1. Introduction
NEED Nutritional ("we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our nutrition monitoring platform and related services.
We comply with the Ethiopian Personal Data Protection Proclamation No. 1324/2024 and align with international standards including GDPR principles.
2. Information We Collect
2.1 Personal Information
- Name, email address, and phone number
- Profile photo (optional)
- Date of birth and gender
- Payment information (processed securely by payment providers)
2.2 Health and Nutrition Data
- Height, weight, and body measurements
- Dietary preferences and restrictions
- Food intake logs and meal plans
- Health goals and progress data
- Activity levels and exercise information
2.3 Technical Information
- Device information and browser type
- IP address and location data
- Usage patterns and app interactions
- Cookies and similar technologies
3. How We Use Your Information
We use your information to:
- Provide personalized nutrition recommendations and meal plans
- Connect you with nutrition professionals
- Track your health and nutrition progress
- Process payments and transactions
- Send important updates about your account and our services
- Improve our services through analytics
- Comply with legal obligations
- Support our Calorie Transfer Initiative (anonymized aggregate data only)
4. Data Storage and Security
Your data is stored securely on Google Cloud Platform infrastructure in the Johannesburg, South Africa data center (africa-south1 region). This location provides:
- ISO 27001, SOC 2, and SOC 3 certified security
- Encryption at rest and in transit
- Regular security audits and penetration testing
- Geographic proximity to Ethiopia for optimal performance
By using our service, you consent to the storage and processing of your data in this location.
5. Data Sharing
We may share your information with:
- Nutrition Professionals: Your assigned nutritionist can access your health data to provide personalized guidance
- Corporate Administrators: If you're part of a corporate wellness program, aggregate (anonymized) data may be shared with your employer
- Payment Processors: Stripe and Chapa for secure payment processing
- Service Providers: Third parties who assist in operating our platform
- Legal Requirements: When required by law or to protect our rights
We never sell your personal data to third parties.
6. Your Rights
Under applicable data protection laws, you have the right to:
- Access: Request a copy of your personal data
- Rectification: Correct inaccurate or incomplete data
- Erasure: Request deletion of your data ("right to be forgotten")
- Portability: Receive your data in a portable format
- Restriction: Limit how we process your data
- Objection: Object to certain processing activities
- Withdraw Consent: Withdraw previously given consent
To exercise these rights, contact us at privacy@neednutritional.com or use the Settings page in your account.
7. Data Retention
We retain your data for as long as:
- Your account is active
- Necessary to provide our services
- Required by law (e.g., financial records)
- Needed to resolve disputes or enforce agreements
When you delete your account, we will delete or anonymize your personal data within 30 days, except where retention is required by law.
8. Cookies and Tracking
We use cookies and similar technologies to:
- Keep you signed in
- Remember your preferences
- Understand how you use our service
- Improve our platform
You can manage cookie preferences through your browser settings.
9. Children's Privacy
Our service is not intended for children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe we have collected such information, please contact us immediately.
10. International Data Transfers
Your data may be processed in countries outside Ethiopia. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, including standard contractual clauses and compliance with local data protection requirements.
11. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. We will notify you of significant changes via email or through the app. Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance.
12. Contact Us
For privacy-related inquiries or to exercise your data rights:
Email: privacy@neednutritional.com
Data Protection Officer: dpo@neednutritional.com
Address: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
13. Regulatory Authority
If you have concerns about our data practices, you may also contact the Ethiopian Communications Authority (ECA) or the relevant data protection authority in your jurisdiction.