Legal

Privacy policy

This policy explains what Ingredient Index collects when you use the website, and how we use it. The catalogue is public. Accounts, supplier listings, and related tools may be switched on or off.

Last updated: 28 September 2026. Operator: Ingredient Index, ingredientindex.com.

Who we are

Ingredient Index is a public catalogue of ingredients, recipes, nutrition notes, and related kitchen information. You can browse most of the site without registering. If registration is enabled, you may create a shopper or supplier account.

What we collect

When you only browse

Technical data that web servers and analytics tools typically see: pages viewed, approximate time, browser type, language, referring site, and a coarse network address.
A shopping-list cookie so a guest list can survive across visits. That cookie is a random key, not your name or email.

When you use a shopping list

Guest lists are tied to the shopping-list cookie. Signed-in lists are tied to your account. List contents (ingredient, amount, notes, collected state) are stored so the list works on a later visit. If you later register or log in, a guest list may be claimed into that account.

When you create an account (if registration is available)

Email, password (stored as a one-way hash, not in plain text), first name, surname, home country, preferred currency, and public handle.
Optional profile picture, if you upload one.
Favourites, stock-interest settings, followed suppliers, and notification preferences.
If you register as a supplier: public contact details you choose to publish (such as phone, public email, website, collection address, service areas) and ingredient offerings (price, package, availability, notes).

You should not upload other people’s personal data, or anything you are not entitled to publish.

How we use it

To run and improve the catalogue, shopping lists, search, and (when enabled) accounts and supplier tools.
To show public supplier contact details and offerings that you chose to list.
To send account emails such as welcome or password-reset messages when those features are on.
To understand how the site is used through Google Analytics and, when configured, Umami. These tools help us see which pages are visited, not to sell a profile of you to advertisers.
To keep the service secure (for example failed logins and abuse).

We do not sell your personal information.

Analytics and cookies

We use first-party cookies that are needed for the site to work, and optional analytics cookies from Google Analytics. Details, including cookie names and how long they last, are in the cookie policy.

Sharing

We share information only as needed to operate the site, for example:

Hosting, database, and email delivery providers that process data on our instructions.
Google, for Analytics page-view measurement when that tag is enabled.
The public, for handle, supplier contact, and offering information you publish.
Authorities if the law requires it, or to protect the site and other users.

How long we keep it

Guest shopping-list keys last up to a year of inactivity on the cookie; abandoned lists may be removed as part of ordinary housekeeping.
Account data is kept while the account is open. Closing an account disables it and signs you out; residual backups may remain for a limited time.
Public catalogue content (ingredients, recipes, nutrition) is editorial data, not your personal account.
Server and analytics logs are kept only as long as useful for security and statistics.

Your choices

You can browse without an account.
You can delete a guest shopping list by clearing site cookies, or edit list items in the shopping-list pages.
If you have an account, you can update your profile and, where the feature exists, close the account.
You can block or delete analytics cookies in your browser. Strictly necessary cookies are required for lists and sign-in to work.

Depending on where you live, you may have rights to access, correct, or delete personal data, or to object to certain processing. Use the contact method published on this website. We may need to verify that the request is yours.

Children

The site is a general kitchen reference. It is not aimed at children, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children for accounts. Do not register if you are not old enough to form a contract in your country.

Accuracy and food information

Ingredient, nutrition, recipe, pairing, and supplier information is provided for general interest. It may be incomplete, out of date, or wrong. It is not medical, dietary, allergen, or food-safety advice. Always check labels, suppliers, and qualified professionals before you cook, eat, sell, or rely on anything on this site. See the terms and conditions.

International visitors

The site is offered from the internet and may be hosted or viewed in more than one country. If you use it from elsewhere, you understand that information may be processed outside your home country.

Changes

We may update this policy. The “Last updated” date will change. Continued use after a change means you accept the revised policy.