1. Introduction

ChefMate ("we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and safeguard information when you use our AI-powered recipe generation service.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information Stored Locally

ChefMate stores the following data locally in your browser using localStorage:

• Your saved/bookmarked recipes
• Your recipe generation history (last 20 recipes)
• Your preferences (dietary restrictions, theme, serving size)
• Ingredients you've searched for

Important: This data is stored only on your device and is never sent to our servers.

2.2 Information We Process

When you generate recipes, we process:

• Ingredients you input
• Dietary restrictions and preferences you select
• Filters you apply (cuisine type, meal type, difficulty, etc.)

This information is sent to OpenAI's API to generate recipes and is not permanently stored by us.

2.3 Automatically Collected Information

We may collect basic usage information through our hosting provider (Vercel), including:

• IP address (for rate limiting and abuse prevention)
• Browser type and version
• Pages visited and time spent
• Referring website

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Generate personalized recipes based on your input
• Improve the quality and relevance of generated recipes
• Prevent abuse and enforce rate limiting
• Analyze usage patterns to improve the Service
• Comply with legal obligations

4. Third-Party Services

4.1 OpenAI

We use OpenAI's API to generate recipes. When you request a recipe, your ingredients, preferences, and filters are sent to OpenAI. Please review OpenAI's Privacy Policy for information about how they handle data.

4.2 Vercel (Hosting)

Our Service is hosted on Vercel, which may collect analytics data. Review Vercel's Privacy Policy for more information.

5. Data Storage and Security

Local Storage: Your saved recipes, history, and preferences are stored in your browser's localStorage. This means:

• Data persists across sessions on the same browser
• Data is specific to your browser and device
• Clearing browser data will delete your saved recipes
• We cannot access or recover your locally stored data

Security: We implement reasonable security measures to protect data in transit using HTTPS encryption.

6. Cookies and Tracking

ChefMate uses minimal cookies and tracking:

• Essential cookies for theme preferences (dark/light mode)
• localStorage for saving recipes and history (not cookies)
• No third-party advertising or tracking cookies

7. Your Rights and Choices

You have the right to:

• Clear your locally stored data at any time through browser settings
• Delete your saved recipes and history through the Preferences page
• Opt-out of analytics by using browser privacy settings or extensions
• Request information about data we may have collected (contact us)

8. Children's Privacy

ChefMate is not directed to children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe we have collected information from a child under 13, please contact us immediately.

9. International Data Transfers

Your information may be processed in the United States or other countries where our service providers operate. By using ChefMate, you consent to such transfers.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes by posting the new policy on this page with an updated "Last Updated" date.

11. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact us at our contact page.