Privacy Policy

1. Information We Collect

a. Information You Provide Directly

• Account Information: When you create an account, we collect your email address, name, and password. If you sign in with Apple or Google, we receive your name and email address (or a relay email in the case of Apple) from those services.
• Profile Information: Your display name and any preferences you set during onboarding or in your account settings.
• Recipe Data: Recipes you save, rate, mark as cooked, organize into folders, and notes you add to recipes.
• Grocery Lists: Ingredients and grocery list items you create within the App.
• Kitchen Ingredients: Ingredients you indicate you have on hand during onboarding or later.
• User-Created Recipes: Recipe content, images, and descriptions you create using our recipe builder tools.
• Support Communications: Information you provide when you contact us for support.

b. Information Collected Automatically

• Usage Data: We collect information about how you interact with the App, including search queries, recipes viewed, recipes saved, cooking sessions, and feature usage patterns. This helps us improve the App and personalize your experience.
• Device Information: Device type, operating system, and platform (iOS or Android) for push notification delivery and App compatibility.
• Push Notification Tokens: If you enable push notifications, we collect your device push token to send you notifications.

c. Voice and Audio Data

If you enable the microphone for our voice assistant feature, your voice audio is streamed in real time to our AI processing services (powered by Azure and OpenAI) to understand your requests and provide spoken responses. We do not store your voice recordings. Audio is processed in real time and discarded after the conversation ends. You can use the App without enabling the microphone.

d. Dietary and Preference Information

We collect dietary preferences, cuisine affinities, cooking complexity preferences, household size, and ingredient preferences you provide. This information is used solely to personalize recipe recommendations and search results for you.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Provide, operate, and maintain the App and its features
• Create and manage your account
• Personalize your experience, including recipe recommendations, search results, and daily recipe suggestions
• Power the voice assistant to understand and respond to your cooking-related requests
• Process and fulfill your recipe searches using third-party search services
• Parse recipe content from websites you provide or discover through search
• Send push notifications you have opted into (e.g., daily recipes, chef updates)
• Manage your subscription and provide access to premium features
• Analyze usage patterns to improve App functionality and performance
• Track API usage for internal cost management and service optimization
• Respond to your support requests and communications
• Detect, prevent, and address technical issues

3. Third-Party Services

We use the following categories of third-party services to operate the App. These services process data as described below:

a. Authentication Services

Apple Sign-In and Google Sign-In are used to authenticate your identity. These services share your name and email address (or Apple relay email) with us according to their respective privacy policies.

b. AI and Voice Processing

• Azure AI Services (Microsoft): Processes text-to-speech for onboarding narration and voice assistant responses, and provides real-time voice conversation capabilities.
• OpenAI: Powers recipe parsing, recipe recommendations, ingredient substitution suggestions, and conversational AI features. Text queries and recipe content are sent for processing; no personal account information is shared.
• Groq: Optimizes search queries for better recipe results. Only search query text is sent.

c. Recipe Search and Data

• Exa Search: Searches the web for recipes matching your queries. Search terms are sent; no personal information is included.
• Google Custom Search: Alternative web search for recipes. Search terms are sent; no personal information is included.
• Spoonacular: Provides ingredient-based recipe search and nutrition data.

d. Media and Storage

• Cloudinary: Hosts and delivers recipe images and user-uploaded media (such as custom recipe photos).

e. Notifications

• Expo Push Notification Service: Delivers push notifications to your device. Your push token and notification content are processed by this service.

Each third-party service processes data according to its own privacy policy. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of Apple, Google, Microsoft Azure, OpenAI, and other services listed above.

4. Data Storage and Security

Your account data, saved recipes, preferences, and usage information are stored in a secure PostgreSQL database. We use industry-standard security measures to protect your information, including encrypted connections (HTTPS/TLS) for all data transmission between the App and our servers.

Session-based authentication is used to secure your account. Session tokens are stored locally on your device and validated with our servers.

While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your personal information, no method of transmission over the Internet or method of electronic storage is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

5. Data Retention

• Account Data: Retained as long as your account is active. When you delete your account, your personal data is permanently removed from our systems.
• Voice Audio: Not stored. Processed in real time and discarded immediately after each conversation.
• Search and Usage Data: Retained for service improvement and personalization. Aggregated, anonymized usage data may be retained indefinitely.
• Cached Data: Search caches and recipe caches are automatically expired and removed on a regular basis.
• Push Notification Tokens: Retained as long as your account is active and notifications are enabled.

6. Your Rights and Choices

a. Account and Data

• You can update your name, email, and preferences at any time through the App settings.
• You can delete your account and all associated data directly from the App by going to Settings > Edit Profile > Delete Account. Account deletion is permanent and cannot be undone.
• You can remove saved recipes, folders, grocery lists, and notes at any time.

b. Permissions

• Microphone: The voice assistant requires microphone access. You can deny or revoke this permission at any time through your device settings. The App remains fully functional without microphone access.
• Push Notifications: You can enable or disable notifications through the App settings or your device settings. You can customize which types of notifications you receive.

c. Communication

• You can opt out of push notifications at any time by adjusting your notification preferences in the App or disabling them in your device settings.

7. Children's Privacy

The App is not directed to children under the age of 13 (or the applicable age of consent in your jurisdiction). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us and we will take steps to delete such information.

8. Subscriptions and Purchases

The App offers subscription plans that are processed through the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Payment information is handled entirely by Apple or Google; we do not collect, store, or have access to your payment card details or billing information. Subscription status is synced with your account for feature access.

9. Data Sharing

We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties. We may share information only in the following circumstances:

• With third-party service providers as described in Section 3, solely to operate and improve the App.
• If required by law, regulation, legal process, or governmental request.
• To protect the rights, property, or safety of Salt and Pepper, our users, or others.
• In connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, in which case you will be notified of any change in ownership or use of your personal information.

10. International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your own. Our servers and third-party service providers may be located in the United States or other countries. By using the App, you consent to the transfer of your information to these locations, where data protection laws may differ from those in your jurisdiction.

11. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any material changes by posting the new policy within the App and updating the "Effective Date" at the top. Your continued use of the App after any changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy. We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically.