Terms of Service

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of the FoodSafe Score API website, API services, and related products (collectively, the "Service") operated by FoodSafe Score API ("we," "our," or "us"). By accessing or using the Service, you agree to be bound by these Terms.

1. Acceptance of Terms

By creating an account, accessing our API, or using any part of the Service, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms and our Privacy Policy. If you are using the Service on behalf of an organization, you represent that you have the authority to bind that organization to these Terms.

If you do not agree to these Terms, you must not access or use the Service.

2. Service Description

FoodSafe Score API provides a RESTful API that aggregates, normalizes, and scores restaurant health inspection data from public government sources across US jurisdictions. The Service transforms inconsistent local inspection formats into a unified 0-100 scoring system, enabling developers and businesses to integrate food safety intelligence into their applications.

Key capabilities of the Service include:

• Unified health inspection scores across 3,000+ jurisdictions
• Restaurant lookup by name, address, or geographic coordinates
• Historical inspection data and trend analysis
• Violation categorization and severity classification
• Webhook notifications for score changes

3. Account Terms

To use the API, you must register for an account and provide accurate, complete information. You are responsible for:

• Maintaining the security of your account credentials and API keys
• All activity that occurs under your account
• Notifying us immediately of any unauthorized use of your account
• Ensuring your use complies with all applicable laws and regulations

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms or engage in abusive behavior.

4. API Usage and Rate Limits

Your use of the API is subject to rate limits and usage quotas based on your subscription plan. Specific limits are detailed on our pricing page and in the API documentation.

• You must not exceed the rate limits assigned to your plan
• You must not attempt to circumvent rate limiting through multiple accounts or other means
• You must not use the API in a manner that degrades service quality for other users
• You must include proper attribution when displaying health inspection data to end users, as specified in the API documentation
• You must not scrape, cache, or redistribute raw API data in bulk without prior written consent

We reserve the right to throttle, suspend, or revoke API access for accounts that violate usage policies.

5. Data Accuracy Disclaimer

The health inspection data provided through our API is sourced from publicly available government records. While we make reasonable efforts to ensure data accuracy and timeliness, you acknowledge and agree that:

• Data is provided "as is" without warranties of completeness, accuracy, or currency
• Government source data may contain errors, omissions, or delays in publication
• Our normalized scores are algorithmic interpretations and may not perfectly reflect the original inspection results
• Data availability varies by jurisdiction - not all areas have digitized inspection records
• We are not responsible for decisions made based on the data provided through our API

You should not rely solely on our data for health or safety decisions. Always verify critical information with the relevant local health department.

6. Pricing and Payment

Paid plans are billed monthly or annually as selected at the time of purchase. By subscribing to a paid plan, you agree to the following:

• Fees are charged in advance on a recurring basis
• All fees are non-refundable except as required by law
• We may change pricing with 30 days written notice - continued use after notice constitutes acceptance
• Failure to pay may result in suspension or termination of your account
• Overage charges may apply if you exceed your plan limits, as detailed on the pricing page

Free tier usage is subject to the same Terms, with reduced rate limits and features as described on the pricing page.

7. Intellectual Property

The Service, including its design, code, documentation, branding, and proprietary scoring algorithms, is owned by FoodSafe Score API and protected by intellectual property laws.

• We grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to use the API in accordance with these Terms
• You retain ownership of any applications you build using our API
• The underlying public health inspection data remains in the public domain
• You must not reverse-engineer our scoring algorithms or data normalization processes
• You must not use our branding or trademarks without prior written permission

8. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law:

• The Service is provided "as is" and "as available" without warranties of any kind, whether express or implied
• We disclaim all warranties, including merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement
• We are not liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages
• Our total liability for any claims arising from these Terms or the Service shall not exceed the amount you paid us in the 12 months preceding the claim
• We are not liable for service interruptions, data loss, or damages resulting from third-party actions or force majeure events

9. Termination

Either party may terminate this agreement at any time:

• You may cancel your account at any time through your account settings or by contacting us
• We may suspend or terminate your access immediately if you violate these Terms
• Upon termination, your right to use the Service ceases immediately
• We may retain certain data as required by law or for legitimate business purposes
• Sections regarding intellectual property, limitation of liability, and governing law survive termination

10. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, United States, without regard to its conflict of law provisions. Any disputes arising from these Terms or the Service shall be resolved in the state or federal courts located in Delaware.

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue in full force and effect.

11. Changes to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. We will provide notice of material changes by posting the updated Terms on this page and updating the "Last updated" date. For significant changes, we may also notify you via email.

Your continued use of the Service after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms. If you disagree with the changes, you must stop using the Service and close your account.

12. Contact Us

If you have questions about these Terms of Service, please reach out through our waitlist and contact form. We aim to respond to all inquiries within 30 days.