Privacy Policy
1. Who we are
Kitchen Buddy is published by Lucky Tools. This policy explains how the Android application handles information when you use it.
2. What data the app handles
Depending on how you use the app, it may process:
- Kitchen content you enter or scan — product names, quantities, units, locations (cupboard/fridge/freezer), use-by dates, barcodes, notes, prep tags, diet flags, allergens, nutrition estimates, shopping lists, meal plans, and diary entries.
- App settings — sound, vibration, escalation, online lookup preference, minimalist mode, trial/premium flags, optional license keys you enter.
- Usage counters on device — e.g. daily online lookup count, cook session count (for trial UX).
- Camera-derived data — barcode values; text from packaging (use-by OCR) or receipts (receipt OCR), processed on device when you use those features.
- Purchase status — Google Play may confirm subscription or one-time purchase ownership so the app can unlock Calm Deluxe features.
3. Data that stays on your device
By default, pantry, timers, diary, pairings learned on device, waste log, bundles/kits,
and settings are stored in local app storage (SQLite / app files). Android system backups
of this app are disabled where the app configures allowBackup=false.
Features such as export backup (JSON), shopping list Markdown/PDF share, carer plain-text share, and QR pantry transfer only leave the device when you choose to share or show them. We do not operate a Kitchen Buddy server that receives your pantry automatically.
4. Optional network use
If you enable online product lookup, the app may send a barcode number (and standard HTTP request metadata such as IP address seen by the remote host) to third-party public product databases, including mirrors of Open Food Facts and, where used, UPC Item DB (trial endpoint). Those services have their own privacy policies.
Free users may have a daily limit on online lookups. Calm Deluxe / premium (including trial or care key) may remove that limit. Offline lookup against bundled or cached data does not require the network.
We do not sell your kitchen inventory or diary contents. We do not use the optional barcode lookup to build a marketing profile of your pantry.
5. Camera, speech, and notifications
- Camera — Used when you start barcode scan, use-by photo OCR, receipt OCR, or QR import. Kitchen Buddy does not upload camera frames for cloud storage as part of these features; recognition is designed to run on-device (e.g. ML Kit text recognition).
- Speech / TTS — Optional spoken step prompts use the device’s text-to-speech engine.
- Notifications — Optional local notifications (e.g. trial reminder). These are scheduled on device and do not require a Kitchen Buddy push server.
- Vibration — Optional haptics for cook cues.
6. Purchases and Google Play
Optional paid features (“Calm Deluxeâ€) are offered through Google Play Billing. Payment details are processed by Google, not by Kitchen Buddy servers. Google’s policies apply to payments, refunds, and subscription management.
Offline care / charity license keys you type in are stored on device to unlock premium features; they are not sent to a Kitchen Buddy server.
7. Advertising
The free version of Kitchen Buddy may show third-party ads (Google AdMob), including a bottom banner and occasional full-screen (interstitial) ads (about every 90 seconds while you use the app). Ads are not shown during an active cook timer session.
Ad networks may collect device identifiers (e.g. advertising ID), IP address, and interaction data to show and measure ads, subject to Google advertising policies and your device ad settings.
You can remove ads by purchasing Remove ads (one-time) or Calm Deluxe via Google Play, or with a valid care license key.
8. Children
The app is not directed at children under 13 (or the minimum age in your country). Do not provide personal data of children. Kitchen features may be used by carers supporting others; carer-shared meal notes are only sent when a user chooses a share action.
9. Your choices and rights
- Turn off online product lookup in Settings.
- Deny camera or notification permission in Android settings; related features will not work fully.
- Export or delete data using in-app export tools and by clearing app storage / uninstalling.
- Manage or cancel Play subscriptions in Google Play.
- Request deletion: follow the steps on our data deletion page (clear app data / uninstall, then email us if needed).
- Contact us (below) for privacy questions. If you are in the UK/EEA, you may also have rights under UK GDPR / GDPR (access, erasure, etc.) regarding any personal data we process as a controller — noting that most kitchen content never leaves your device.
10. Security
We rely on Android app sandboxing for local data. No method of electronic storage is 100% secure. Protect your device with a screen lock. Keep backups you export in a safe place.
11. Retention
Local data remains until you delete it, clear app data, or uninstall (subject to Android behaviour). Third-party product databases retain query logs according to their own policies if online lookup is used. Purchase records are retained by Google as required for payments.
12. International
If you use online lookup, your request may be processed on servers outside the UK (e.g. Open Food Facts infrastructure). Device-local data stays on the phone unless you export or share it.
13. Changes
We may update this policy when the app changes. The effective date at the top will be revised. Material changes may also be noted in the app store listing or in-app About section.
14. Contact
Lucky Tools — Kitchen Buddy privacy
Email: autoaccentsni@gmail.com