Privacy policy.

Last updated: May 4, 2026 · Effective: May 4, 2026

The short version: we collect only what's needed to plan your meals, we don't sell your data, and you can delete everything from inside the app at any time.

Who we are

Meros ("we", "us", "the app") is an AI-assisted meal planning service distributed through the Apple App Store. This Privacy Policy describes what information Meros collects, how it's used, and the choices you have. It applies to the iOS app and to meros.kitchen.

What we collect

We try to collect as little as possible. The app needs the following to do its job:

• Account info. An identifier (Apple ID via Sign in with Apple, or an email if you create an account directly), and any display name you choose.
• Pantry & food data. Items you scan or add by hand, quantities, expiry dates, and the barcodes used to look up nutrition.
• Goals & preferences. Calorie targets, dietary restrictions, allergies, cooking style, household members you add, and the meals you rate or save.
• Plan & activity data. The weekly plans we generate, meals you log as eaten or skipped, weight entries you add, and your shopping lists.
• Device & diagnostic data. App version, device model, iOS version, crash logs, and basic usage events (e.g. "scanned a barcode", "swapped a meal"). These help us fix bugs and prioritize what to build.

We do not collect contacts, location, photos, or microphone audio. The camera is used only for barcode scanning, and the captured frames are never stored or transmitted.

How we use it

• Generate weekly meal plans tailored to your pantry, goals, and history.
• Build your shopping list and pantry inventory.
• Sync your account across devices you sign in on.
• Improve the app — fix bugs, measure performance, decide what to build next.
• Send you essential service messages (e.g. "your plan is ready", account security). We do not send marketing email without your explicit opt-in.

AI & Claude

Meros uses Claude, an AI model from Anthropic, to generate meal plans, recipe variations, and chef suggestions. When you request a plan or chat with the chef:

• We send a summarized prompt containing your pantry contents, calorie goal, dietary preferences, and recent meal history. We do not send your name, email, or device identifiers.
• Anthropic processes the prompt to produce a response and returns it to Meros.
• Per our agreement with Anthropic, your prompts are not used to train their models.

Meal plans are AI-generated suggestions, not medical advice. If you have a medical condition or specific nutritional requirements, talk to a registered dietitian or your doctor before relying on the plan.

Who we share with

We don't sell your data. We share only with vendors that help us operate the service:

• Anthropic — AI model inference (see §4).
• Apple — Sign in with Apple, App Store distribution, and (if you opt in) iCloud sync.
• Cloud hosting — Cloudflare and a database provider host the app's backend. Data is encrypted in transit and at rest.
• Crash & analytics — anonymized crash reports and basic event metrics. No personally identifying content is included.

We may also disclose information when required by law, to protect against fraud or abuse, or in connection with a merger or acquisition (you'll be notified before any change in control).

Storage & security

Your data is stored on servers in the United States. Transit is encrypted with TLS 1.2 or higher; data at rest is encrypted using AES-256. Access to production systems is limited to engineers who need it, and is audited.

No system is perfectly secure. If we ever discover a breach affecting your account, we'll notify you within 72 hours of confirming it.

Your rights

From inside the app, in More → Account, you can:

• Export all your data as a JSON archive.
• Delete your account, which removes your pantry, plans, ratings, weight log, and account data within 30 days. Backups roll off within 90 days.
• Correct any data by editing it in the app.

If you live in the EU, UK, California, or another jurisdiction with specific data rights (GDPR, UK GDPR, CCPA), you have the same rights described above plus the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority. Email privacy@meros.kitchen and we'll respond within 30 days.

Children

Meros isn't directed at children under 13 (under 16 in the EU/UK), and we don't knowingly collect their data. If you believe a child has signed up, email us and we'll delete the account.

Changes to this policy

If we materially change this policy, we'll notify you in the app and update the "Last updated" date above. Continued use after a change constitutes acceptance of the new terms.

Contact

Questions, requests, or complaints: privacy@meros.kitchen. General support: support@meros.kitchen.