Last updated: August 18, 2026
Out of the Cave Foods (“we,” “our,” “us”) makes freshly prepared meals and meal-prep, delivered or available for pickup across select areas of the Bay Area. We also offer a low-sodium line (Rossmoor Meals), custom meal plans, gift cards, and catering.
By creating an account, placing an order, or using our website or services (together, the “Services”), you agree to these Terms of Service. Please read them, especially the parts about order cutoffs, cancellations and refunds, delivery, food safety, and allergens. If you do not agree, please do not use the Services.
1. Ordering and cutoff times
We cook on a weekly cycle so we can buy fresh produce and meats based on what you actually ordered.
- Our standard order-by cutoff is Thursday 10:00 PM Pacific. After the cutoff, your order is locked in and we start buying ingredients and scheduling the kitchen.
- Cutoff times can shift for holidays or special events. We will announce any change on our website or by email or text.
2. Cancellations and refunds
This section is our refund policy.
2.1 Before the cutoff
You can change, cancel, or request a refund on your order any time before the weekly cutoff. Approved refunds go back to your original payment method unless we tell you otherwise.
2.2 After the cutoff
Once the cutoff passes, we have already bought your ingredients and scheduled the labor to cook your food. Because the meals are fresh and perishable, orders cannot be canceled, changed, or refunded after the cutoff. This applies to one-time orders and to any recurring order, unless a specific promotion says otherwise.
2.3 If we get it wrong, we make it right
The line above is about changes of mind, not our mistakes. If we send the wrong order, if your food arrives spoiled or unsafe, or if a delivery we confirmed never actually reached you, tell us within 48 hours and we will make it right with a replacement, a credit, or a refund. Perishable meals are not returnable, so please do not ship food back to us; a photo and a quick message is all we need.
3. Delivery, pickup, and food safety
We make your meals fresh, so how they are handled after they reach you matters a lot.
3.1 Keep it cold, and eat it in time
- When your meals arrive or you pick them up, refrigerate them right away. We pack them in cooler bags with ice, but they are fresh food and need to stay cold.
- For best quality and safety, eat your meals within 4 to 5 days of delivery. Most meals freeze well for about a month. If your order includes fish or eggs, eat those first.
3.2 Delivery notifications and driver actions
We make reasonable efforts to tell you when your order is on its way and when it arrives, but some of this depends on third parties like mobile carriers.
- We may send text messages or notifications when your delivery is en route and when it arrives.
- We cannot guarantee a text reaches you, since that depends on phone carriers and other things outside our control.
- Our drivers will make a reasonable attempt to knock, text, or both, when they deliver.
- If you leave a note at checkout asking us not to knock, that overrides our default.
Once a delivery is dropped off at the address you gave us and confirmed by our driver (for example by route-system confirmation, photo, or timestamp), the order is considered fulfilled. We cannot guarantee the safety or quality of food that is left out unrefrigerated, brought inside late, or otherwise mishandled after delivery.
3.3 Wrong or incomplete addresses
Please keep your delivery address, gate codes, and special instructions accurate and current. We are not responsible for delays or failed deliveries caused by incorrect or incomplete information you gave us.
4. Recurring and standing orders
Some of our meal plans renew automatically each week so your food keeps arriving without you having to re-order every time. If you enroll in a recurring or standing meal plan:
- We tell you the terms up front. Before you enroll, we show you the price, how often you will be charged (weekly), and how to cancel, right where you sign up.
- We charge you automatically on the schedule you agreed to. Your payment method is charged for each weekly order on the recurring schedule. After you enroll, we send you a confirmation of the terms and how to cancel, and we send a reminder before renewals.
- You stay in control. You can skip, change, or cancel any time before that week’s order cutoff (Thursday 10:00 PM Pacific). You can cancel online the same way you signed up. Canceling stops all future weekly renewals. It does not cancel an order already locked in for a week whose cutoff has already passed, because we have already bought the ingredients and scheduled the kitchen for that week (see section 2.2).
5. Allergies and dietary preferences
We work hard to support different ways of eating (paleo, keto, gluten-free, low-sodium, and more). But our kitchen handles common allergens, and we cannot guarantee an allergen-free environment.
By ordering, you accept that there is always some risk of cross-contact, and you agree to read ingredient lists carefully and use your own judgment, especially if you have severe allergies or a medical condition. Allergen information is printed on our labels and shown per product; if anything is unclear, ask us before you order.
6. Our meals are food, not medical advice
Our meals, including the Rossmoor Meals low-sodium line and our custom and athlete plans, are food. They are not medical treatment, medical nutrition therapy, or personalized health advice. Nutrition information and terms like “low-sodium” describe the food; they are not a promise about your individual health.
If you have a medical condition, a prescribed diet, a sodium restriction, food allergies, or you are pregnant, please talk with your own doctor or registered dietitian about whether our meals fit your needs. You order and eat our meals using your own judgment.
7. Gift cards
Our gift cards follow California law:
- They do not expire. A gift card stays valid until it is used up.
- No fees. We do not charge service, dormancy, or inactivity fees on gift cards.
- Cash back on small balances. If your gift card balance drops below $15, you can ask us to redeem the remaining balance in cash.
- Gift cards are not reloadable unless we say so, cannot be resold, and cannot be redeemed for more than their value. Treat them like cash; we are not responsible for lost or stolen cards, though we will help where we reasonably can.
8. Pricing, menu changes, and availability
Prices, fees, menus, and offerings can change at any time without notice. Because we cook with fresh, seasonal ingredients, some items or customizations may be temporarily unavailable. The price that applies to your order is the price shown at checkout when you place it.
9. Communications
There are two kinds of messages from us:
- Service messages (order confirmations, delivery updates, account notices) are part of the Services. We send these by email or text using the contact info you gave us.
- Marketing messages (promotions, new menus) are opt-in. You can opt out any time using the unsubscribe link in our emails, by replying STOP to a marketing text, or by contacting us. Opting out of marketing does not stop the service messages you need to receive your food.
10. Accounts and acceptable use
When you create an account, you agree to:
- Give accurate, current information.
- Keep your login secure and not share your password.
- Use the Services only for lawful purposes and under these Terms.
- Not interfere with, reverse-engineer, or misuse our systems or platform.
We may suspend or close accounts that misuse the Services.
11. Limitation of liability
To the maximum extent permitted by law, Out of the Cave Foods and its owners, employees, and contractors are not liable for:
- Spoilage, quality, or food-safety problems that arise after your order was delivered or picked up;
- Theft, loss, or damage to orders after delivery;
- Missed text notifications caused by phone carriers, spam filters, or technical failures outside our control;
- Delays or failures caused by weather, traffic, accidents, natural disasters, or other events beyond our reasonable control;
- Adverse reactions or health effects from ingredients, allergens, or your own health conditions.
Where we are found liable, our total liability will not exceed the amount you paid for the order in question.
Nothing in these Terms limits any liability that cannot be limited or excluded under California law, including liability for our own gross negligence, willful misconduct, or personal injury we are legally responsible for.
12. Governing law and disputes
These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of California, without regard to conflict-of-laws rules. Any dispute that is not resolved informally will be brought in the state or federal courts located in Alameda County, California, and you and Out of the Cave Foods consent to the jurisdiction of those courts.
Before filing anything, please contact us first at [email protected] so we can try to make it right. Most issues are faster to fix than to litigate.
13. Changes to these Terms
We may update these Terms from time to time. When we do, we will post the new version here with a new “Last updated” date. If a change is material, we will make reasonable efforts to notify you. Continued use of the Services after changes take effect means you accept the updated Terms.
14. Contact us
Questions about these Terms or our Services:
Out of the Cave Foods
Email: [email protected]
This Terms of Service page is provided for general informational purposes and to explain how we operate. It is not formal legal advice. For specific legal questions, please consult an attorney.