Privacy Policy

Bella – Privacy Policy
Effective date: August 27, 2025
Contact: bella.recipeapp@gmail.com
Owner/Operator Location: Texas, USA

This Privacy Policy describes how Bella (“we,” “us,” or “our”) collects, uses, and shares information when you use our iOS app.

1) Information we collect

Account information: email address; sign-in method (email/password).

User content: recipes, ingredients, steps, notes, meal-planner entries, and photos (profile images and recipe images).

AI requests you submit: images and website links you provide for extraction or recipe generation, plus any prompts or context you enter.

Device/usage data: basic diagnostics, crash logs, and interaction data to keep the app reliable and improve features.

We use Google Firebase services (Authentication, Firestore, and Cloud Storage) to operate Bella. These services provide encryption in transit and at rest for stored data.

2) How we use information

• Provide core functionality (account creation, saving/viewing recipes, meal planning).
• Process your specific requests (e.g., extracting a recipe from an image or URL using AI tools and service providers).
• Maintain safety, security, debugging, and support.
• Personalization and advertising (now or in the future): we may use your information to personalize content and show ads, including interest-based ads. If we enable cross-app or cross-site tracking for advertising, we will request and honor applicable device permissions (e.g., iOS prompts).

3) How we share information

We share information with:

• Service providers who help us operate Bella (e.g., Firebase for auth/database/storage; analytics; AI processing vendors; crash reporting).
• Advertising/measurement partners (if and when ads are enabled) to deliver, measure, and improve advertising, subject to your platform permissions and settings.
• Legal and safety recipients when required by law or to protect rights, safety, and the integrity of our services.

We do not disclose user content or personal information except as described above.

4) Your choices & controls

• Logout vs. deletion: you can log out at any time and your data will remain saved for your return. To delete your account and all associated data, use the in-app deletion option at any time.
• Device permissions: you can disable camera/photos permissions in iOS settings; certain features may stop working.
• Email preferences: you can opt out of non-essential emails we send.
• Access, correction, deletion, portability: the in-app deletion handles full removal. For other requests (export, correction), contact us at the support email.

5) Communications (Emails & Push Notifications)

What we send:

• Transactional/service emails (cannot opt out): account verification, password resets, security or policy notices, and changes to your account or the service.
• Product updates & tips (optional): feature announcements, app tips, surveys, and similar.
• Marketing/promotional messages (optional; now or in the future): promotions or recommendations, including personalized content.
• Push notifications (optional): we may send push notifications for meal-planning reminders, recipe-import status, updates, or offers.

How we send: we use your email address and/or device push token to deliver messages.

Your choices:

• Emails: use the unsubscribe option in the message or contact us.
• Push: disable in your device’s Notifications settings for Bella and/or in-app (if available).
• Important notices: certain service or legal notices may still be sent.

Data deletion: if you delete your account in-app, we delete associated data and stop sending future communications. Some system logs or backups may persist for a limited time for security, integrity, or legal obligations.

6) Data retention

We retain information as long as needed to provide Bella and as required by law. If you delete your account in-app, we will delete your associated data. Some information may persist for a limited period in backups, logs, or as required by law, after which it is removed.

7) Security

We use reasonable technical and organizational safeguards appropriate to the nature of the data, including Firebase’s encryption in transit and at rest. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure.

8) Children

Bella is not intended for children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we learn that we have, we will delete it.

9) International transfers

Your information may be processed in the United States and other jurisdictions where our service providers operate. By using Bella, you understand your information may be transferred to these locations.

10) Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will post the updated version in the app with a new “Effective date.” Continued use after changes means you accept the updated policy.