FoodPulse — Privacy Policy

1.Scope of this Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy applies to all FoodPulse services unless a separate privacy notice specifically applies. It governs information collected from:

• Visitors
• Registered users
• Businesses
• Marketplace participants
• Farmers
• Restaurants
• Grocery stores
• Food manufacturers
• Researchers
• Advertisers
• Developers
• API users

2.Information We Collect

FoodPulse collects information necessary to provide, improve, secure, and personalize our services. Depending on how you use the Platform, we may collect:

3.Information You Provide

You may provide information when you:

• Create an account
• Complete your profile
• Purchase products
• Sell products
• Submit recipes
• Upload photographs
• Upload videos
• Contact support
• Subscribe to newsletters
• Join promotions
• Participate in surveys
• Submit feedback
• Verify your business
• Apply for partnerships

4.Information Collected Automatically

FoodPulse automatically collects technical information to improve performance and security. Examples include:

• Device identifiers
• Browser type
• Screen resolution
• Referring pages
• Session duration
• Pages visited
• Search queries
• Clickstream data
• Crash reports
• Performance logs
• Error reports

5.Location Information

With your permission or as necessary to provide services, FoodPulse may collect:

• GPS coordinates
• Approximate location
• Country
• State
• City
• Time zone

Location information may be used to:

• Display nearby food deals
• Recommend local businesses
• Show nearby food banks
• Improve search
• Display weather information
• Support local marketplace services

Users may control location permissions through their device settings.

6.Marketplace Information

Marketplace activities may generate records including:

• Orders
• Reservations
• Donations
• Product listings
• Inventory updates
• Payments
• Delivery tracking
• Pickup confirmations
• Refund requests
• Marketplace messages

7.Business Information

Verified businesses may submit:

• Business licenses
• Food safety permits
• Organic certifications
• Tax registrations
• Sustainability certifications
• Identity verification documents

Verification documents are used solely for verification, compliance, fraud prevention, and legal obligations.

8.AI Interactions

When you interact with FoodPulse AI, we may collect:

• Prompts
• Questions
• Responses
• Uploaded images
• Food identification requests
• Recipe requests
• Search requests

This information may be used to:

• Improve AI performance
• Detect misuse
• Improve accuracy
• Personalize experiences
• Enhance safety

Where required by law, AI training will occur only on data for which we have an appropriate legal basis.

9.Photos, Videos & Media

Users may upload:

• Food photographs
• Recipes
• Cooking videos
• Farm images
• Product images
• Educational materials

Depending on your settings, uploaded content may be publicly visible. Please avoid uploading personal or sensitive information that you do not wish to make public.

10.Cookies & Similar Technologies

FoodPulse uses:

• Essential cookies
• Functional cookies
• Performance cookies
• Analytics cookies
• Security cookies
• Advertising cookies (where permitted)
• Preference cookies

Cookies help us:

• Remember login sessions
• Improve performance
• Personalize content
• Prevent fraud
• Measure traffic
• Support advertising

Users can manage cookie preferences through browser settings or our Cookie Preferences Center, where available.

11.How We Use Your Information

We use information to:

• Operate FoodPulse
• Process marketplace transactions
• Verify businesses
• Improve AI
• Recommend food
• Recommend recipes
• Personalize searches
• Improve security
• Detect fraud
• Provide customer support
• Process subscriptions
• Send notifications
• Conduct analytics
• Improve accessibility
• Develop new features
• Support research using aggregated or anonymized information

12.Legal Bases for Processing (GDPR)

Where the GDPR or similar laws apply, we process personal data based on one or more of the following legal bases:

• Your consent
• Performance of a contract
• Compliance with legal obligations
• Protection of vital interests
• Performance of a task carried out in the public interest (where applicable)
• Our legitimate interests, provided those interests are not overridden by your rights and freedoms

Where processing is based on consent, you may withdraw that consent at any time, subject to applicable law.

13.Sharing Your Information

FoodPulse may share information with:

• Payment processors
• Delivery providers
• Cloud hosting providers
• Identity verification providers
• Analytics providers
• Customer support providers
• Government agencies where legally required
• Professional advisers
• Business partners, where necessary to provide requested services

We do not sell your personal information to third parties for monetary consideration. Where we participate in interest-based advertising or similar activities, we will provide any notices and choices required by applicable law.

14.Public Content

Certain information you choose to submit may be visible to other users, including:

• Display name
• Profile photo
• Reviews
• Recipes
• Comments
• Business profiles
• Marketplace listings
• Public forum posts

Please consider carefully what you choose to make public.

15.International Data Transfers

FoodPulse operates globally. Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your own. Where required by law, we implement appropriate safeguards for international transfers, such as:

• Standard Contractual Clauses
• Adequacy decisions
• Other legally recognized transfer mechanisms

16.Data Retention

We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary to:

• Provide services
• Meet legal obligations
• Resolve disputes
• Enforce agreements
• Detect fraud
• Maintain security
• Support legitimate business purposes

Retention periods vary depending on the type of information and applicable legal requirements.

17.Your Privacy Rights

Depending on your location, you may have rights to:

• Access your personal information
• Correct inaccurate information
• Delete eligible information
• Restrict certain processing
• Object to certain processing
• Receive a portable copy of your data
• Withdraw consent where applicable
• Appeal certain privacy decisions
• Lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority

We will respond to verified requests in accordance with applicable law.

18.California Privacy Rights

If you are a California resident, you may have rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), including rights to know, access, correct, delete, and limit certain uses of sensitive personal information, subject to applicable exceptions. FoodPulse will honor verified requests as required by California law.

19.European Privacy Rights

If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA), the United Kingdom, or Switzerland, you may have additional rights under applicable data protection laws, including GDPR or UK GDPR. Where required, FoodPulse will identify the relevant data controller, provide lawful processing information, and facilitate the exercise of your rights.

20.Children's Privacy

FoodPulse is not directed to children under the minimum age required by applicable law to create an account without parental or guardian consent. If we learn that we have collected personal information from a child in violation of applicable law, we will take reasonable steps to delete that information or otherwise address it as required.

21.Data Security

We implement reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational safeguards designed to protect personal information. These measures may include:

• Encryption in transit
• Encryption at rest (where appropriate)
• Access controls
• Multi-factor authentication for administrative systems
• Security monitoring
• Logging and auditing
• Employee training
• Vendor risk assessments

No security system is perfect, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

22.Marketing Communications

Where permitted by law, we may send newsletters, product updates, educational content, and promotional communications. You may unsubscribe from marketing messages at any time using the unsubscribe link or your account preferences. Transactional and service-related communications may still be sent where necessary.

23.FoodPulse AI

FoodPulse may use artificial intelligence to:

• Improve search
• Recommend products
• Generate recipe suggestions
• Summarize educational information
• Translate content
• Assist with food identification
• Personalize user experiences

AI outputs may be inaccurate or incomplete. Users should independently verify important information, especially regarding health, nutrition, allergens, and food safety.

24.Third-Party Services

FoodPulse may integrate with third-party providers for services such as payments, maps, analytics, messaging, cloud hosting, and delivery. Those providers operate under their own privacy policies, and FoodPulse is not responsible for their independent privacy practices.

25.Changes to this Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our services, legal requirements, or business practices. When required by applicable law, we will provide notice of material changes through appropriate channels, such as email, website notices, or your account dashboard. The "Last Updated" date at the beginning of this Policy indicates when the most recent revision became effective.

26.Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise your privacy rights, you may contact FoodPulse through the contact methods published on the Platform. Depending on the nature of your request, dedicated contact channels may be available for:

• Privacy Requests
• Data Subject Rights
• Customer Support
• Business Accounts
• Legal Notices
• Security Reports
• Accessibility
• Media Inquiries