.

By using the Sites, you agree to these Terms. If you do not agree, please stop using the Sites. If you use the Sites on behalf of a business or other organization, you represent that you are authorized to accept these Terms on its behalf.

To create an account or place an order, you must be legally able to enter into a contract, or act with the permission and supervision of a parent or legal guardian who accepts responsibility.

2. Privacy and purchase policies

Our Privacy Policies explain how we collect, use, and protect personal information:

Purchases are also subject to the order, shipping, return, and other purchase policies presented or linked before checkout, including:

If a specific purchase policy conflicts with these Terms, the purchase policy governs that purchase, subject to applicable law. The policies in effect when you place your order apply to that order. A separate written agreement governs any wholesale, advisory, or other service it specifically covers.

Using the Sites does not replace any consent required by law for marketing, cookies, or the processing of personal information.

3. Changes to these Terms

We may update these Terms as our services or legal requirements change. We will post the revised version here and update the date above. Changes apply prospectively from the stated effective date. For material changes, we will provide additional notice when required by law.

Please review these Terms periodically. Your continued use after an update takes effect indicates acceptance of the revised Terms, to the extent permitted by law. Updates do not retroactively change completed purchases or rights that have already accrued.

4. Accounts and security

If you create an account, provide accurate information and keep it current. Protect your password and do not allow unauthorized access. You are responsible for activities you authorize through your account.

Contact us promptly if you suspect unauthorized account use or a security problem. We may suspend or close an account when reasonably necessary to investigate suspected fraud, protect the Sites or other users, or address a material violation of these Terms. Account closure does not cancel obligations relating to an existing order or remove rights provided by law.

Newsletter subscriptions do not, by themselves, create a shopping account. You may unsubscribe from marketing emails using the link in those emails.

5. Orders and product information

We aim to keep product descriptions, prices, availability, and photographs accurate, but errors may occur. Product packaging, appearance, and formulations may change. Read the label on the product you receive, especially for ingredients, allergens, storage, and preparation instructions. Contact us if you notice a discrepancy or need information before ordering.

We may correct website errors and, where permitted by law, decline or cancel an order because of an obvious pricing error, unavailable stock, suspected fraud, or a legal restriction. If we cancel an order after payment, we will refund the amount paid for the canceled items and any associated charges that should be refunded. We will not increase the price of an existing order without your agreement.

Delivery estimates, handling of perishables, returns, and refunds are addressed in our purchase policies. Those policies and these Terms do not exclude remedies that applicable law requires.

6. Permitted use of our content

You may browse the Sites, shop, and use our recipes and articles for personal, noncommercial purposes. You may print or save reasonable portions for your own use, including preparing recipes. Keep any copyright or attribution notices with your copies.

Our text, photographs, illustrations, videos, logos, and other content are owned by us or used with permission from their owners. The Taste of Germany® and GermanFoods.org® are our trademarks. Other names and marks belong to their respective owners.

Unless we give written permission or applicable law allows it, you may not republish our articles or photographs, reproduce substantial portions of the Sites, sell our content, or use our branding in a way that suggests our sponsorship or approval. Rights provided by law, including fair use, remain unaffected.

Please contact us for permission to use our content commercially or in a publication.

7. Acceptable use

You may not use the Sites to:

Commit fraud, impersonate another person, or provide materially misleading information.
Harass or threaten others, or post unlawful, defamatory, or infringing material.
Send spam or collect other users’ contact details without authorization.
Access another person’s account or attempt to bypass security controls.
Introduce malware or interfere with the operation or security of the Sites.
Collect private information about others without permission.
Scrape, copy, or extract substantial amounts of content or product data through automated tools without our permission, except as permitted by law.
Otherwise violate applicable law or another person’s rights.

These restrictions do not prohibit ordinary search-engine indexing in accordance with our published technical instructions, or assistive technologies used to access the Sites.

We may investigate suspected misuse, remove prohibited content, restrict access, and cooperate with lawful requests from authorities.

8. Links to our Sites

You may link to our homepages, recipes, articles, or product pages if the link accurately identifies its destination and does not falsely imply our endorsement or affiliation. Our written permission is required to use our logos or frame our content within another website, unless applicable law permits that use.

We may ask you to remove a link or presentation that infringes our rights or misleadingly represents a relationship with us.

9. Reviews, submissions, and feedback

If you submit a review, photograph, comment, or other content for publication, you retain ownership of it. You grant us a nonexclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to host, reproduce, display, and format that content as reasonably necessary to publish it on the Sites and operate the related service. This license does not transfer ownership to us.

You must have the rights and permissions needed to submit the content. It must reflect your genuine experience where applicable and must not violate another person’s privacy, intellectual property, or other rights.

We may remove submissions that violate these Terms, contain spam, or are unrelated to the relevant page. We do not prohibit honest reviews or require them to be positive. Keep your own copies of anything you submit.

We may use voluntary suggestions to improve our services without payment or an obligation to adopt them. Please do not send confidential business proposals unless we have agreed to confidentiality. Personal information, customer-service correspondence, and order details are handled under our Privacy Policies; they do not become our property merely because you send them to us.

10. Copyright complaints and counter-notices

We respect intellectual property rights. If you believe material on the Sites infringes your copyright, send a written notice to:

German Foods North America, LLC
Attn: Arnim von Friedeburg, Copyright Contact
615 Lofstrand Lane
Rockville, MD 20850
United States
Email: contact@thetasteofgermany.com
Telephone: 1-800-881-6419

Please use the subject line “DMCA Notice.” Your notice should include:

Your physical or electronic signature, or that of someone authorized to act for the copyright owner.
Identification of the copyrighted work, or a representative list if multiple works are involved.
Identification of the allegedly infringing material and information sufficient to locate it, preferably its exact URL.
Your mailing address, telephone number, and email address, if available.
A statement that you believe in good faith that the disputed use is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law.
A statement that the information is accurate and, under penalty of perjury, that you are authorized to act for the owner of the exclusive right allegedly infringed.

We will review notices and respond in accordance with applicable law, including removing or disabling access to material when appropriate. If we remove a user’s content following a copyright notice, we will take reasonable steps to notify that user.

If your content was removed because of a mistake or misidentification, you may send a written counter-notice to the same contact. Include:

Your physical or electronic signature.
Identification of the removed material and where it appeared before removal.
A statement under penalty of perjury that you believe in good faith the removal resulted from a mistake or misidentification.
Your name, address, and telephone number; a statement consenting to the jurisdiction of the federal district court for your address, or, if outside the United States, any judicial district where we may be found; and a statement accepting service of process from the person who sent the original notice or that person’s agent.

When the DMCA counter-notice procedure applies, we will promptly forward a valid counter-notice to the original complainant and inform that person that we will restore the material in 10 business days. We will restore it between 10 and 14 business days after receiving the counter-notice unless our copyright contact first receives notice that the complainant has filed a court action seeking to restrain the allegedly infringing activity.

We may terminate accounts of repeat infringers in appropriate circumstances. Knowingly making material misrepresentations in a copyright notice or counter-notice may result in liability under applicable law.

11. Accessibility assistance

We are committed to making our Sites accessible. If you encounter a barrier when browsing, reading content, or shopping, please call 1-800-881-6419 or email contact@thetasteofgermany.com.

If possible, tell us which page or feature caused difficulty and what assistance you need. We will work with you to provide access to the information or help you complete your order.

12. Third-party websites and business listings

The Sites may link to third-party websites or list manufacturers, retailers, restaurants, and other businesses. These resources are provided for convenience. A listing or link does not, by itself, create a partnership, agency relationship, or endorsement.

Third parties are responsible for their own websites, products, services, and policies. We do not guarantee that their information is current or accurate. Review their terms and privacy policies before using their services. Contact us if you find an inaccurate listing.

13. Informational content and website availability

Our articles, recipes, and general food information are provided for educational and informational purposes. They are not individualized medical, nutritional, legal, or regulatory advice. Consult a qualified professional when you need advice for your circumstances.

We aim to maintain useful, accurate content, but do not guarantee that every page is complete or current. Subject to applicable law, the Sites and their informational content are provided “as is” and “as available,” without warranties of accuracy, uninterrupted availability, or fitness for a particular purpose.

We may update, suspend, or discontinue website features. We do not guarantee that the Sites will always be available or free from errors or security threats. Nothing in this section excludes warranties or obligations that apply to products we sell or that cannot legally be excluded.

14. Limits on liability

To the extent permitted by law, we and our officers, employees, and service providers are not liable for indirect, incidental, special, or consequential losses arising from use of the Sites, such as lost profits or business interruption.

For claims arising solely from access to or use of the Sites and their informational content, our total liability is limited to the greater of $100 or the amount you paid us specifically for website access during the 12 months before the event giving rise to the claim.

These limitations do not apply to claims concerning products you purchase, fraud, willful misconduct, gross negligence, or any liability or consumer remedy that cannot be excluded or limited by law. Product-related claims are governed by applicable law and any valid purchase terms. Some jurisdictions restrict exclusions or limits on liability; in those jurisdictions, these provisions apply only to the extent allowed.

We are not responsible for website interruptions caused by events beyond our reasonable control. This does not remove any legally required obligations concerning paid orders, refunds, or customer information.

15. Responsibility for unlawful use

To the extent permitted by law, you agree to reimburse us for reasonable losses and expenses, including reasonable legal fees, resulting from a third-party claim caused by your unlawful use of the Sites, your material breach of these Terms, or content you submit that infringes another person’s rights.

This obligation applies only to the extent the claim results from your conduct. It does not require you to cover losses caused by our negligence, misconduct, or breach of law. We will notify you of a claim for which we seek reimbursement and give you a reasonable opportunity to participate in its defense. You may not settle such a claim in a way that imposes obligations on us without our written consent.

16. International use and minors

We operate from the United States. Access to the Sites does not mean that every product or service is available in your country. Orders are limited to destinations and products we can lawfully serve.

If you access the Sites from another country, comply with applicable local requirements. Transactions remain subject to applicable export controls and sanctions. Nothing in these Terms removes mandatory consumer protections that apply to you.

Parents and guardians may use commercially available device controls, browser settings, or filtering services to help manage minors’ internet access.

17. Governing law and disputes

These Terms are governed by Maryland law, without regard to its conflict-of-law rules, except where applicable law requires otherwise.

Unless a mandatory law permits or requires another forum, disputes arising under these Terms will be brought in a state court in Montgomery County, Maryland, or a federal court in the District of Maryland with jurisdiction over the dispute. Nothing in this section restricts nonwaivable consumer rights or access to a court available under mandatory law.

If you have a concern, please contact us so we can try to resolve it. Contacting us first is encouraged, but is not a condition for exercising your legal rights or meeting a filing deadline.

18. Other terms

If a provision is unenforceable, the remaining provisions continue to apply. Our decision not to enforce a provision on one occasion does not waive our right to enforce it later.

These Terms and the applicable policies or separate agreements described above form the agreement for their respective subject matter. They do not create a partnership, employment, or agency relationship between you and us.

We may transfer our rights and obligations as part of a lawful business sale or reorganization, provided that the transfer does not reduce protections required by law. You may not transfer your account or contractual obligations without our written permission, except as allowed by law.

We may send account, order, and service communications electronically using the contact details you provide. Marketing communications remain subject to applicable consent and unsubscribe requirements. Electronic agreements and records have legal effect where applicable law recognizes them; you may save or print these Terms for your records.

19. California consumer notice

California residents may contact the California Department of Consumer Affairs, Consumer Information Center, at 1625 North Market Blvd., Suite N 112, Sacramento, CA 95834, or 1-800-952-5210, for consumer assistance.

The provider of these Sites is German Foods North America, LLC, at the address below. There is no charge to browse the Sites; product prices and any applicable order charges are shown separately.

20. Contact us

For questions about these Terms, customer-service requests, accessibility assistance, or notices, contact:

German Foods North America, LLC
615 Lofstrand Lane
Rockville, MD 20850
United States
Email: contact@thetasteofgermany.com
Telephone: 1-800-881-6419

Please mark mailed legal notices “Attn: Legal.” Copyright notices should follow Section 10. These contact methods do not replace any legally required method for serving court papers.

You may also use the The Taste of Germany contact form or the GermanFoods.org contact form.