This Privacy Policy explains how the Barktein app (“Barktein,” “the app,” “we,” “us,” or “our”), operated by John Santia under SanMan, handles information when you use the app. By using Barktein, you agree to the practices described here.
Local-first by design. Barktein is built so your protein logs, daily goal, reminders, and Rex progress live on your device. In the free local-first version, we do not require an account, and we do not operate a Barktein backend that stores your tracking data.
Barktein is a protein intake tracker with a playful companion character (Rex). It provides informational, general-guideline tools only and does not provide medical or dietary advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
When you use Barktein, the following may be stored locally on your device (for example via on-device storage):
Because this data stays on your device, uninstalling the app or clearing app data typically deletes it, unless you have used a system backup that restores the app container (e.g. iCloud device backup controlled by Apple and your device settings).
In the current free local-first version of Barktein, we do not:
If you scan a product barcode that Barktein does not already know, the app can look it up in the Open Food Facts public database (a non-profit, open-data project). In that case, Barktein sends only the barcode number to Open Food Facts — never photos or camera images, never your protein logs, and never any account or device identifier beyond the standard network information any web request carries. Camera frames used for scanning are processed on your device and are not stored or uploaded.
You can turn online barcode lookup off at any time in Settings → Online Barcode Lookup; scanning then works fully offline using values you enter from the food label. Nutrition data returned by Open Food Facts is community-contributed, provided under the Open Database License, and is always shown to you as an editable estimate before anything is saved. Open Food Facts’ own privacy practices are described at world.openfoodfacts.org/privacy.
If you choose to use photo estimation and give your explicit consent in the app, Barktein sends the meal photo you select to SanMan’s server, which asks an AI service (Anthropic’s Claude) to recognize the food and estimate its nutrition. Photos are processed in memory only: SanMan does not store them, and Anthropic does not use API data to train its models. An anonymous, random install identifier accompanies the request solely for rate limiting — no account, name, or tracking identifier.
Results are always shown as editable estimates — never measurements, and never medical or dietary advice. The first three estimates are free; further use requires Barktein PRO. You can withdraw consent anytime in Settings → Photo Estimation Consent; the rest of Barktein works identically without it.
If you enable bark reminders, Barktein uses the operating system’s local notification APIs to schedule alerts on your device. Notification permission is optional. We do not use notification content to profile you on our servers, because those reminders are scheduled and delivered locally.
If you purchase Barktein PRO (auto-renewable Annual or Monthly subscriptions, and/or a Lifetime one-time purchase), payment is processed by Apple. We may use a subscription helper such as RevenueCat to receive subscription or entitlement status (for example, whether PRO is active and which product ID unlocked it) so the app can unlock features. We do not receive or store your full payment card details — Apple handles payment.
Product identifiers include app.sanman.barktein.pro.annual, app.sanman.barktein.pro.monthly, and app.sanman.barktein.pro.lifetime. Free trials, when offered by Apple for a subscription, are part of Apple’s purchase flow; we do not use trial eligibility to build advertising profiles.
If you never purchase PRO, this section has limited practical effect: free local-first tracking does not require a payment account with us.
Apple and Google (if Android is offered later) may collect standard app distribution, crash, and device analytics according to your system settings and their policies. That data is controlled by the platform, not by a Barktein account backend.
If we later add optional crash reporting or analytics, we will update this policy and, where required, obtain consent or provide in-app notice before enabling it.
On-device data is used only to:
We do not sell personal information. In the free local-first version we do not share your protein logs with third parties because we do not receive them. Platform providers (Apple) process distribution and, if applicable, payments under their own terms.
Your tracking data is protected by the security of your device (passcode, biometrics, OS sandboxing). We do not operate a Barktein cloud database for free v1. No method of storage is completely secure; protect your device and backups accordingly.
You can:
Depending on where you live (for example Canada / PIPEDA, EEA/UK GDPR, California CCPA/CPRA), you may have additional rights. Because free v1 is local-first, most “access/export/delete” actions are performed by you on the device. We will honor verified legal requests as required by applicable law.
Barktein is a general-audience app and is not directed to children under 13 (or the equivalent minimum age in your jurisdiction). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under that age through a Barktein account system (we do not offer accounts in free v1).
Protein targets and related numbers in Barktein are general guidelines for informational purposes only. They are not medical or dietary advice. Consult a qualified professional for personalized nutrition or health guidance.
The app is operated from Ontario, Canada. Platform services you use (Apple) may process data in other countries under their policies.
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will revise the “Last updated” date above and, where appropriate, provide notice in the app or on this page. Continued use after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
For privacy questions, contact:
John Santia — Barktein / SanMan
support@sanman.app
Ontario, Canada