Cookie Policy

1. What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files stored on your device when you visit CalorieTally. They help us provide essential functionality, remember your preferences, and improve our AI-powered nutrition tracking service. Cookies contain information that is transferred to your device's storage and allow us to recognize your browser during future visits.

2. How CalorieTally Uses Cookies

We use cookies and similar technologies for several specific purposes related to our nutrition tracking platform:

• User Authentication: Keeping you logged in and managing your session securely
• Personalization: Remembering your timezone, meal preferences, and dashboard settings
• AI Performance: Optimizing our food recognition and analysis algorithms
• Progress Tracking: Maintaining continuity in your nutrition and goal tracking
• Security: Protecting against fraud and ensuring secure data transmission
• Analytics: Understanding how users interact with our AI features to improve accuracy

3. Types of Cookies We Use

4. Additional Data Storage

Beyond cookies, CalorieTally uses other storage methods to provide our AI-powered features:

4.1 Temporary Data Storage

• Meal Drafts: Temporarily saves meals you're working on before submission
• Offline Access: Stores recent data so you can view meals when temporarily offline
• Performance Optimization: Caches frequently accessed data for faster loading
• Upload Management: Temporarily manages photo uploads during AI processing

4.2 Session Data

• Form Information: Preserves meal entry data while you navigate the app
• Current State: Remembers your current page and filters during your session
• Processing Status: Tracks the progress of AI analysis and voice transcription
• User Experience: Maintains interface state for smoother interactions

4.3 Offline Data

• Recent Activity: Stores recently logged meals for quick access
• Personalized Suggestions: Caches food recommendations based on your patterns
• Nutritional Reference: Stores commonly used nutrition information for offline access

5. Third-Party Cookies and Services

CalorieTally integrates with trusted third-party services that may set their own cookies:

5.1 Google Services

• Account Authentication: Secure login through Google OAuth
• Usage Analytics: Understanding app usage to improve features
• Performance Monitoring: Tracking website performance and user experience
• Typography: Consistent font display across different devices

Google's cookies typically follow standard web analytics patterns and are governed by Google's privacy policies.

5.2 PayPal Integration

• Payment Processing: Secure handling of subscription billing
• Fraud Prevention: Protection against unauthorized transactions
• Session Security: Maintaining secure payment flows
• Account Management: Managing subscription updates and cancellations

5.3 AI Processing Services

• Food Recognition: Processing meal images and nutrition labels
• Natural Language Processing: Analyzing meal descriptions and chat messages
• Speech Processing: Converting voice recordings to text
• Performance Optimization: Caching results for faster AI responses

6. Cookie Duration and Types

CalorieTally uses both session and persistent cookies:

6.1 Session Cookies

These temporary cookies expire when you close your browser and are essential for:

• Maintaining your login session during use
• Preserving meal entry data while navigating
• Managing AI processing states
• Ensuring secure data transmission

6.2 Persistent Cookies

These cookies remain on your device for specified periods and help us:

• Remember your login status between visits
• Store your timezone and preference settings
• Improve AI accuracy based on your usage patterns
• Provide personalized nutrition insights

7. Managing Your Cookie Preferences

You have several options for controlling cookies in CalorieTally:

7.1 In-App Cookie Controls

• Dashboard Settings: Control analytics and performance cookies
• Privacy Preferences: Adjust data collection for AI improvement
• Notification Settings: Manage communication preferences
• Account Settings: Clear stored preferences and cached data

7.2 Browser Settings

You can control cookies through your browser settings:

• Chrome: Settings → Privacy and security → Cookies and other site data
• Firefox: Options → Privacy & Security → Cookies and Site Data
• Safari: Preferences → Privacy → Manage Website Data
• Edge: Settings → Cookies and site permissions → Cookies and site data

7.3 Mobile App Controls

Our mobile applications use similar storage mechanisms:

• App Preferences: Control data collection within the app settings
• Device Settings: Manage app permissions and data usage
• Account Sync: Control which data syncs between devices
• Offline Storage: Manage locally cached nutrition data

8. Impact of Disabling Cookies

Disabling certain cookies may affect your CalorieTally experience:

8.1 Essential Cookie Limitations

• You may need to log in more frequently
• Meal entry forms may not retain data between pages
• AI analysis may be slower or less accurate
• Security features may not function properly

8.2 Functional Cookie Limitations

• Dashboard preferences will reset each visit
• Timezone and date settings will not be remembered
• Tutorial prompts may appear repeatedly
• Personalized features may not work optimally

8.3 Analytics Cookie Limitations

• We cannot measure feature effectiveness
• AI improvements may be slower
• Personalized recommendations may be less accurate
• User experience improvements may be delayed

9. Data Retention for Cookies

Different types of cookies and stored data have different retention periods:

• Session Data: Deleted when you close the browser
• Authentication Cookies: Expire after 30 days of inactivity
• Preference Cookies: Retained for 1 year unless manually cleared
• Analytics Cookies: Automatically expire after 2 years
• Local Storage: Cleared when you delete your account

10. Mobile Application Data

Our mobile applications use similar technologies to provide seamless nutrition tracking:

• User Preferences: Settings and customizations stored locally on your device
• Authentication: Secure login tokens for automatic sign-in
• Offline Access: Cached nutrition data for when you're not connected
• Performance Analytics: Anonymous usage data to improve the app experience
• AI Optimization: Temporary storage for faster food recognition and analysis
• Sync Data: Information needed to keep your data consistent across devices

You can control most of these through your device settings and within the app's privacy preferences.

11. International Cookie Compliance

CalorieTally complies with international cookie regulations:

11.1 GDPR Compliance (European Union)

• Explicit consent for non-essential cookies
• Clear information about cookie purposes
• Easy opt-out mechanisms
• Regular review of cookie necessity

11.2 CCPA Compliance (California)

• Transparent disclosure of data collection
• Opt-out rights for data sharing
• Clear privacy policy references
• User control over personal information

12. Updates to This Cookie Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy to reflect:

• Changes to our AI technology and features
• New third-party integrations or services
• Updated legal requirements or regulations
• Improvements to user privacy controls
• Enhanced functionality requiring additional data storage

We will notify you of significant changes via email or in-app notification and update the "Last Updated" date below.

13. Contact Us About Cookies

For questions about our use of cookies or this Cookie Policy:

• Support: support@calorietally.com

14. Additional Resources

For more information about cookies and online privacy:

• All About Cookies: www.allaboutcookies.org
• Your Online Choices: www.youronlinechoices.com
• Google Analytics Opt-out: tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout
• Browser Cookie Settings: Consult your browser's help documentation