Privacy Policy

Who we are

ChowBelle (“the app,” “we,” “us,” “our”) is a meal-planning app for iOS published by FDS-Tech, LLC (“the developer”). This policy explains what information the app handles, how, and your choices.

• Developer: FDS-Tech, LLC
• App: ChowBelle (com.fds.chowbelle)
• Contact: Privacy@ChowBelle.com

The short version

ChowBelle is built to run on your device. We, the developer, do not operate a server that collects your recipes, pantry, meal plans, or grocery lists — that content stays on your device and, if you enable it, in your own iCloud account. We do not sell your personal information. The only outside parties that receive data are Apple (for iCloud sync and purchases) and, on the free tier only, Google (for ads). Details below.

Information the app handles

1. Content you create — stored on your device

Recipes, pantry items, staples, meal plans, grocery lists, ratings, notes, and any photos you add are stored locally on your device using Apple's on-device database (SwiftData). The developer has no access to this content.

2. iCloud sync & family sharing — stored in your iCloud (Apple)

If you use multi-device sync or share a household grocery/pantry list with family, that data is synced through Apple iCloud (CloudKit) under your Apple ID. It is stored in your own iCloud account, governed by Apple's Privacy Policy. The developer does not run this server and cannot read your iCloud data.

When you invite someone to a shared household, the people you share with can see the shared list content, and the invitation uses the email address or phone number you enter to send the invite. Participants' names may appear from their iCloud identity. Only share with people you trust, and only share the lists you intend to.

3. Purchases & subscriptions — handled by Apple

ChowBelle Premium is sold as an in-app subscription processed entirely by Apple through StoreKit. We never see or receive your payment card, billing address, or Apple ID. The app only receives an anonymous signal from Apple indicating whether your subscription is active. Purchase and billing data is handled per Apple's Privacy Policy.

4. Advertising — free tier only (Google AdMob)

If you are not a Premium subscriber, ChowBelle shows ads served by Google AdMob. To serve ads, Google's Mobile Ads SDK may collect and process device and usage information, such as a device advertising identifier, IP address, general (coarse) location inferred from IP, device type/OS, and ad-interaction data. Google uses this to deliver and measure ads and, where permitted, to personalize them.

• Premium removes ads entirely. Subscribers get no ads and no ad-related data collection.
• Google's handling of this data is governed by Google's Privacy Policy and How Google uses information from sites or apps that use our services.
• Your choices are described under “Your rights & choices” below.

5. Tracking transparency (Apple ATT)

On first relevant launch, ChowBelle presents Apple's App Tracking Transparency prompt asking permission to track you across apps and websites (which enables Google to use your device advertising identifier for personalized ads). If you decline, the app still works and still shows ads — they are simply non-personalized. You can change this anytime in Settings → Privacy & Security → Tracking on your device.

6. Users in the EEA, UK & Switzerland

This release of ChowBelle is not offered in the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom, or Switzerland. If ChowBelle is made available in those regions in a future release and serves personalized ads there, it will present a consent message (via Google's User Messaging Platform) before doing so, as required by the EU User Consent Policy and GDPR, and let you manage that choice. This policy will be updated accordingly at that time.

7. Camera & barcode scanning

If you scan a barcode or add a photo, the app uses your device camera. Images and scanned barcodes are processed on your device to identify or store pantry items. Photos are stored locally (and in your iCloud if sync is on). We do not send your photos to the developer.

8. Recipe import (in-app browser / URL import)

When you import a recipe from a website, the app fetches that page directly from the site you chose, the same as visiting it in a browser. That third-party website may log the request under its own privacy policy. The app does not route your browsing through the developer.

9. AI features

The current release of ChowBelle does not include AI features, and no app content is sent to any AI service. Recipe import and meal planning use on-device logic only (structured-data extraction and rules) — nothing you enter is sent to a model.

What we do not do

• We do not run our own analytics or tracking server.
• We do not sell or rent your personal information.
• We do not collect your name, email, or contacts — except the email/phone you type in to send a household invite (used only to deliver that invite).
• We do not have access to your recipes, pantry, meal plans, or photos.

Data retention & deletion

• On-device content is kept until you delete it or delete the app. Deleting the app removes its local data from that device.
• iCloud data is retained in your iCloud account until you delete it in the app or manage it via your Apple ID. To leave a shared household, use “Leave Household” in the app.
• Ad data held by Google is retained per Google's own policies — see the Google links above and Google's data-retention controls in your Google account.

Because we do not hold your content on our servers, most deletion is fully in your hands via the app, your device, and your Apple ID.

Your rights & choices

Depending on where you live (e.g. CCPA/CPRA in California), you may have rights to access, correct, delete, or restrict processing of your personal data, and to opt out of “sale”/“sharing” of personal information. Because ChowBelle stores your content on your device and in your iCloud:

• Access / delete your content: do it directly in the app, on your device, or via your Apple ID / iCloud settings.
• Ad choices: decline ATT tracking, or subscribe to Premium to remove ads entirely (see above).
• Requests to the developer: for anything else, contact us at Privacy@ChowBelle.com and we will respond as required by applicable law. We do not “sell” personal information as defined under U.S. state privacy laws.

To exercise rights over data held by Google (ads) or Apple (iCloud/purchases), use their respective privacy tools linked throughout this policy.

Children's privacy

ChowBelle is intended for a general audience and is not directed to children under 13 (or the equivalent minimum age in your jurisdiction). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. On the free tier, ads are served in a manner consistent with a general-audience app and are not directed to children. If you believe a child has provided personal information, contact us at Privacy@ChowBelle.com.

Third-party services we rely on

• Apple — iCloud sync/storage and App Store purchases: apple.com/legal/privacy
• Google AdMob — advertising (free tier only): policies.google.com/privacy and partner-sites

International users

Your data may be processed in countries other than where you live, including by Apple and Google, whose infrastructure is global. By using the app you understand your information may be processed in those locations, subject to the safeguards described in those providers' policies.

Changes to this policy

We may update this policy as the app evolves. Material changes will be reflected here with a new “Last updated” date, and — where required — surfaced in the app. Continued use after an update means you accept the revised policy.

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