Privacy Policy
Last updated: March 16, 2026
This Privacy Policy describes how FoodWatch (“the app”, “we”, “us”) handles your information. FoodWatch is developed and maintained by Pieter Kanters. For privacy-related inquiries, please contact us via the contact form within the app or consult the website at www.foodwatch.app.
1. What FoodWatch Does
FoodWatch is a personal food inventory app that helps you track expiry dates, manage your stock, and maintain a shopping list. All product data you enter is stored locally on your device and is never uploaded to any server by us.
2. Data We Collect and Why
2.1 Data stored locally on your device
The following data is stored exclusively on your device in a local database and is never transmitted to us:
- Product information you enter manually or via barcode scan (name, brand, barcode, expiry date, quantity, category, product image)
- Shopping list items
- App settings (language preference, dark mode, notification settings)
This data never leaves your device unless you explicitly share it (e.g. via the Share function in the shopping list).
2.2 Data you voluntarily provide via the contact form
When you submit a message through the in-app contact form, the following data is collected and transmitted to us:
- Your name
- Your email address
- The message you write
- Date and time of submission
This data is transmitted via EmailJS (emailjs.com), a third-party email delivery service. EmailJS may process this data on their servers in accordance with their own privacy policy: https://www.emailjs.com/legal/privacy-policy/
We use this data solely to respond to your inquiry. We do not use it for marketing purposes.
2.3 Barcode lookups
When you scan a product barcode, the barcode number is sent to the following third-party services to retrieve product information:
- Open Food Facts (world.openfoodfacts.org) — an open-source food database. Privacy policy: https://world.openfoodfacts.org/privacy
- UPCItemDB (upcitemdb.com) — a product database. Privacy policy: https://www.upcitemdb.com/privacy
Only the barcode number is transmitted. No personal data is sent to these services. These lookups are optional — you can also add products manually.
3. Device Permissions
FoodWatch may request the following permissions:
| Permission | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Camera | Scanning product barcodes |
| Photo library / Media access | Adding a photo to a product from your gallery |
| Notifications | Sending local expiry date reminders |
All notifications are scheduled locally on your device. No notification data is sent to external servers.
4. Data Sharing
We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal data to third parties.
Data is only shared with:
- EmailJS — solely when you submit the contact form, as described in section 2.2
- Open Food Facts and UPCItemDB — solely when you perform a barcode scan, as described in section 2.3
5. Data Security
- All product data and settings are stored locally on your device in an SQLite database, protected by your device’s own security measures (screen lock, encryption at OS level).
- Data sent via the contact form is transmitted over an encrypted HTTPS connection.
- We do not operate servers that store your personal food inventory data.
6. Data Retention and Deletion
- Local app data (products, shopping list, settings): stored on your device until you delete the app or manually remove items within the app. Uninstalling the app removes all local data permanently.
- Contact form submissions: email messages we receive are retained for as long as necessary to handle your inquiry, and deleted thereafter. You may request deletion of your message by contacting us at the address below.
7. Children’s Privacy
FoodWatch is not directed at children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children. If you believe a child has submitted personal data via the contact form, please contact us and we will delete it promptly.
8. Your Rights
Depending on your country of residence, you may have the right to:
- Access the personal data we hold about you
- Request correction or deletion of your data
- Object to or restrict processing of your data
- Lodge a complaint with a data protection authority
To exercise these rights, contact us via the contact form in the app or through www.foodwatch.app.
9. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The date at the top of this page reflects the most recent revision. Continued use of the app after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
10. Contact
Developer: Pieter Kanters App: FoodWatch Website: www.foodwatch.app Contact: all information on www.foodwatch.app or contact us within the app under Settings → Contact