Institute of Culinary Education Data Breach – Here's What You Should Know

The Institute of Culinary Education, a respected culinary school based in New York City, offers professional training for chefs, bakers, and hospitality professionals. On April 21, 2025, they experienced an external system breach that allowed unauthorized access to sensitive personal information.

The breach was discovered on August 26, 2025, and after investigating the incident, the school began sending written notifications to affected individuals between September 26 and October 6, 2025. In total, 33,342 people were impacted, including 46 Maine residents.

Institute of Culinary Education Data Breach: Potential Information Exposed

The Institute of Culinary Education confirmed that the breach involved names and personal identifiers linked with sensitive information. Although the specific data types were not publicly disclosed, breaches of this nature can put individuals at risk of:

1. Identity theft, including the creation of fraudulent accounts in your name

2. Financial fraud such as unauthorized transactions or loans

3. Phishing and social engineering scams, where criminals pose as trusted organizations to obtain more data

What the Institute of Culinary Education Is Doing to Help

To assist those impacted, the entity is offering 12 months of free credit monitoring and identity theft protection through Epiq. These services are designed to help individuals identify early signs of fraud and get professional help if their data is misused.

The protection package includes:

1. Continuous credit monitoring and alerts for unusual activity

2. Access to identity theft specialists for recovery and support

3. Resources to help detect and respond to potential misuse of personal data

What You Can Do to Protect Yourself

If your information was affected by the ICE data breach, here are important steps you can take:

1. Activate your free Epiq credit monitoring services right away.

2. Check your financial accounts regularly for unfamiliar transactions.

3. Review your credit reports for any unauthorized accounts or inquiries.

4. Be cautious of phishing emails or texts that may try to exploit your exposed data.

5. Report suspicious activity immediately to your bank, credit card company, or the credit bureaus.

Were You Affected? Contact a Data Breach Law Firm To Learn More

At Almeida Law Group, our data security attorneys understand how stressful it can be to learn that your personal data has been exposed. We have helped many individuals harmed by data breaches, and can help you pursue justice for the financial and emotional harm caused by corporate negligence.

Contact us today to learn more.