Terms of service

Welcome to Palo.

Palo is a free community platform operated by Dharma Corporation Pty Ltd ("Palo", "we", "us" or "our").

Palo helps neighbours in Queensland share household food.

By creating an account or using Palo, you agree to these Terms.

1. What Palo Does#

1.1. Palo connects people who have surplus household food ("Givers") with people who would like to collect it ("Collectors").

1.2. Palo provides the platform that connects Givers and Collectors. Palo does not provide the food.

1.3. We don't prepare, manufacture, supply, inspect, test, certify, store, handle, transport or deliver food shared through Palo.

1.4. Palo does not take possession or ownership of food.

1.5. Food is shared directly between the Giver and Collector.

2. Who Can Use Palo#

2.1. You must be 18 years or older to use Palo.

2.2. To help keep the Palo community safe, we may require you to verify your identity through a third-party verification provider, including Stripe.

2.3. You must provide accurate information when completing any identity verification. Palo may restrict access to some features if required verification is not completed or cannot be successfully verified.

2.4. Identity verification does not mean that Palo guarantees a user’s identity, conduct, trustworthiness or safety.

2.5. Palo is currently available for household food sharing in Queensland.

2.6. Restaurants, cafes, supermarkets, caterers and other commercial food businesses are not currently permitted to list food on Palo.

2.7. Food must be shared genuinely for free. Palo must not be used to sell or barter food.

3. If You're Giving Food#

3.1. You are responsible for the food you share.

3.2. Each time you list food, you must honestly provide the information requested by Palo.

3.3. By posting food, you confirm that:

• (a) you reasonably believe the food is safe to eat when made available for collection;
• (b) it has been stored and handled appropriately;
• (c) it has not passed its use by date.
• (d) you have disclosed any known allergens and relevant ingredient information;
• (e) you have disclosed any use-by or best-before information available to you;
• (f) you have disclosed any refrigeration, storage, reheating, cooking or other special handling requirements; and
• (g) where relevant, you have told the Collector how long the food can safely be kept. 3.4. If you become aware that food you've listed may no longer be safe, remove the listing and, if someone has already claimed it, tell them not to collect or consume it.

3.5. You must not knowingly provide false, incomplete or misleading information about food.

4. If You're Collecting Food#

4.1. Food available on Palo is provided by another user, not by Palo.

4.2. Palo does not inspect, test or verify the food or guarantee that it is safe or suitable for you.

4.3. Before consuming food, you are responsible for deciding whether it is suitable for you.

4.4. Check the food when you collect it. Read the information provided by the Giver and ask questions if you're unsure about its ingredients, allergens, preparation, condition, storage or handling.

4.5. Follow any refrigeration, storage, cooking or reheating instructions.

4.6. If you have an allergy, intolerance or particular dietary requirement, don't rely solely on information displayed in a listing. Confirm the relevant information with the Giver and make your own decision about whether the food is suitable for you.

4.7. If you're unsure about food, don't eat it.

5. What Can't Be Shared#

5.1. You must not list:

• (a) food that you know or reasonably suspect is unsafe, spoiled or contaminated;
• (b) food past its use-by date;
• (c) recalled food;
• (d) perishable food that has not been appropriately stored;
• (e) opened baby food or infant formula;
• (f) alcohol;
• (g) medicines;
• (h) tobacco, nicotine or vaping products;
• (i) illegal or controlled substances;
• (j) anything being sold or exchanged for payment or other value;
• (k) food being provided as part of a commercial business; or
• (l) anything else that is unlawful or that Palo reasonably considers unsafe or inappropriate for the platform. 5.2. Palo may remove a listing where we reasonably believe it breaches these Terms or creates a safety or legal risk.

6. Food Information Comes From Users#

6.1. Food descriptions, photographs, ingredients, allergen information, dietary descriptions, dates and storage information are provided by Givers.

6.2. Unless Palo expressly says otherwise, Palo has not independently verified that information.

6.3. A listing appearing on Palo does not mean Palo has approved, certified or guaranteed the food.

6.4. Descriptions such as "vegetarian", "vegan", "gluten free", "nut free" or "halal" are information provided by the Giver and are not a certification by Palo.

7. Meeting Other Users#

7.1. Palo connects people who may not know each other.

7.2. Use reasonable care when arranging a collection.

7.3. You don't have to provide another user with your home address. Choose a collection arrangement you're comfortable with.

7.4. You can cancel a collection if you feel uncomfortable or if something doesn't seem right.

7.5. Palo does not guarantee the identity, conduct or reliability of another user.

8. User-to-User Arrangements#

8.1. The giving and collection of food takes place directly between the Giver and Collector.

8.2. Palo is not the Giver, Collector, seller, purchaser, agent or delivery provider in that exchange.

8.3. Palo may help users communicate or investigate a complaint, but we are not required to resolve disputes between users.

9. Palo's Liability#

9.1. Palo provides the technology that enables users to find and communicate with each other.

9.2. To the maximum extent permitted by law, Palo and Dharma Corporation Pty Ltd are not responsible for illness, injury, loss or damage arising from:

• (a) food provided by another user;
• (b) the preparation, condition, storage or handling of that food;
• (c) inaccurate, incomplete or misleading information provided by another user;
• (d) a user's failure to disclose an ingredient, allergen or food safety issue;
• (e) the acts or omissions of another user; or
• (f) a meeting or interaction between users. 9.3. You acknowledge that Palo does not inspect food and that accepting food directly from another household involves risks that Palo cannot eliminate.

9.4. Nothing in these Terms excludes, restricts or modifies any right, guarantee, remedy or liability that cannot lawfully be excluded, restricted or modified, including under the Australian Consumer Law.

10. Your Responsibility to Palo#

10.1. If your food, information, unlawful conduct or breach of these Terms causes a third party to make a claim against Palo or Dharma Corporation Pty Ltd, you indemnify us for the resulting loss and reasonable costs to the extent permitted by law.

10.2. This does not apply to the extent the loss was caused or contributed to by Palo's own negligence, unlawful conduct or breach of these Terms.

11. Keeping Palo Safe#

11.1. You can report unsafe food, inappropriate behaviour or suspicious listings through Palo.

11.2. We may remove listings, preserve relevant information, restrict features, suspend accounts or permanently remove users where we reasonably believe this is necessary to:

• (a) enforce these Terms;
• (b) investigate a complaint or safety incident;
• (c) protect users or the community;
• (d) prevent fraud or unlawful activity; or
• (e) comply with law.

12. Your Account#

12.1. You are responsible for keeping your account secure and for information submitted through your account.

12.2. You must provide accurate information and must not impersonate another person.

12.3. We may suspend or close accounts that breach these Terms.

12.4. You may close your account through Palo or by contacting us.

13. Privacy#

13.1. We handle personal information in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

13.2. Our Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it and how you can contact us about privacy.

14. Changes to Palo and These Terms#

14.1. Palo is a developing service and may change over time.

14.2. We may update these Terms where reasonably necessary.

14.3. If we make a material change affecting users' rights or obligations, we will provide reasonable notice where appropriate.

15. Queensland Law#

15.1. These Terms are governed by the laws of Queensland, Australia.

16. Contact Us#

16.1. Questions, complaints and safety concerns can be sent to:

Dharma Corporation Pty Ltd

Email: help@palo.life