Minimate Privacy Policy
Effective Date: June 2026
Minimate ("Minimate", "we", "our", or "us") is operated by Kyriakos Alexander Giannarakis, located in Australia.
This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, store, and protect information when you use the Minimate mobile application, website, and related services (the "Services").
Minimate is designed to help users manage household food usage, reduce food waste, track pantry items, receive recipe recommendations, and improve food planning habits.
By using Minimate, you agree to the practices described in this Privacy Policy.
1. Information We Collect
We may collect the following categories of information.
Account Information
When you create or use an account, we may collect:
Email address
Authentication credentials
Account preferences
Subscription status
App settings
Notification preferences
Authentication and account management may be provided through third-party services such as Google Firebase Authentication.
Pantry, Food, and Usage Information
When using Minimate, users may provide:
Receipt scans
Food item information
Expiry dates
Pantry inventories
Meal logs
Shopping lists
Food usage information
Food waste tracking information
Manually entered content
Minimate processes this information to provide pantry management, recipe recommendations, meal planning tools, food waste insights, and related features.
User Content
Users may upload or submit:
Food photographs
Receipt images
Pantry images
Meal photographs
Freeform text
Dictations
Comments
Other user-generated content
Images, receipts, and food photographs may be temporarily processed to extract information such as product names, quantities, expiry dates, and pantry contents. Unless specifically required for functionality, security, troubleshooting, legal compliance, or future user-requested features, Minimate does not intentionally retain original uploaded images after processing.
Users are responsible for ensuring that uploaded content complies with applicable laws and does not infringe the rights of others.
Camera, Photo Library, and Microphone Permissions
Minimate may request access to certain device features when required to provide functionality.
Camera Access
Minimate may request access to your device camera to:
Scan grocery receipts
Capture pantry items
Capture food products
Log meals using photographs
For example, a user may photograph a grocery receipt so Minimate can automatically identify purchased items and add them to their pantry.
Photo Library Access
Minimate may request access to your photo library to:
Upload receipt images
Upload pantry photographs
Upload food photographs
Log meals using existing photos
For example, a user may upload a receipt image already stored on their device instead of taking a new photo.
Microphone Access
Minimate may request access to your microphone to:
Dictate pantry items
Log meals using voice input
Use voice-assisted cooking features
Record food usage updates
For example, a user may say "I used half a litre of milk and two eggs" and Minimate may update pantry quantities accordingly.
Minimate only accesses these permissions when initiated by the user and for the purposes described above.
Analytics and Device Information
We may collect limited technical, diagnostic, and analytics information, including:
Device type
Operating system
App version
Feature usage
Session activity
Crash diagnostics
Approximate region
Performance metrics
We may use services including:
Google Firebase
Firebase Analytics
Firebase Crashlytics
Google Cloud Platform
Other infrastructure and analytics providers
Minimate does not currently engage in invasive third-party behavioural advertising tracking.
Notification Information
If enabled, Minimate may send notifications relating to:
Expiring food
Pantry reminders
Scheduled pantry counts
Recipe suggestions
Meal planning reminders
Subscription updates
App announcements
Users can manage notification permissions through their device settings.
2. How We Use Information
We use collected information to:
Operate and maintain Minimate
Manage user accounts
Process receipt scans and food images
Verify and process pantry photos and voice inputs
Personalise pantry experiences
Generate recipes and meal suggestions
Generate food insights and recommendations
Estimate expiry timelines
Improve AI systems and app functionality
Monitor analytics and reliability
Provide customer support
Manage subscriptions and premium features
Improve sustainability and food waste reduction tools
Prevent fraud and abuse
Comply with legal obligations
3. AI and Automated Processing
Minimate may use AI-powered systems and automated processing to:
Interpret receipts
Identify food items
Estimate quantities
Estimate expiry timelines
Generate recipes
Provide pantry recommendations
Suggest food usage ideas
Assist with meal planning
AI-generated outputs are provided for informational purposes only and may not always be accurate.
Users should independently assess:
Food safety
Expiry conditions
Allergies
Dietary suitability
Cooking requirements
Minimate does not provide medical, nutritional, dietary, or food safety guarantees.
4. Aggregated and De-Identified Data
Minimate may use aggregated and de-identified information to:
Analyse food waste trends
Understand product usage patterns
Improve sustainability initiatives
Improve product performance
Develop research insights
Support retailers, supermarkets, and commercial partners
We do not sell personally identifiable information.
Any information shared externally is intended to be aggregated or de-identified and not reasonably capable of identifying individual users.
5. Subscriptions and Payments
Subscriptions and purchases may be processed through:
Apple App Store
Google Play Store
We do not directly store full payment card information.
Billing, renewals, cancellations, refunds, and payment processing are managed according to the policies of the relevant platform provider.
6. Data Storage and Security
We use commercially reasonable administrative, technical, and organisational safeguards to protect information.
Information may be processed or stored using services provided by:
Google Firebase
Google Cloud Platform
Analytics providers
Infrastructure providers
While we take reasonable precautions, no method of electronic transmission or storage can be guaranteed to be completely secure.
7. International Data Transfers
Minimate operates from Australia, but our service providers and infrastructure partners may process or store information in countries outside Australia.
By using Minimate, you acknowledge that your information may be transferred, processed, and stored internationally where permitted by applicable law.
Where required, we take reasonable steps to ensure appropriate safeguards are implemented for international transfers.
8. Your Privacy Rights
Depending on your location and applicable law, you may have rights relating to your personal information, including the right to:
Access your information
Correct inaccurate information
Delete your information
Withdraw consent where applicable
Object to certain processing activities
Request portability of eligible information
Lodge a complaint with a relevant privacy authority
To exercise these rights, contact:
mini.m8te@gmail.com
9. Account Deletion and Data Retention
Users may delete their account and associated personal information directly through Minimate's in-app account deletion functionality.
When an account is deleted, we will take reasonable steps to permanently remove or anonymise associated personal information, subject to any retention required for:
Legal compliance
Fraud prevention
Security investigations
Dispute resolution
Backup restoration processes
Deleting a Minimate account does not automatically cancel an active subscription purchased through Apple or Google. Users must manage subscription cancellations through the relevant platform provider.
Inactive or deleted account data may remain in temporary backups for a limited period before permanent deletion.
10. Children's Privacy
Minimate is intended for users aged 13 years and older.
Users under the age of majority in their jurisdiction should use Minimate with parental or guardian supervision where required.
We do not knowingly collect personal information from children in violation of applicable law.
If a parent or guardian believes a child has provided personal information improperly, they may contact us to request review or deletion.
11. Third-Party Services
Minimate may rely on third-party providers including:
Google Firebase
Google Cloud Platform
Firebase Analytics
Firebase Crashlytics
Apple
Google Play
AI and OCR processing providers
Other infrastructure and analytics providers
These providers may process information according to their own privacy policies and terms.
12. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time.
If material changes are made, we may notify users through:
The app
Push notifications
Updated policy dates
Account notices
Continued use of Minimate following an update constitutes acceptance of the revised Privacy Policy.
13. Contact Us
If you have questions, concerns, or requests relating to this Privacy Policy or your personal information, please contact:
Minimate
Operator: Kyriakos Alexander Giannarakis
Email: mini.m8te@gmail.com