Nutritionist’s Product Review and Disclosure Policy

Product Reviews (Swag Policy)

As a food and nutrition expert, from time to time I will mention food products that I’ve tried and think my readers will like. Some items I buy or try while out and about, while others may be free samples. If you want me to try your product, please send me an email with some general information and a few highlights including the ingredient list and nutrition facts and I’ll let you know if I’d like to try a sample. Sending samples does not guarantee a mention or review. I rarely write posts centered around one product, unless unless you’d like to pay for this, which is known as a sponsored post. On occasion I review books that I really connect with.

From time to time I run subscriber-only giveaways that are announced on my Facebook page. If you are interested in providing product for this, please get in touch with me at michelle (at) dudashnutrition (dot) com. Shipping fulfillment rests within your hands.

Transparency/Disclosure Policy

I disclose my relationships with brands, commodities or any other organizations whenever possible. I strive for each and every time. If I send a Tweet on a whim and I forget to disclose, I will follow up with disclosure in a follow-up Tweet as soon as possible.

If I choose to include a product I accepted for free, I will disclose it in the communication.

If I mention a client in a communication, I will disclose it by including “#cl”, “(cl)” or “client”, unless it is otherwise implied. (For example, if I appear in a commercial, it is already implied that I am being paid, so I won’t mention that again.)

If I am being paid by an organization to write a blog post on my site, tweet, Facebook post or pin, I will disclose that by including “ad”, “sponsored”, “#sp”, “#ad”, or otherwise disclose that I was paid. Revenue generated from this helps defray my costs of maintaining and enhancing this website, as well as pay for my support team that helps me upload these posts.

If I attend a media event or accept a press trip paid for by the host, I will disclose that.

If I receive a freebie at a restaurant (though, very rarely do), I will disclose that.

These are the organizations that I currently work with on an ongoing basis as a spokesperson, as of March 2013:

California Avocado Commission

California Raisins

Gerber

KIND Healthy Snacks

National Got Milk? campaign

USA Onions

Walmart

Wonderful Pistachios

Amazon.com: Recently (10/12) I joined the Amazon Affiliate Program, meaning that I will make a small commission off of your purchases if you click directly from my links to Amazon.com and purchase that product.

What a Nutritionist Wants

Hopefully, you’ve first become familiar with me and my mission before you consider sending me a sample.

Here is a cheat sheet:

• If it’s food, it must be healthy! I come across enough less-than-healthy food in this world, so I’m good on ideas in that department, thank you.
• Even though I am constantly fighting my diet cola demons, I’m not interested in trying any new artificially sweetened foods.
• Artificial food coloring – ick. Ditto on partially hydrogenated oils and artificial flavors.
• Snack bars that have no resemblance to nature – pass.
• If you send me a product that I don’t like, I may share that with my readers, too. Unicorns and glitter all the time can get a little boring, right? Right.
• I’m more likely to choose to review a product from within the United States, versus something from a far-away country, unless it’s really, really cool.
• Plain bottled water – please don’t bother.
• If the product is full of chemical-sounding ingredients that I can’t pronounce or don’t know what they are, I’m probably not interested.
• I don’t promote brand contests unless it is for a client or a sponsored post. Please contact me if you’re interested in becoming a client.

When sending me product:

Usually, just a single package will do, or one of each flavor. This is enough for me to try, as well as test out on the three “guinea pigs” in my inner circle, my husband, daughter, and assistant. They are the ones who eat my food regularly. Plus, my pantry warrants a hard-hat as it is. Please don’t send multiple 40-pound cases of product unless you warn me first and I accept (I probably won’t). If it’s a non-edible item that’s reusable like a book or pan, one of three things will happen to it: 1) I can send it back to you if you wish, just include pre-paid return postage, 2) I love it so much it will be thrown in a cabinet with the rest of my favorite stuff, 3) I already have enough of its kind, so I will offer it as a giveaway to my readers or donate it to a food- or family-based charity.

When sending me samples, please use the minimal amount of packaging necessary, and send it “ground” versus “air” to minimize the carbon footprint. Unless it’s perishable, then package appropriately.

When following up, one or two emails, perhaps a phone call, will suffice. If you don’t hear back from me, it probably means I’m not interested. Or it could mean that I can’t use it at this time, but may decide to use it at a later date in a tweet, Facebook post, recipe or a TV segment.

My address for non-perishable items

Good luck!

Disclosure: The Kind Healthy Snacks featured in this photo, were – you guessed it – a free sample that I accepted and loved. They eventually became a client!