灶 Zao

Zao Privacy Policy

Last updated: 2026-07-08

Zao (灶) is an iOS cooking app for discovering, creating, planning, and cooking recipes. This policy explains what information the app may collect and how it is used.

Information we collect

• Account information: email address, username, display name, avatar path, language, and unit preferences when you sign in or update your profile.
• User content: recipes, drafts, edits, cook logs, comments, saved recipes, collections, pantry/fridge items, uploaded recipe photos, and meal-planning inputs you choose to create.
• App diagnostics: request identifiers, stable error codes, HTTP status, route names, timing, build version, and similar technical metadata used to diagnose beta issues.
• AI feature inputs: prompts or structured recipe/pantry inputs you submit to AI-assisted features such as recipe drafting, substitution, fridge-to-recipe, or meal planning.
• Device permissions: camera, photo library, microphone, and speech recognition are requested only for features that need them, such as photo import, optional hands-free cooking controls, or voice-assisted flows.

How we use information

• Provide app functionality such as account sessions, recipe storage, cooking mode, saved collections, and meal planning.
• Generate or edit recipe content when you explicitly use AI-assisted features.
• Debug reliability issues, classify failures by request id and stable error code, and improve beta support.
• Protect the service from abuse and maintain the security and integrity of the app.

AI providers

Some features send your submitted recipe or pantry text to an AI provider so the requested feature can run. Zao does not intentionally send API keys, admin credentials, or unrelated private data to AI providers. Do not enter sensitive personal information into AI prompts.

What diagnostics do not include

The app’s support diagnostics are designed to omit account tokens, admin credentials, raw provider responses, raw prompts, and secrets. They may include backend URL, app build, current user id, last request id, stable error code, status, and route.

Data sharing

We do not sell personal data. Information is shared only with service providers needed to operate the app, such as hosting, storage, authentication, and AI infrastructure, or when required by law.

Data retention and deletion

User content and account data are retained while your account is active or as needed to operate the service. If you want to request account or data deletion, contact support at zao@yuzhes.com.

Children

Zao is not directed to children under 13. If you believe a child has provided personal information, contact support so we can review and remove it where appropriate.

Changes

We may update this policy as the beta and production service evolve. Material changes will be reflected on this page with a new updated date.

Contact

For privacy questions, support requests, or data deletion requests, email zao@yuzhes.com.