Privacy Policy

Last updated: November 8, 2026

Handpicked (“we,” “us”) helps you find recipes using the food you already have. This policy explains, in plain language, what information the Handpicked app and website (handpickedrecipes.com) use, why, and the choices you have.

Information saved on your device

Handpicked saves the following in your phone’s or browser’s storage so the app remembers your choices. This information stays on your device and is not sent to us unless it’s part of a recipe request, as described below.

• Favorite recipes and their photos
• My Pantry staples
• My Groceries: food items from receipts you scan, with their purchase dates and estimated best-by dates
• The ingredients you type, say or scan, kept for 7 days after your last change (tap Clear to remove them sooner)
• Diet & nutrition goals and allergies or ingredients to avoid
• Your shopping list

You can remove this information at any time by deleting the app, or by clearing website data for Handpicked in your browser settings.

Information we process to answer your requests

When you ask for recipes, scan your kitchen or use voice input, the following is sent from your device to our servers and then to OpenAI, which provides the AI that powers Handpicked:

• What you type or say: your ingredients and any notes, such as “something kid-friendly in 25 minutes.”
• Kitchen photos you choose to scan: resized on your device before they’re sent, and used only to identify ingredients.
• Grocery receipts you choose to scan: resized on your device before they’re sent, and used only to list the food items and purchase date. Prices, store details, card numbers and loyalty numbers are not kept or returned to the app.
• Voice recordings you choose to make: used only to turn your words into text.
• Preferences that shape the recipe: your selected meal, number of servings, pantry staples, groceries (including which ones to use soon), shopping flexibility, sauce choices, diet goals and allergies.

We use this information only to create your recipe ideas, full recipes, sauces, nutrition estimates, dish photos and transcriptions. Our servers don’t save your photos, recordings or requests after responding. Please avoid including information you don’t want to share, such as your name or other personal details, in your requests.

About OpenAI: OpenAI processes this information on our behalf. Under OpenAI’s API data policies, information sent through its API is not used to train its models, and OpenAI may retain requests for up to 30 days to monitor for abuse, unless a longer period is required by law. You can read more in OpenAI’s data controls documentation and OpenAI’s privacy policy.

Camera, photos and microphone

Handpicked uses your camera or photo library only when you choose to add kitchen photos or a grocery receipt, and your microphone only while you are recording with the Speak button. You can turn these permissions off at any time in your device’s Settings. Everything else in the app still works.

Technical information and security

Our website and servers are hosted by Vercel. Like most websites, our hosting provider processes basic technical information, such as your IP address, device and browser type, and the time of a request, in order to deliver the app and keep it secure. To prevent misuse and protect the service, we briefly use your IP address to limit how many requests can be made in an hour. This count is held temporarily and is not linked to you.

What we don’t do

• We don’t require an account or ask for your name, email or phone number to use the app.
• We don’t show ads, use advertising trackers, or track you across other apps and websites.
• We don’t sell or rent your information.

Health, nutrition and allergy information

Best-by dates for your groceries are estimates, not food-safety guarantees. When in doubt, check the package date and use your judgment. Diet goals and allergies you select are used only to shape recipes and are saved only on your device. Recipes, nutrition estimates and allergy filtering are generated by AI and can be wrong. They are not medical advice. Always check ingredient labels, allergens, cross-contact risks and safe cooking temperatures, and follow the guidance of your doctor or dietitian.

Children

Handpicked is intended for adults and is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children.

Changes to this policy

If we change how Handpicked uses information, we’ll update this page and the “Last updated” date above.

Contact us

Questions about this policy or your information? Email us at handpickedapp.help@gmail.com.

This policy describes the Handpicked app and website. It is provided for transparency and is not legal advice.