BiteShare Terms of Service
Effective Date: July 2026. These terms govern the redistribution of surplus food, safety compliance, pickup handshakes, and platform transaction models.
1. Food Quality & Safety Compliance
Food Donors (including restaurants, bakeries, caterers, and grocery outlets) warrant that all surplus meals listed on BiteShare are freshly prepared, wholesome, and fit for human consumption.
- Municipal Health Standards: Items must strictly adhere to local food safety and hygiene regulations (e.g., FSSAI standards in India).
- Allergen Transparency: Donors are obligated to declare major allergens (nuts, dairy, gluten, shellfish) during bundle creation.
- Storage Integrity: Temperature-sensitive perishable items must be maintained in proper refrigeration until pickup.
2. Platform Business Model & 10% Service Fee
BiteShare operates on a sustainable social-enterprise model. For discounted paid surplus bundles (Surplus Surprise Boxes):
* Note: 100% Free donation bundles routed to verified non-profit community shelters remain completely exempt from all platform fees.
3. Pickup Windows & 4-Digit Security PIN Handshake
To maintain real-time inventory accuracy and food freshness, all claims are subject to strict verification handshakes:
4. Cancellation, Refunds & No-Show Policies
Because surplus food is highly perishable, standard e-commerce cancellation rules do not apply:
- Recipient Cancellations: Paid claims can be cancelled up to 30 minutes before the pickup window opens for a full refund (minus gateway processing charges).
- Uncollected Food (No-Shows): Claims left uncollected past the window close time will be forfeited without refund to compensate the donor for store holding.
- Quality Refunds: If claimed food is uncollected due to store closure or mismatched safety standards, recipients must report within 15 minutes at pickup for a 100% refund.
5. Limitation of Liability & Intermediary Status
BiteShare acts purely as an intermediary technology platform connecting independent food providers with local consumers and shelters.
BiteShare does not cook, inspect, or transport food items directly. Donors remain solely liable for the quality, preparation accuracy, and sanitary state of their food listings under local civil and food safety laws.
6. Community Conduct & Anti-Fraud Protocol
To protect local businesses and community trust, the following behaviors trigger immediate account suspension:
7. Governance & Amendments
BiteShare reserves the right to modify these terms to reflect changes in food safety regulations or platform features. Registered users will receive email notifications 14 days prior to any material policy changes taking effect.