Meal Time – Privacy Policy
This policy explains what data the Android app Meal Time (the “App”) handles, where that data goes, and what choices you have. The App is developed and published by Oleksandr Lohvyn (“I”, “me”), who is responsible for it.
- No account, no sign-in and no ads. I don't run a server that receives your data.
- Your profile, your food log and your food catalog are stored only on your device.
- Crash reports, usage statistics and performance data go to Google Firebase. You can turn this off in the App.
- If you use the optional AI hints, only the name of the food is sent to Google Gemini, using your own API key.
- I don't sell data or share it for advertising.
1. Data stored on your device
To calculate your calorie and macro targets and show your progress, the App stores the following in its private storage on your phone:
- Profile: age, gender, height, weight, activity level, weight goal and macro preferences.
- Food log: the meals and foods you log, with dates, portions, calories and macronutrients.
- Food catalog: the foods and categories you create.
- Settings: your Google Gemini API key, if you enter one, and your diagnostics choice.
I don't collect, receive or see this data. Other apps can't read it. It stays until you delete it, clear the App's data or uninstall the App. The home-screen widget reads the same local data and sends nothing anywhere.
2. Data that leaves your device
2.1 Diagnostics – Google Firebase (can be turned off)
The App uses three Google Firebase services to find crashes and improve the App:
| Service | What is sent | Retention |
|---|---|---|
| Firebase Crashlytics | Crash and error reports: stack trace, app version, device model, Android version, free memory/disk, and a random installation identifier. | 90 days |
| Google Analytics for Firebase | Usage events (e.g. app opened, screen viewed, session length), a random app-instance identifier, device model, Android version, language, and approximate country/region derived from your IP address. | 2 months |
| Firebase Performance Monitoring | Performance data such as app start time, screen rendering times, and the timing and size of network requests (without their contents or query parameters). | Aggregated, per Google's terms |
These reports don't include your profile, food log, food catalog or API key. The App doesn't use the Android advertising ID and turns off ad personalization in Analytics. The identifiers above are random. They can't be used to find out your name or contact details.
How to opt out: open Settings → Privacy in the App and switch off Send diagnostics. Crash reports, analytics and performance data are then no longer collected, on this and every later launch.
Google processes this data as a processor on my behalf. It may process it on servers outside your country, including in the United States, under Google's data-transfer safeguards. See the Firebase privacy information and the Google Privacy Policy.
2.2 AI nutrition hints – Google Gemini (optional)
This feature is off until you enter your own Google Gemini API key in Settings. When you then tap the AI button on a food, the App sends only the food name you typed (for example “chicken breast”) directly from your phone to Google's Gemini API, and gets back estimated nutrition values. Nothing else is sent: no profile or log data. The request doesn't pass through me.
Because the request uses your own key, it falls under your agreement with Google, the Gemini API Terms of Service. With a free-tier key, Google may use submitted text to improve its products. Please don't type personal information into food names.
2.3 Android backup (Google Drive)
If Android backup is enabled on your phone, Android may include the App's data (profile, food log, catalog and settings, including your API key) in your device backup. That backup is stored in your own Google account, managed by Google, and restored when you set up a new phone. I can't access it. You can turn it off under Android Settings → Google → Backup.
2.4 Export you start yourself
Settings → Export creates a JSON file with your data and opens the Android share menu. The file goes only where you choose to send it. It doesn't include your API key.
3. Permissions
- Internet / network state: needed for diagnostics (section 2.1) and for AI hints (section 2.2).
The App doesn't request access to your location, contacts, camera, microphone, photos or health data from other apps.
4. Legal bases (for users in the EU/EEA and UK)
- Storing your data on the device: needed to provide the App you use (Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR).
- Diagnostics: my legitimate interest in a stable, working App (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR). You can object at any time with the Send diagnostics switch.
- AI hints: started by you, using your own agreement with Google.
5. Your rights and deleting data
Your App data is under your control. You can edit or delete entries in the App, clear the App's data in Android settings, or uninstall the App to delete everything on the device.
You have the right to access, correct, delete or restrict the processing of your data, the right to object, and the right to complain to a data protection authority. The diagnostics identifiers are random and not linked to you, so I usually can't find your records in Firebase. If you'd like me to try, contact me (see below). To stop further collection, turn off Send diagnostics.
6. Security
App data lives in Android's private app storage, which other apps can't read. All network traffic to Firebase and Gemini is encrypted with HTTPS.
7. Children
The App is not directed at children and requires a minimum age of 14 in its profile. I don't knowingly collect data from children under 13 (or under the minimum age in your country).
8. Changes to this policy
If the App's data handling changes, I'll update this page and its effective date. For significant changes I'll also mention them in the App's release notes.
9. Contact
Questions or requests about privacy:
Oleksandr Lohvyn
Email: alexlogvin.2013@gmail.com