1. Who We Are
FoodDecode is a mobile application that allows users to scan food product barcodes and search for products to view ingredient lists, with explanations of what each ingredient does and whether it may be harmful. The app is developed and maintained independently.
For any privacy-related questions, you can contact us at: fooddecode.app@gmail.com
2. What Data We Collect
FoodDecode is designed with privacy in mind. We collect no personal information from users. Specifically, we do not collect:
- Your name, email address, or any account information
- Your location or GPS data
- Your device identifiers
- Any health or dietary information
- Crash reports or analytics
- Advertising identifiers
3. Data Stored on Your Device
FoodDecode stores the following data locally on your device only:
- Scan history — a list of products you have scanned, including product name, brand, barcode number, date scanned, and ingredient data. This is stored using your device's local storage and never transmitted to any server.
- Manually entered ingredients — if you manually enter ingredient information for a product not found in our database, this is stored locally on your device only.
You can delete this data at any time by tapping Clear on the Home screen, or by uninstalling the app.
4. Voluntary Ingredient Submissions
FoodDecode provides an optional "Report missing or wrong ingredients" feature. If you choose to use this feature, you may voluntarily submit the following through a Google Form:
- The product barcode number
- The product name and brand
- The corrected or missing ingredient list as shown on the product packaging
- The type of issue (missing ingredients, wrong ingredients, or other)
- Any optional notes you choose to provide
This feature is entirely voluntary. No personal information is required or collected as part of this submission. Submissions are stored in a private Google Sheet accessible only to FoodDecode developers and are used solely to improve ingredient data accuracy within the app.
Submissions are processed through Google Forms. Google's privacy policy applies and can be found at policies.google.com/privacy .
We review submissions manually and may use AI tools to verify ingredient accuracy before incorporating corrections. Submitted food product data may be used to build and improve the FoodDecode ingredient database.
5. Third-Party Services
FoodDecode uses external APIs to retrieve food product and ingredient data. When you scan a barcode or search for a product, the barcode number or search term is sent to these services. No personal information is ever sent.
- USDA FoodData Central ( fdc.nal.usda.gov ) — a United States Department of Agriculture food database used as the primary data source. The USDA's privacy policy can be found at usda.gov/privacy-policy .
- Open Food Facts ( world.openfoodfacts.org ) — a free, open, collaborative food product database used as a secondary data source when a product is not found in the USDA database. Open Food Facts' privacy policy can be found at world.openfoodfacts.org/privacy .
We do not use any advertising networks, analytics platforms, or social media SDKs.
6. Camera Permission
FoodDecode requests access to your device's camera solely to scan barcodes on food packaging. Camera data is processed entirely on your device and is never recorded, stored, or transmitted. You can deny camera permission and still use the Search feature manually.
7. Children's Privacy
FoodDecode does not knowingly collect any information from children under the age of 13. The app does not require account creation and collects no personal data from any user, making it suitable for general audiences including families.
8. Data Security
Because FoodDecode does not transmit or store personal data on external servers, there is no risk of a data breach exposing your personal information. All locally stored data remains on your device and is protected by your device's own security measures. Voluntary ingredient submissions contain no personal information and are stored in a private, access-controlled Google Sheet.
9. Your Rights
Since we do not collect or store any personal data on our end, there is no personal data for us to provide, correct, or delete on your behalf. All data stored by the app lives on your device and is fully under your control.
To delete all app data:
- Tap Clear on the Home screen to delete scan history
- Uninstall the app to remove all locally stored data
10. Changes to This Policy
We may update this privacy policy from time to time. Any changes will be reflected on this page with an updated date at the bottom. We encourage you to review this policy periodically. Continued use of the app after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
11. Contact Us
If you have any questions or concerns about this privacy policy or FoodDecode's data practices, please contact us at: fooddecode.app@gmail.com
Last updated: May 2026