Overview

HalalSafe ("we", "our", or "the app"), published by Essex Software, LLC, respects your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains what HalalSafe does — and does not — collect.

What We Collect

Anonymous Usage Analytics

To improve the app, we collect anonymous metrics about how it's used:

• How often the app is opened
• Which features you use (scan barcode, scan label, view verdict)
• Verdict outcomes (halal, haram, needs review) — without product identifiers
• Crashes and errors
• Device type and iOS version for compatibility

None of this data is tied to your identity.

Apple Search Ads Attribution

If you tap an Apple Search Ads result and install HalalSafe, the app performs a one-time check at install to determine whether you arrived via that channel. This is used only to measure marketing effectiveness, not to identify you.

Tip-Jar Purchase Records

HalalSafe is free. We offer an optional Tip Jar (Small / Medium / Big Tip) as a one-time gesture of support. If you make a tip-jar purchase, a record of the transaction is stored on our server for accounting purposes. The record contains the product purchased, country, and a transaction ID — no name, email, or payment details.

What We Do NOT Collect

• Your name, email, phone number, or any personally identifying information
• Photos taken with the camera — only the barcode value or extracted ingredient text leaves the camera view
• Access to your photo library
• Location data
• Contacts or calendar information
• Account credentials (the app has no login)

How the Scanner Works

Barcode Scans

When you scan a product barcode:

• HalalSafe queries Open Food Facts — a public, open ingredient database — using the barcode you scanned.
• If the product is not found, HalalSafe queries USDA FoodData Central as a fallback for U.S. products.
• These services may log standard server access information (such as IP address and timestamp). No personal data is sent in the request.
• Ingredient data returned from these services is classified locally on your device against our halal ruleset.

Ingredient-Label Scans

When you scan an ingredient label with the camera:

• The image is processed on your device using Apple's Vision framework.
• Only the extracted text is used by the halal classifier — on your device.
• The photo itself is never uploaded or saved anywhere.

Local Storage

Your scan history is saved on your device only:

• HalalSafe stores up to your most recent 20 scans locally in iOS standard preferences.
• We do not have access to your scan history.
• You can clear it any time from Settings, or by uninstalling the app.
• Local storage is protected by iOS sandbox and encryption.

Permissions Required

Camera Access

HalalSafe requires camera access to scan barcodes and ingredient labels. Camera permissions are:

• Used exclusively for scanning within the app
• Never used for background recording
• Controlled by iOS — you can revoke access at any time in your device's Settings

Third-Party Services

HalalSafe uses the following third-party services. We do not share, sell, or rent your data with any of them.

• Open Food Facts (openfoodfacts.org) — a public, open-source ingredient database queried by barcode.
• USDA FoodData Central — fallback ingredient lookup for U.S. products.
• Apple StoreKit — handles tip-jar transactions. Payment information is processed by Apple; HalalSafe never sees it.
• Apple Vision framework — on-device text recognition for ingredient labels. No data leaves your device through this framework.
• Essex Software analytics server — anonymous app metrics (see "Anonymous Usage Analytics" above).

In-App Purchases

HalalSafe is free. We offer optional Consumable tip-jar purchases ($2.99 / $5.99 / $9.99):

• Purchases are processed by Apple's App Store. We do not collect payment information.
• Tip-jar purchases unlock no features — they are purely a gesture of support.
• A transaction record (product, country, transaction ID) is stored on our server for accounting only.

Disclaimer

HalalSafe is an informational tool, not an official halal certification authority. Our analysis is based on ingredient databases and Islamic scholarly references. While we strive for accuracy, results may be incomplete or outdated, and ingredient lists can change without notice. For products where halal status is critical — especially meat, gelatin, animal-derived enzymes, and items used for religious observance — please verify with an official halal certification body (IFANCA, HMC, MUI, JAKIM, ESMA), the manufacturer directly, or a qualified Islamic scholar.

Children's Privacy

HalalSafe is suitable for all ages and does not knowingly collect data from children under 13. We do not collect personal information from any user, regardless of age.

Your Rights

You can:

• Stop the app from contacting our analytics server by uninstalling HalalSafe.
• Clear your local scan history from Settings at any time.
• Contact us at support@essexsoftware.com with any privacy question.

International Users

HalalSafe is available worldwide:

• The analytics data we collect is anonymous and cannot identify you.
• Compliant with GDPR, CCPA, and similar privacy regulations.
• Ingredient databases queried (Open Food Facts, USDA) are public services hosted internationally.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will be:

• Posted on this page with an updated "Last Updated" date
• Effective immediately upon posting

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically.

Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or HalalSafe's privacy practices, please contact us:

• Email: support@essexsoftware.com
• App Store: HalalSafe — Halal Food Scanner
• Company: Essex Software, LLC