Your cooking data stays close.

1. Scope

This policy applies to the Chefness iPhone app, the website at chefness.org, and support email sent to support@chefness.org. Chefness does not require a Chefness account and does not operate a server-side account or cloud-sync service for your cooking data.

2. Information stored on your device

Chefness stores the following information locally on your iPhone:

• saved recipes and imported recipe details;
• chat sessions and messages;
• cooking history, ratings, and notes;
• dietary restrictions and other dietary notes;
• AI memories and preferences;
• app settings and selected model; and
• photos attached to saved chat sessions.

The OpenRouter key created during connection is stored separately in the iOS Keychain. Chefness uses it to make requests you initiate and does not display or log the key.

Chefness does not upload this local collection to a Chefness account or synchronize it between devices.

3. AI features and OpenRouter

AI features are optional and require you to connect your own OpenRouter account. When you ask Chefness to use an AI feature, Chefness sends information needed for that request directly to OpenRouter. Depending on the feature, this may include:

• your prompt and relevant prior chat messages;
• meal type and serving-size choices;
• dietary restrictions, dietary notes, and saved AI memories;
• recent cooking history used to personalize a response;
• recipe text or imported recipe context used for AI-assisted work; and
• a photo you deliberately attach to a request.

OpenRouter routes requests to the model and model provider you select, or to an eligible provider when you use an automatic router. OpenRouter and those model providers are independent third parties. Their retention, training, and other data practices may differ by provider and by your OpenRouter privacy settings. Review OpenRouter’s Privacy Policy, OpenRouter’s data-collection documentation, and the policies of your selected model provider before sending sensitive information.

OpenRouter usage may incur charges under your OpenRouter account. Chefness does not receive your OpenRouter billing details.

4. Recipe imports

When you import a public recipe URL in the iPhone app, Chefness requests that page from your device and reads supported structured recipe data. The recipe website receives ordinary network information such as your IP address and request metadata under its own privacy policy.

The retained Chefness web app may send the recipe URL to a stateless Chefness service on Cloudflare so the service can fetch the public page and return structured recipe data. The service does not intentionally store the URL, page, or extracted recipe after the request is completed. Cloudflare may process customary network and security information to operate that infrastructure under Cloudflare’s Privacy Policy.

5. Camera and photo library

With your permission, Chefness can access the camera or photo library so you can attach a food or ingredient photo. Chefness does not scan your library in the background. A selected image is resized and stored locally when needed for the chat session. It leaves your device only when you send it as part of an AI request, as described above.

You can change camera and photo permissions in iOS Settings.

6. Analytics, advertising, and tracking

Chefness does not currently use product analytics, advertising SDKs, cross-app tracking, or the iOS advertising identifier. Chefness does not sell your personal information.

7. Website

The Chefness website is a static site hosted by Cloudflare. It does not use analytics cookies, advertising pixels, account sign-in, or a contact form. Cloudflare may process IP addresses, request headers, and security or operational logs to deliver and protect the site under Cloudflare’s Privacy Policy.

8. Support and privacy requests

If you email support@chefness.org, the message and its metadata are processed by Cloudflare Email Routing and forwarded to the support inbox. They are retained in that inbox as needed to answer your request, maintain a support history, prevent abuse, and meet legal obligations. You may ask us to delete a support conversation when it is no longer needed, subject to legal requirements.

Do not email OpenRouter keys, one-time authorization codes, private chat text, personal recipes, dietary information, or photos unless that information is necessary for your request and you are comfortable sharing it.

9. Retention and deletion

Local data remains on your device until you delete it through an available Chefness control or delete the app. Individual recipes, chat sessions, cooking-history entries, preferences, and the OpenRouter connection can be removed in the app. To remove the OpenRouter key from iOS Keychain, disconnect OpenRouter in Chefness Settings before deleting the app. Deleting Chefness removes its app-container data from the iPhone, but iOS Keychain items can persist across reinstallation. Copies of other local data may remain in device backups according to your Apple and iCloud settings and retention policies.

Data already sent to OpenRouter, a model provider, a recipe website, Apple, Cloudflare, or an email provider is governed by that third party’s retention and deletion practices.

10. AI and food-safety notice

AI output can be incomplete, inaccurate, or unsafe. Do not rely on Chefness as the sole source for allergen, dietary, nutrition, or food-safety decisions. Independently verify ingredients, cross-contamination risks, storage guidance, cooking methods, and safe internal temperatures using trusted sources. If you have a severe allergy or medical dietary need, consult an appropriate professional.

11. Children

Chefness is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children through a Chefness account or profile. If you believe a child has sent personal information through support email, contact us so we can review and delete it where appropriate.

12. Changes and contact

We may update this policy when Chefness features, providers, or legal requirements change. The effective date above will be updated when a revised policy is published.

For privacy questions or deletion requests, email support@chefness.org.