Privacy, explained without fine-print fog.

1. Who we are

GutLoop is a meal and digestion tracking application owned and operated by Alderbeam, Inc. In this policy, “GutLoop,” “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to Alderbeam, Inc. and the GutLoop product.

This policy applies to the GutLoop mobile application, this website, and the support experiences linked from them.

2. Information stored on your device

GutLoop can store the following information in app-managed storage on your device:

• Meal records, including time, meal type, portion, selected food tags, notes, and optional app-managed photos.
• Digestion records, including time, Bristol type, comfort, symptoms, stool characteristics, severity, notes, and optional app-managed photos.
• Profile values, onboarding status, consent choices, reminder preferences, and other app settings.
• Locally generated insights, cached optional AI interpretations, demo records, incomplete quick-add items, and locally generated export files.

GutLoop does not add its own database-encryption layer. Protection of local app data depends on your device, operating system, passcode, and backup settings. Your operating system may include GutLoop app data in a device or cloud backup according to the settings you control.

3. Optional photo and AI processing

Manual logging and the local deterministic insight engine do not require remote AI. Some builds may offer optional, separately consented remote features.

Meal photo suggestions

When remote meal analysis is configured and you choose to use it, a selected meal photo may be sent to the GutLoop backend and an external AI processor to suggest a meal name, ingredients, and portions. A regular camera flow asks you to review suggestions before saving. If you separately enable Quick Add with AI, one shutter press may enqueue the photo and later fill an editable pending meal after analysis.

Stool appearance suggestions

Stool-photo analysis has its own consent. After capture and confirmation, the photo may be sent to the GutLoop backend, sanitized, and sent to an external AI processor. It may suggest a Bristol type, visible consistency, or color. It does not infer symptoms, confirm blood, or make a diagnosis. You must review any suggestion, and manual entry remains available.

Insights interpretation

If an eligible build offers Insights AI and you separately consent, GutLoop may send minimized, precomputed evidence such as aggregate counts, data-quality values, selected food categories, limited symptom pattern statistics, and deterministic candidate relationships. Meal and stool photos, free-text notes, exact timestamps, raw database rows, your name, contact details, location, and device identifiers are excluded from that request. Local insights remain available if remote interpretation is unavailable.

4. Temporary processing and operational data

Before a remotely analyzed photo is sent to an external processor, the GutLoop backend is designed to rotate, resize, re-encode, and strip unnecessary metadata from it. It processes image buffers in memory and does not intentionally retain the image or provider result after the request. External processors may apply separate processing and retention rules under the active deployment settings and applicable terms.

For remote requests, the backend may record limited operational details such as a request ID, route, duration, HTTP status, byte size, schema version, validation outcome, and normalized error category. These logs are designed not to contain photos, request bodies, AI responses, internal prompts, free-text notes, or health-content labels.

5. Website information

This website does not include custom advertising trackers or product analytics. The hosting and security infrastructure may process standard request information — such as IP address, device or browser details, requested URL, and time of access — to deliver the website, prevent abuse, and maintain reliability. If the website is access-restricted, the access provider may also process the information needed to authenticate an allowed visitor.

6. Photos, exports, and external copies

Selected photos can be copied into GutLoop app storage. Analysis and local retention are separate choices in the digestion camera: turning off “Save photo” removes the local temporary copy when the active flow ends, even if you consented to temporary remote processing.

GutLoop can create JSON and CSV export files locally and open the operating system's share sheet. Exports may contain a local image-path reference but do not automatically include the image file. If you save or share a photo or export outside GutLoop, the destination, photo service, cloud backup, or recipient may retain and process that copy. GutLoop cannot remove external copies for you.

7. How information is used

We use information only as needed to:

• Provide the logging, timeline, reminder, export, and insight features.
• Return an optional AI result that you requested and consented to.
• Protect the integrity, security, and reliability of the service.
• Investigate support reports and comply with legal obligations.

We do not sell personal information or use GutLoop records for advertising.

8. When information may be shared

Information may be processed by hosting, security, and AI service providers only to provide the requested feature or operate the service. We may also disclose information if required by applicable law, to protect rights or safety, or as part of a corporate transaction subject to appropriate protections. You control any export or share action you initiate from your device.

9. Retention and deletion

• Local records remain in GutLoop app data until you edit them, delete them, use Delete all data, or remove them through your device and backup controls.
• Temporary local photo-preparation files are removed after the active analysis flow. App-managed photos stay only when you choose to save them with a record.
• The GutLoop backend does not intentionally retain remote-analysis images or provider results after a request. Limited operational logs may be retained as needed for security, reliability, and legal obligations.
• External copies, including files you shared, photos you saved to a gallery, and device or cloud backups, are governed by those systems.

See the data deletion page for step-by-step instructions. Because the current beta has no GutLoop account, there is no online account profile to close.

10. Your choices

You can:

• Use manual logging without remote AI.
• Grant, decline, or revoke each supported AI consent separately.
• Choose whether an app-managed photo is retained with a record.
• Enable or disable local reminders and notification permission.
• Export, edit, or delete your records from the app.
• Manage app backup, photo-library, camera, and notification permissions in device settings.

11. Security

We use reasonable technical and organizational safeguards designed for the information GutLoop processes. No device, transmission, or storage system can be guaranteed completely secure. Protect your device with a strong passcode and keep its operating system current.

12. Health and sensitive information

Digestion records and photos can be sensitive. GutLoop is a tracking tool, not a medical device, and the app does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are concerned about symptoms or your health, contact a qualified healthcare professional. Seek urgent help for severe or rapidly worsening symptoms.

13. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy as GutLoop changes or legal requirements evolve. We will post the revised policy here and update the date above. Material changes may also be highlighted in the app or release notes.

14. Contact

For privacy questions or requests, use the GutLoop support page. Please do not include stool photos, detailed medical records, or other sensitive health information in a public issue.