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Community guidelines

Last updated 24 August 2026

Palo is about something simple: neighbours helping neighbours, and good food not going to waste.

To keep Palo safe, useful and friendly, everyone needs to follow a few basic rules.

Be a good neighbour

Treat other users with respect.

Don't harass, threaten, discriminate against, intimidate or abuse anyone.

Keep messages relevant to giving and collecting food.

If someone changes their mind about a collection, respect their decision.

Share honestly

Describe your food accurately and use genuine photographs.

Be honest about:

  • what the food is;
  • its condition;
  • when it was prepared, where relevant;
  • known ingredients and allergens;
  • use-by or best-before information; and
  • any refrigeration, storage, cooking or reheating requirements.

If something changes after you list food, update or remove the listing.

Only share food you reasonably believe is safe

Don't share food that:

  • has passed its use-by date;
  • you know or suspect is spoiled, contaminated or unsafe;
  • has been recalled;
  • hasn't been stored appropriately; or
  • you otherwise reasonably believe may be unsafe to eat.

When in doubt, don't share it.

Household sharing only

Palo is currently for people sharing surplus household food for free.

Restaurants, cafes, supermarkets and other commercial food businesses aren't currently permitted to list food.

You can't sell food, request payment or barter through Palo.

Some things don't belong on Palo

Don't list:

  • alcohol;
  • medicines;
  • illegal or controlled substances;
  • tobacco, nicotine or vaping products;
  • opened baby food or infant formula;
  • recalled or unsafe food;
  • anything for sale; or
  • anything unlawful or prohibited by Palo.

Collect carefully

Read the listing before agreeing to collect food.

Ask questions if you're unsure about ingredients, allergens, storage, preparation or anything else that matters to you.

Check the food when you collect it.

If something doesn't seem right, don't take it and don't eat it.

There's no obligation to accept food simply because you've arranged to collect it.

Keep pickups safe

Choose a pickup arrangement you're comfortable with.

You don't have to give another user your home address.

Where appropriate, consider meeting somewhere public and in daylight.

Don't pressure another user to disclose personal information or meet somewhere they aren't comfortable with.

Don't misuse Palo

Don't use Palo for:

  • selling or advertising products;
  • promoting a business;
  • scams or fraud;
  • spam;
  • collecting information about other users for unrelated purposes;
  • threatening or inappropriate behaviour; or
  • unlawful activity.

Report problems

If food, a listing or another user's behaviour seems unsafe, dishonest or inappropriate, report it to Palo.

Reports help us protect the community.

If the rules aren't followed

Palo may remove listings, restrict features, suspend accounts or permanently remove users where we reasonably believe these Guidelines or our Terms of Service have been breached, or someone presents a safety or legal risk.

Serious safety issues may result in immediate suspension.

Share honestly. Collect carefully. Be a good neighbour.