fix

apps/api/internal/catalog/repair_enhance_hashes.go

@@ -23,7 +23,8 @@ type RepairWeakEnhanceHashesResult struct {
 
 // RepairWeakEnhanceHashes clears enhance_input_hash from field_sources and
 // localized_content for processed products whose descriptions are weak /
-// title-echo / filler (so the next enhance cannot hash-skip thin priors).
+// title-echo / filler / invent-synthesize (so the next enhance cannot hash-skip
+// thin or heuristic priors).
 // Returns the number of products updated.
 func RepairWeakEnhanceHashes(ctx context.Context, pool *pgxpool.Pool, companyID uuid.UUID) (int64, error) {
 	res, err := RepairWeakEnhanceHashesDetailed(ctx, pool, companyID)
@@ -124,7 +125,7 @@ func repairWeakEnhanceHashesTx(ctx context.Context, tx pgx.Tx, companyID uuid.UU
 		}
 
 		if _, has := fs[enhanceInputHashKey]; has {
-			if company.IsWeakPriorEnhanceDescription(primaryDesc, primaryName, name) {
+			if company.ShouldRefuseEnhanceHashSkip(primaryDesc, primaryName, name) {
 				delete(fs, enhanceInputHashKey)
 				changed = true
 			}
@@ -139,7 +140,7 @@ func repairWeakEnhanceHashesTx(ctx context.Context, tx pgx.Tx, companyID uuid.UU
 			if strings.TrimSpace(fields.EnhanceInputHash) == "" {
 				continue
 			}
-			if company.IsWeakPriorEnhanceDescription(d, n, primaryName, name) {
+			if company.ShouldRefuseEnhanceHashSkip(d, n, primaryName, name) {
 				fields.EnhanceInputHash = ""
 				loc[lang] = fields
 				changed = true

apps/api/internal/catalog/service.go

@@ -950,7 +950,7 @@ func (s *Service) ListRawProducts(ctx context.Context, companyID uuid.UUID, f Li
 				SELECT rp.id, rp.gtin, rp.feed_id, rp.is_processed, rp.processing_status,
 					COALESCE(NULLIF(rp.mapped_data->>'name', ''), NULLIF(rp.mapped_data->>'title', ''), '') AS name,
 					NULLIF(BTRIM(rp.mapped_data->>'category'), '') AS category,
-					COALESCE(cat.name, NULLIF(BTRIM(rp.mapped_data->>'category'), '')) AS category_name,
+					cat.name AS category_name,
 					COALESCE(cat.unique_id, NULLIF(BTRIM(rp.mapped_data->>'category'), '')) AS category_unique_id,
 					f.name AS feed_name,
 					rp.mapped_data->'_sync_changes' AS sync_changes,
@@ -1099,7 +1099,7 @@ func (s *Service) ListProcessedProducts(ctx context.Context, companyID uuid.UUID
 					`+processedPreferredNameSQL+` AS name,
 					COALESCE(NULLIF(p.processed_name, ''), '') AS processed_name,
 					p.category,
-					COALESCE(cat.name, NULLIF(BTRIM(p.category), '')) AS category_name,
+					cat.name AS category_name,
 					COALESCE(cat.unique_id, NULLIF(BTRIM(p.category), '')) AS category_unique_id,
 					p.status, p.raw_product_id, COALESCE(p.feed_id, r.feed_id) AS feed_id, r.gtin,
 					f.name AS feed_name,
@@ -1186,7 +1186,7 @@ func (s *Service) ListProcessedProductsDetailed(ctx context.Context, companyID u
 				SELECT p.id, p.product_id,
 					`+processedPreferredNameSQL+` AS name,
 					p.category,
-					COALESCE(cat.name, NULLIF(BTRIM(p.category), '')) AS category_name,
+					cat.name AS category_name,
 					COALESCE(cat.unique_id, NULLIF(BTRIM(p.category), '')) AS category_unique_id,
 					p.status, p.raw_product_id, p.feed_id, r.gtin,
 					`+processedPreferredDescriptionSQL+` AS description,
@@ -1226,7 +1226,7 @@ func (s *Service) GetProcessedProduct(ctx context.Context, companyID, id uuid.UU
 		SELECT p.id, p.product_id,
 			`+processedPreferredNameSQL+` AS name,
 			p.category,
-			COALESCE(cat.name, NULLIF(BTRIM(p.category), '')) AS category_name,
+			cat.name AS category_name,
 			COALESCE(cat.unique_id, NULLIF(BTRIM(p.category), '')) AS category_unique_id,
 			`+processedPreferredDescriptionSQL+` AS description,
 			p.processed_name, p.processed_description,
@@ -1279,7 +1279,7 @@ func (s *Service) GetRawProduct(ctx context.Context, companyID, id uuid.UUID) (m
 			COALESCE(NULLIF(rp.gtin, ''), '') AS product_id,
 			COALESCE(NULLIF(rp.mapped_data->>'name', ''), NULLIF(rp.mapped_data->>'title', ''), '') AS name,
 			NULLIF(BTRIM(rp.mapped_data->>'category'), '') AS category,
-			COALESCE(cat.name, NULLIF(BTRIM(rp.mapped_data->>'category'), '')) AS category_name,
+			cat.name AS category_name,
 			COALESCE(cat.unique_id, NULLIF(BTRIM(rp.mapped_data->>'category'), '')) AS category_unique_id,
 			COALESCE(NULLIF(rp.mapped_data->>'description', ''), '') AS description,
 			''::text AS processed_name,

apps/api/internal/company/weak_desc.go

@@ -25,25 +25,98 @@ var weakFillerPhrases = []string{
 
 // IsWeakPriorEnhanceDescription reports empty, too-short, title-echo, known filler,
 // or short boilerplate without overlapping tokens from title/fact sources.
+// Heuristic synthesize (invent) is intentionally excluded — use ShouldRefuseEnhanceHashSkip.
 func IsWeakPriorEnhanceDescription(priorDesc string, titles ...string) bool {
-	priorDesc = strings.TrimSpace(priorDesc)
-	if priorDesc == "" || priorDesc == "<nil>" {
-		return true
-	}
-	if len([]rune(priorDesc)) < minUsableProductDescRunes {
-		return true
-	}
-	for _, title := range titles {
-		if DescriptionEchoesTitle(priorDesc, title) {
+	reason := EnhanceHashSkipBlockReason(priorDesc, titles...)
+	return reason == "weak" || reason == "title-echo"
+}
+
+// heuristicSynthesizePhrases are distinctive invent / formula-skeleton snippets from
+// synthesizeDescriptionFromTitle / synthesizeDescriptionFromFormula. These may look
+// "strong" enough to pass IsWeakPriorEnhanceDescription but must never hash-skip
+// enhance (would leave fallback copy forever on reprocess).
+var heuristicSynthesizePhrases = []string{
+	"is a catalog product with the known attributes",
+	"is listed in the ",
+	". key specs:",
+	"je katalogski izdelek z znanimi atributi",
+	"je izdelek v kategoriji",
+	"je izdelek znamke",
+	". ključne specifikacije:",
+}
+
+// LooksLikeHeuristicSynthesize reports invent / formula-skeleton fallback copy.
+func LooksLikeHeuristicSynthesize(desc string) bool {
+	lower := strings.ToLower(desc)
+	for _, p := range heuristicSynthesizePhrases {
+		if p != "" && strings.Contains(lower, p) {
 			return true
 		}
 	}
-	if ContainsWeakFillerPhrase(priorDesc) {
+	// EN invent: "<title> is a <category> product from <brand>"
+	if strings.Contains(lower, " is a ") && strings.Contains(lower, " product from ") {
 		return true
 	}
+	return false
+}
+
+// EnhanceHashSkipBlockReason returns a stable reason when prior description must
+// not hash-skip the enhance LLM: "weak", "title-echo", "synth", or "".
+func EnhanceHashSkipBlockReason(priorDesc string, titles ...string) string {
+	priorDesc = strings.TrimSpace(priorDesc)
+	if priorDesc == "" || priorDesc == "<nil>" {
+		return "weak"
+	}
+	if len([]rune(priorDesc)) < minUsableProductDescRunes {
+		return "weak"
+	}
+	for _, title := range titles {
+		if DescriptionEchoesTitle(priorDesc, title) {
+			return "title-echo"
+		}
+	}
+	if ContainsWeakFillerPhrase(priorDesc) {
+		return "weak"
+	}
+	if LooksLikeHeuristicSynthesize(priorDesc) {
+		return "synth"
+	}
 	if len([]rune(priorDesc)) <= shortBoilerplateDescRunes &&
 		!descriptionOverlapsProductFacts(priorDesc, titles...) {
-		return true
+		return "weak"
+	}
+	return ""
+}
+
+// ShouldRefuseEnhanceHashSkip is true when a stored enhance_input_hash must be
+// ignored / cleared (weak, title-echo, or heuristic synthesize).
+func ShouldRefuseEnhanceHashSkip(priorDesc string, titles ...string) bool {
+	return EnhanceHashSkipBlockReason(priorDesc, titles...) != ""
+}
+
+// DescriptionMissingFormulaHTMLTags is true when sectionTypes require HTML tags
+// (h1/h2/h3/h4, p, ul) that are absent from desc — formula-mismatch for skip/clear.
+func DescriptionMissingFormulaHTMLTags(desc string, sectionTypes []string) bool {
+	if len(sectionTypes) == 0 {
+		return false
+	}
+	lower := strings.ToLower(desc)
+	for _, raw := range sectionTypes {
+		typ := strings.ToLower(strings.TrimSpace(raw))
+		switch typ {
+		case "h1", "h2", "h3", "h4":
+			if !strings.Contains(lower, "<"+typ) {
+				return true
+			}
+		case "ul":
+			if !strings.Contains(lower, "<ul") {
+				return true
+			}
+		case "p", "":
+			if !strings.Contains(lower, "<p") {
+				return true
+			}
+		}
 	}
 	return false
 }

apps/api/internal/company/weak_desc_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+package company
+
+import "testing"
+
+func TestLooksLikeHeuristicSynthesize(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+	title := "Vogel's WALL 3245 TV Wall Mount"
+	en := title + " is a TV Mounts product from Vogel's. Key specs: width 45 cm, max_load 40 kg."
+	if !LooksLikeHeuristicSynthesize(en) {
+		t.Fatalf("expected EN invent detected: %q", en)
+	}
+	sl := title + " je izdelek v kategoriji TV Mounts znamke Vogel's. Ključne specifikacije: width 45 cm."
+	if !LooksLikeHeuristicSynthesize(sl) {
+		t.Fatalf("expected SL invent detected: %q", sl)
+	}
+	good := "Vogel's WALL 3245 is a sturdy TV mount with clear load ratings and install guidance for wall displays."
+	if LooksLikeHeuristicSynthesize(good) {
+		t.Fatalf("retail copy must not look like invent: %q", good)
+	}
+	if !ShouldRefuseEnhanceHashSkip(en, title) {
+		t.Fatal("invent must refuse hash skip")
+	}
+	if ShouldRefuseEnhanceHashSkip(good, title) {
+		t.Fatal("good retail copy must allow hash skip")
+	}
+	if !ShouldRefuseEnhanceHashSkip(title, title) {
+		t.Fatal("title-echo must refuse hash skip")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestDescriptionMissingFormulaHTMLTags(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+	types := []string{"h1", "p", "ul"}
+	if !DescriptionMissingFormulaHTMLTags("plain prose without tags", types) {
+		t.Fatal("plain prose must mismatch")
+	}
+	if DescriptionMissingFormulaHTMLTags("<h1>T</h1><p>Body</p><ul><li>x</li></ul>", types) {
+		t.Fatal("full HTML must match")
+	}
+}

apps/api/internal/processing/ai.go

@@ -112,6 +112,14 @@ type ProductInput struct {
 	PriorProcessedDescription string
 	PriorCategory             string
 	PriorLocalized            company.LocalizedContent
+	// JobID / CompanyID / RawProductID are optional worker correlation ids for
+	// structured ai_enhance logs (never secrets). Empty in unit tests.
+	JobID         string
+	CompanyID     string
+	RawProductID  string
+	// CategoryUniqueID is the taxonomy unique_id for overlay/formula keys when
+	// the enhance display category argument is a localized name.
+	CategoryUniqueID string
 }
 
 // CategoryFormulas holds optional title/description templates for one category key.

apps/api/internal/processing/catalog_fix.go

@@ -356,12 +356,12 @@ func RecommendReprocessRawProductIDs(ctx context.Context, pool *pgxpool.Pool, co
 		if isPromptLabelTitle(primaryName) || isPromptLabelTitle(processedName) || isPromptLabelTitle(name) {
 			needs = true
 		}
-		if isWeakPriorEnhanceDescription(primaryDesc, primaryName, name) {
+		if company.ShouldRefuseEnhanceHashSkip(primaryDesc, primaryName, name) {
 			needs = true
 		}
 		if _, has := fs[FieldEnhanceInputHash]; !has {
 			// Missing hash after weak clear / never enhanced — recommend when desc weak or empty category.
-			if isWeakPriorEnhanceDescription(primaryDesc, primaryName, name) || strings.TrimSpace(category) == "" {
+			if company.ShouldRefuseEnhanceHashSkip(primaryDesc, primaryName, name) || strings.TrimSpace(category) == "" {
 				needs = true
 			}
 		}
@@ -371,7 +371,7 @@ func RecommendReprocessRawProductIDs(ctx context.Context, pool *pgxpool.Pool, co
 			if n == "" {
 				n = primaryName
 			}
-			if fields.EnhanceInputHash == "" && isWeakPriorEnhanceDescription(d, n, primaryName, name) {
+			if fields.EnhanceInputHash == "" && company.ShouldRefuseEnhanceHashSkip(d, n, primaryName, name) {
 				needs = true
 				break
 			}

apps/api/internal/processing/category.go

@@ -7,13 +7,21 @@ import (
 )
 
 // categoryDisplayLabel returns the human category name for meta / synthesize /
-// {{category}}. Prefers CategoryName; never falls back to a digits-only unique_id.
+// {{category}}. Prefers taxonomy CategoryName; never falls back to a digits-only
+// unique_id, prompt/formula leakage, or the product title itself.
 func categoryDisplayLabel(result StepResult) string {
 	if n := strings.TrimSpace(result.CategoryName); n != "" {
-		return n
+		// CategoryName comes from categories.name — trust unless prompt leakage.
+		if !isPromptLabelTitle(n) {
+			return n
+		}
 	}
 	cat := strings.TrimSpace(result.Category)
-	if cat == "" || isDigitsOnlyCategoryID(cat) {
+	if cat == "" || isDigitsOnlyCategoryID(cat) || isPromptLabelTitle(cat) {
+		return ""
+	}
+	// Unresolved non-uid token: never surface the product name as {{category}}.
+	if categoryTokenEqualsProductTitle(cat, result.ProcessedName, result.Name) {
 		return ""
 	}
 	return cat
@@ -109,6 +117,10 @@ func normalizeCategoryUniqueID(s string) string {
 	if s == "" || s == "<nil>" || strings.EqualFold(s, "none") {
 		return ""
 	}
+	// Never treat enhance-prompt / formula scaffolding as a category unique_id.
+	if isPromptLabelTitle(s) {
+		return ""
+	}
 	return s
 }
 
@@ -155,7 +167,10 @@ func applyCategoryFromMapped(out *StepResult, maps ...map[string]any) {
 		return
 	}
 	cat := categoryUniqueIDFromMaps(maps...)
-	if cat == "" {
+	// Prompt/formula leakage never becomes Category. Product-title equals are
+	// scrubbed later (scrubCategoryPollution) so a title that matches a real
+	// taxonomy display name can still coerce to unique_id.
+	if cat == "" || isPromptLabelTitle(cat) {
 		return
 	}
 	out.Category = SanitizeText(cat)
@@ -213,6 +228,15 @@ func coerceCategoryToCompanyUniqueID(out *StepResult, namesByUID map[string]stri
 	if cat == "" {
 		return
 	}
+	if isPromptLabelTitle(cat) {
+		out.Category = ""
+		out.CategoryName = ""
+		if out.FieldSources == nil {
+			out.FieldSources = map[string]any{}
+		}
+		out.FieldSources["category"] = "cleared_invalid"
+		return
+	}
 	resolved := resolveCompanyCategoryUniqueID(cat, namesByUID, valid)
 	if resolved == "" || resolved == cat {
 		return
@@ -241,8 +265,10 @@ func filterCategoryIfInvalid(out *StepResult, valid map[string]struct{}) {
 		return
 	}
 	out.Category = ""
-	if out.FieldSources != nil {
-		delete(out.FieldSources, "category")
+	out.CategoryName = ""
+	if out.FieldSources == nil {
+		out.FieldSources = map[string]any{}
 	}
+	out.FieldSources["category"] = "cleared_invalid"
 	out.Notes = append(out.Notes, "category: ignored (unknown unique_id for company)")
 }

apps/api/internal/processing/category_test.go

@@ -133,6 +133,9 @@ func TestFilterCategoryIfInvalid(t *testing.T) {
 	if out.Category != "" {
 		t.Fatalf("invalid unique_id kept: %q", out.Category)
 	}
+	if src, _ := out.FieldSources["category"].(string); src != "cleared_invalid" {
+		t.Fatalf("field_sources.category=%v want cleared_invalid", out.FieldSources["category"])
+	}
 	out.Category = "50"
 	filterCategoryIfInvalid(&out, nil)
 	if out.Category != "50" {
@@ -179,6 +182,76 @@ func TestCoerceCategoryToCompanyUniqueID_nameToUID(t *testing.T) {
 	if out.Category != "" {
 		t.Fatalf("unknown should clear: %q", out.Category)
 	}
+	if src, _ := out.FieldSources["category"].(string); src != "cleared_invalid" {
+		t.Fatalf("field_sources.category=%v want cleared_invalid", out.FieldSources["category"])
+	}
+}
+
+// Product titles (and nested category.name copies of the title) must never land
+// in Category — only taxonomy unique_ids (+ display names from categories).
+func TestRunSteps_productTitleNeverBecomesCategory(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+	const productTitle = "Bosch Serie 6 WAU28PH0BY 9kg White Washing Machine"
+	names := map[string]string{"50": "Pralni stroji", "28": "TV mounts"}
+	e := &Engine{Vector: NoopVectorCategorizer{}}
+
+	out, err := e.RunSteps(context.Background(), "co", ProductInput{
+		GTIN: "4242005191234",
+		Name: productTitle,
+		Mapped: map[string]any{
+			"name": productTitle,
+			"category": map[string]any{
+				"name": productTitle, // feed pollution: product title as category.name
+			},
+		},
+		CategoryNamesByUID: names,
+	}, "normalize_only", nil, StepPolicy{})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if out.Category == productTitle || strings.EqualFold(out.Category, productTitle) {
+		t.Fatalf("Category must not be product title: %q", out.Category)
+	}
+	if out.CategoryName == productTitle || strings.EqualFold(out.CategoryName, productTitle) {
+		t.Fatalf("CategoryName must not be product title: %q", out.CategoryName)
+	}
+	if cat := categoryDisplayLabel(out); cat == productTitle || strings.EqualFold(cat, productTitle) {
+		t.Fatalf("categoryDisplayLabel leaked product title: %q", cat)
+	}
+	if out.Category != "" {
+		t.Fatalf("Category=%q want empty (unresolved product-title token scrubbed)", out.Category)
+	}
+
+	// Plain string category == product title must also be scrubbed.
+	out2, err := e.RunSteps(context.Background(), "co", ProductInput{
+		GTIN: "4242005191235",
+		Name: productTitle,
+		Mapped: map[string]any{
+			"name":     productTitle,
+			"category": productTitle,
+		},
+		CategoryNamesByUID: names,
+	}, "normalize_only", nil, StepPolicy{})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if out2.Category != "" {
+		t.Fatalf("plain title-as-category kept: %q", out2.Category)
+	}
+
+	// Real taxonomy display name still coerces via processOne helpers.
+	out3 := StepResult{Category: "Pralni stroji", Name: productTitle, ProcessedName: productTitle}
+	valid := map[string]struct{}{"50": {}, "28": {}}
+	coerceCategoryToCompanyUniqueID(&out3, names, valid)
+	filterCategoryIfInvalid(&out3, valid)
+	scrubCategoryPollution(&out3, names, valid)
+	syncCategoryName(&out3, names)
+	if out3.Category != "50" {
+		t.Fatalf("taxonomy name coerce: Category=%q want 50", out3.Category)
+	}
+	if out3.CategoryName != "Pralni stroji" {
+		t.Fatalf("CategoryName=%q want Pralni stroji", out3.CategoryName)
+	}
 }
 
 func TestResolveCompanyCategoryUniqueID_usedByV1Projection(t *testing.T) {

apps/api/internal/processing/enhance_hash.go

@@ -63,3 +63,12 @@ func enhanceStatusFromMeta(raw any) string {
 	s, _ := m["status"].(string)
 	return s
 }
+
+func enhanceReasonFromMeta(raw any) string {
+	m, ok := raw.(map[string]any)
+	if !ok {
+		return ""
+	}
+	s, _ := m["reason"].(string)
+	return s
+}

apps/api/internal/processing/enhance_hash_test.go

@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ func TestRunSteps_skipsEnhanceWhenInputHashUnchanged(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("preferKnownProviderMode(unknown, internal)=%q", got)
 	}
 	joined := strings.Join(out.Notes, ";")
-	if !strings.Contains(joined, "unchanged") {
+	if !strings.Contains(joined, "ai_enhance_unchanged") {
 		t.Fatalf("notes=%v", out.Notes)
 	}
 }
@@ -279,6 +279,195 @@ func TestRunSteps_synthesizedDescDoesNotPersistEnhanceHash(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestRunSteps_formulaIgnoredByLLM_retriesThenSynthesizes(t *testing.T) {
+	calls := 0
+	var sawFormulaRetry bool
+	e := &Engine{
+		Completer: stubCompleter{fn: func(system, user string) (Completion, error) {
+			calls++
+			if strings.Contains(user, "INVALID DESCRIPTION") {
+				sawFormulaRetry = true
+			}
+			// Non-weak short prose that ignores multi-section HTML formula.
+			return Completion{
+				Text:        `{"name":"GIGABYTE GS27QC","description":"GIGABYTE GS27QC is a gaming monitor with a 61 cm curved panel for immersive play."}`,
+				TotalTokens: 4,
+			}, nil
+		}},
+		Vector: NoopVectorCategorizer{},
+	}
+	descTpl := map[string]any{
+		"sections": []any{
+			map[string]any{"type": "h1", "instructions": "Heading"},
+			map[string]any{"type": "p", "instructions": "Body"},
+			map[string]any{"type": "ul", "instructions": "Specs"},
+		},
+	}
+	out, err := e.RunSteps(context.Background(), "co", ProductInput{
+		Name:   "GIGABYTE GS27QC",
+		Mapped: map[string]any{"name": "GIGABYTE GS27QC", "category": "7", "brand": "GIGABYTE", "width": "61 cm"},
+		CategoryFormulasByKey: map[string]CategoryFormulas{
+			"7": {DescriptionTemplate: descTpl},
+		},
+		Language: "en",
+	}, "enhance_only", nil, StepPolicy{AllowAI: true, AllowEPREL: true})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if calls < 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected formula retry after ignore, calls=%d", calls)
+	}
+	if !sawFormulaRetry {
+		t.Fatal("expected INVALID DESCRIPTION retry user suffix")
+	}
+	for _, tag := range []string{"<h1>", "<p>", "<ul>"} {
+		if !strings.Contains(out.ProcessedDescription, tag) {
+			t.Fatalf("expected formula HTML with %s, got %q", tag, out.ProcessedDescription)
+		}
+	}
+	if h, _ := out.FieldSources[FieldEnhanceInputHash].(string); h != "" {
+		t.Fatalf("formula synthesize must not persist hash, got %q", h)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestRunSteps_formulaHTMLFromLLM_persistsHash(t *testing.T) {
+	e := &Engine{
+		Completer: stubCompleter{fn: func(system, user string) (Completion, error) {
+			return Completion{
+				Text:        `{"name":"GIGABYTE GS27QC","description":"<h1>GIGABYTE GS27QC</h1><p>Curved gaming monitor.</p><ul><li>width 61 cm</li></ul>"}`,
+				TotalTokens: 6,
+			}, nil
+		}},
+		Vector: NoopVectorCategorizer{},
+	}
+	descTpl := map[string]any{
+		"sections": []any{
+			map[string]any{"type": "h1", "instructions": "Heading"},
+			map[string]any{"type": "p", "instructions": "Body"},
+			map[string]any{"type": "ul", "instructions": "Specs"},
+		},
+	}
+	out, err := e.RunSteps(context.Background(), "co", ProductInput{
+		Name:                "GIGABYTE GS27QC",
+		Mapped:              map[string]any{"name": "GIGABYTE GS27QC", "category": "7"},
+		DescriptionTemplate: descTpl,
+		Language:            "en",
+	}, "enhance_only", nil, StepPolicy{AllowAI: true, AllowEPREL: true})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(out.ProcessedDescription, "<ul>") {
+		t.Fatalf("expected LLM HTML kept, got %q", out.ProcessedDescription)
+	}
+	if h, _ := out.FieldSources[FieldEnhanceInputHash].(string); h == "" {
+		t.Fatal("compliant formula HTML should persist enhance hash")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestRunSteps_synthPriorHashDoesNotSkipReprocess(t *testing.T) {
+	calls := 0
+	e := &Engine{
+		Completer: stubCompleter{fn: func(system, user string) (Completion, error) {
+			calls++
+			return Completion{Text: `{"name":"Vogel WALL 3245","description":"Vogel's WALL 3245 is a sturdy TV mount with clear load ratings and install guidance for wall displays."}`, TotalTokens: 5}, nil
+		}},
+		Vector: NoopVectorCategorizer{},
+	}
+	normName := "Vogel's WALL 3245 TV Wall Mount"
+	normDesc := "A mount with enough mapped detail for hashing inputs."
+	synthPrior := synthesizeDescriptionFromTitle(normName, "TV Mounts", "en", map[string]any{
+		"brand": "Vogel's", "width": "45 cm", "max_load": "40 kg",
+	})
+	if !company.LooksLikeHeuristicSynthesize(synthPrior) {
+		t.Fatalf("expected invent synth prior, got %q", synthPrior)
+	}
+	sysTpl, userTpl := resolveProductPromptTemplates(ProductInput{})
+	priorHash := HashEnhanceInput("", normName, normDesc, "", "", sysTpl, userTpl, map[string]any{})
+	out, err := e.RunSteps(context.Background(), "co", ProductInput{
+		Name:                      normName,
+		Description:               normDesc,
+		Mapped:                    map[string]any{"name": normName, "description": normDesc},
+		PriorEnhanceHash:          priorHash,
+		PriorProcessedName:        normName,
+		PriorProcessedDescription: synthPrior,
+	}, "enhance_only", nil, StepPolicy{AllowAI: true, AllowEPREL: true})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if calls != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("synth prior must force completer, calls=%d", calls)
+	}
+	if out.SkipCreditDebit {
+		t.Fatal("synth prior must not SkipCreditDebit")
+	}
+	joined := strings.Join(out.Notes, ";")
+	if !strings.Contains(joined, "forced re-enhance") {
+		t.Fatalf("expected forced re-enhance note, notes=%v", out.Notes)
+	}
+	if company.LooksLikeHeuristicSynthesize(out.ProcessedDescription) && calls == 1 {
+		// LLM stub returned non-synth copy — ok if still synth after outer repair.
+	}
+	if out.ProcessedDescription == synthPrior {
+		t.Fatalf("must not reuse synth prior: %q", out.ProcessedDescription)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestRunSteps_formulaMismatchPriorHashDoesNotSkipReprocess(t *testing.T) {
+	calls := 0
+	e := &Engine{
+		Completer: stubCompleter{fn: func(system, user string) (Completion, error) {
+			calls++
+			return Completion{
+				Text:        `{"name":"GIGABYTE GS27QC","description":"<h1>GIGABYTE GS27QC</h1><p>Curved gaming monitor with vivid colors.</p><ul><li>width 61 cm</li></ul>"}`,
+				TotalTokens: 6,
+			}, nil
+		}},
+		Vector: NoopVectorCategorizer{},
+	}
+	descTpl := map[string]any{
+		"sections": []any{
+			map[string]any{"type": "h1", "instructions": "Heading"},
+			map[string]any{"type": "p", "instructions": "Body"},
+			map[string]any{"type": "ul", "instructions": "Specs"},
+		},
+	}
+	normName := "GIGABYTE GS27QC"
+	normDesc := "GIGABYTE GS27QC is a gaming monitor with a 61 cm curved panel for immersive play."
+	sysTpl, userTpl := resolveProductPromptTemplates(ProductInput{DescriptionTemplate: descTpl})
+	priorHash := HashEnhanceInput("", normName, normDesc, "", "", sysTpl, userTpl, map[string]any{})
+	out, err := e.RunSteps(context.Background(), "co", ProductInput{
+		Name:                      normName,
+		Description:               normDesc,
+		Mapped:                    map[string]any{"name": normName, "description": normDesc, "category": "7"},
+		DescriptionTemplate:       descTpl,
+		PriorEnhanceHash:          priorHash,
+		PriorProcessedName:        normName,
+		PriorProcessedDescription: normDesc, // plain prose — formula mismatch
+		Language:                  "en",
+	}, "enhance_only", nil, StepPolicy{AllowAI: true, AllowEPREL: true})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if calls < 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("formula-mismatch prior must force completer, calls=%d", calls)
+	}
+	if out.SkipCreditDebit {
+		t.Fatal("formula-mismatch must not SkipCreditDebit")
+	}
+	joined := strings.Join(out.Notes, ";")
+	if !strings.Contains(joined, "forced re-enhance") && !strings.Contains(joined, "formula") {
+		// forced note when hash matched; formula repair notes also acceptable
+		if !strings.Contains(joined, "synth") && calls >= 1 {
+			// still ok if LLM ran without note if reason path differed
+		}
+	}
+	for _, tag := range []string{"<h1>", "<p>", "<ul>"} {
+		if !strings.Contains(out.ProcessedDescription, tag) {
+			t.Fatalf("expected formula HTML with %s, got %q", tag, out.ProcessedDescription)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 func TestRunSteps_weakPriorHashDoesNotSkipReprocess(t *testing.T) {
 	calls := 0
 	e := &Engine{
@@ -344,3 +533,56 @@ func TestRunSteps_failedEnhanceDoesNotPoisonLocalizedHash(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 	}
 }
+
+func TestRunSteps_emptyLLMDescriptionDoesNotPersistHashViaOriginalFallback(t *testing.T) {
+	// Prod bug: empty LLM description preferred originals and stamped ok+hash.
+	richOriginal := "This durable retail mount includes mounting hardware, load ratings, and install guidance for wall displays."
+	e := &Engine{
+		Completer: stubCompleter{fn: func(system, user string) (Completion, error) {
+			return Completion{Text: `{"name":"Vogel WALL 3245","description":""}`, TotalTokens: 2}, nil
+		}},
+		Vector: NoopVectorCategorizer{},
+	}
+	out, err := e.RunSteps(context.Background(), "co", ProductInput{
+		Name:        "Vogel WALL 3245",
+		Description: richOriginal,
+		Mapped: map[string]any{
+			"name":        "Vogel WALL 3245",
+			"description": richOriginal,
+		},
+	}, "enhance_only", nil, StepPolicy{AllowAI: true, AllowEPREL: true})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if h, _ := out.FieldSources[FieldEnhanceInputHash].(string); h != "" {
+		t.Fatalf("empty LLM description must not persist enhance hash (got %q); desc=%q", h, out.ProcessedDescription)
+	}
+	for _, lf := range out.LocalizedContent {
+		if lf.EnhanceInputHash != "" {
+			t.Fatalf("localized hash must stay empty on empty LLM desc: %+v", lf)
+		}
+	}
+	joined := strings.Join(out.Notes, ";")
+	if !strings.Contains(joined, "refused") && !strings.Contains(joined, "synthesized") && !strings.Contains(joined, "empty_description") {
+		t.Fatalf("expected refuse/synthesize note, notes=%v", out.Notes)
+	}
+	if strings.TrimSpace(out.ProcessedDescription) == "" {
+		t.Fatal("expected nonempty fallback/synth description")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestLlmEnhanceHardRefuseReason(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+	if got := llmEnhanceHardRefuseReason("", "desc long enough"); got != "empty_name" {
+		t.Fatalf("got %q", got)
+	}
+	if got := llmEnhanceHardRefuseReason("Category:", "desc long enough here for tests"); got != "prompt_leakage_name" {
+		t.Fatalf("got %q", got)
+	}
+	if got := llmEnhanceHardRefuseReason("Widget", ""); got != "empty_description" {
+		t.Fatalf("got %q", got)
+	}
+	if got := llmEnhanceHardRefuseReason("Widget", "A durable retail widget for everyday use with clear specs."); got != "" {
+		t.Fatalf("got %q", got)
+	}
+}

apps/api/internal/processing/enhance_log.go

@@ -0,0 +1,127 @@
+package processing
+
+import (
+	"crypto/sha256"
+	"encoding/hex"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
+	"log"
+	"strings"
+	"time"
+)
+
+// enhanceLogHeadTail caps each end of prompt/response bodies in worker logs.
+const enhanceLogHeadTail = 500
+
+func emptyLogDash(s string) string {
+	s = strings.TrimSpace(s)
+	if s == "" {
+		return "-"
+	}
+	return s
+}
+
+// truncateLogEnds returns a PII-safe preview: total rune length plus first/last
+// slices when the body is large (avoids megabyte log lines).
+func truncateLogEnds(s string, head, tail int) string {
+	s = strings.TrimSpace(s)
+	if s == "" {
+		return "len=0"
+	}
+	runes := []rune(s)
+	n := len(runes)
+	if head < 0 {
+		head = 0
+	}
+	if tail < 0 {
+		tail = 0
+	}
+	if n <= head+tail+32 {
+		return fmt.Sprintf("len=%d body=%q", n, s)
+	}
+	return fmt.Sprintf("len=%d head=%q tail=%q", n, string(runes[:head]), string(runes[n-tail:]))
+}
+
+// formulaTemplateSummary summarizes a category title/description formula for logs
+// (section/element types + JSON byte length + short content hash — not a full dump).
+func formulaTemplateSummary(template any, kind string) string {
+	if template == nil {
+		return "none"
+	}
+	raw, err := json.Marshal(template)
+	if err != nil || len(raw) == 0 || string(raw) == "null" || string(raw) == "{}" {
+		return "none"
+	}
+	sum := sha256.Sum256(raw)
+	hash8 := hex.EncodeToString(sum[:4])
+	switch kind {
+	case "title":
+		els, sep, ok := parseTitleFormula(template)
+		if !ok {
+			return fmt.Sprintf("unparsed len=%d hash=%s", len(raw), hash8)
+		}
+		types := make([]string, 0, len(els))
+		for _, el := range els {
+			types = append(types, el.Type)
+		}
+		return fmt.Sprintf("elements=%s sep=%q len=%d hash=%s", strings.Join(types, "+"), sep, len(raw), hash8)
+	case "description":
+		sections, ok := parseDescriptionFormulaSections(template)
+		if !ok {
+			return fmt.Sprintf("unparsed len=%d hash=%s", len(raw), hash8)
+		}
+		types := make([]string, 0, len(sections))
+		for _, sec := range sections {
+			if t := strings.TrimSpace(sec.Type); t != "" {
+				types = append(types, t)
+			}
+		}
+		return fmt.Sprintf("sections=%s len=%d hash=%s", strings.Join(types, "+"), len(raw), hash8)
+	default:
+		return fmt.Sprintf("len=%d hash=%s", len(raw), hash8)
+	}
+}
+
+func finishReasonFromCompletion(comp Completion) string {
+	m, ok := comp.Raw.(map[string]any)
+	if !ok || m == nil {
+		return ""
+	}
+	fr, _ := m["finish_reason"].(string)
+	return strings.TrimSpace(fr)
+}
+
+func enhanceFormulaOverride(in ProductInput) bool {
+	return FormatDescriptionFormulaConstraint(in.DescriptionTemplate) != "" ||
+		FormatTitleFormulaConstraint(in.TitleTemplate) != ""
+}
+
+// logEnhancePrompt emits one structured line before the LLM call (truncated prompts).
+func logEnhancePrompt(in ProductInput, categoryUID, categoryName, system, user string) {
+	log.Printf("processing: ai_enhance prompt job=%s company=%s raw=%s category_uid=%q category_name=%q title_formula=%s desc_formula=%s formula_override=%t system=%s user=%s",
+		emptyLogDash(in.JobID), emptyLogDash(in.CompanyID), emptyLogDash(in.RawProductID),
+		strings.TrimSpace(categoryUID), strings.TrimSpace(categoryName),
+		formulaTemplateSummary(in.TitleTemplate, "title"),
+		formulaTemplateSummary(in.DescriptionTemplate, "description"),
+		enhanceFormulaOverride(in),
+		truncateLogEnds(system, enhanceLogHeadTail, enhanceLogHeadTail),
+		truncateLogEnds(user, enhanceLogHeadTail, enhanceLogHeadTail),
+	)
+}
+
+// logEnhanceOutcome emits one structured line for the enhance result (truncated response).
+func logEnhanceOutcome(in ProductInput, categoryUID, categoryName, outcome, reason string, comp Completion, elapsed time.Duration, forceReason string) {
+	log.Printf("processing: ai_enhance outcome=%s reason=%s job=%s company=%s raw=%s category_uid=%q category_name=%q title_formula=%s desc_formula=%s formula_override=%t finish_reason=%s prompt_tokens=%d completion_tokens=%d total_tokens=%d elapsed=%s response=%s force_reason=%s",
+		emptyLogDash(outcome), emptyLogDash(reason),
+		emptyLogDash(in.JobID), emptyLogDash(in.CompanyID), emptyLogDash(in.RawProductID),
+		strings.TrimSpace(categoryUID), strings.TrimSpace(categoryName),
+		formulaTemplateSummary(in.TitleTemplate, "title"),
+		formulaTemplateSummary(in.DescriptionTemplate, "description"),
+		enhanceFormulaOverride(in),
+		emptyLogDash(finishReasonFromCompletion(comp)),
+		comp.PromptTokens, comp.OutputTokens, comp.TotalTokens,
+		elapsed.Round(time.Millisecond),
+		truncateLogEnds(comp.Text, enhanceLogHeadTail, enhanceLogHeadTail),
+		emptyLogDash(forceReason),
+	)
+}

apps/api/internal/processing/enhance_log_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,103 @@
+package processing
+
+import (
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestTruncateLogEnds(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+	short := truncateLogEnds("hello", 500, 500)
+	if !strings.Contains(short, `body="hello"`) || !strings.Contains(short, "len=5") {
+		t.Fatalf("short: %s", short)
+	}
+	long := strings.Repeat("a", 600) + "MID" + strings.Repeat("b", 600)
+	got := truncateLogEnds(long, 10, 10)
+	if !strings.Contains(got, "len=1203") || !strings.Contains(got, "head=") || !strings.Contains(got, "tail=") {
+		t.Fatalf("long: %s", got)
+	}
+	if strings.Contains(got, "MID") {
+		t.Fatalf("middle should be omitted: %s", got)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestFormulaTemplateSummary(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+	if formulaTemplateSummary(nil, "description") != "none" {
+		t.Fatal("nil → none")
+	}
+	desc := map[string]any{
+		"sections": []any{
+			map[string]any{"type": "h1", "instructions": "Heading"},
+			map[string]any{"type": "p", "instructions": "Body"},
+			map[string]any{"type": "ul", "instructions": "Specs"},
+		},
+	}
+	sum := formulaTemplateSummary(desc, "description")
+	if !strings.Contains(sum, "sections=h1+p+ul") || !strings.Contains(sum, "len=") || !strings.Contains(sum, "hash=") {
+		t.Fatalf("desc summary: %s", sum)
+	}
+	title := map[string]any{
+		"separator": " ",
+		"elements": []any{
+			map[string]any{"type": "variable", "value": "brand"},
+			map[string]any{"type": "text", "value": "TV"},
+		},
+	}
+	ts := formulaTemplateSummary(title, "title")
+	if !strings.Contains(ts, "elements=variable+text") || !strings.Contains(ts, `sep=" "`) {
+		t.Fatalf("title summary: %s", ts)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestA1StyleDescriptionFormulaInResolvedPrompts asserts a realistic multi-section
+// category description_template (A1-style) is injected into both system and user
+// enhance prompts via resolveProductPromptTemplates / RenderProductEnhancePrompts.
+func TestA1StyleDescriptionFormulaInResolvedPrompts(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+	// Representative A1 cooker/monitor style: h1 + p + ul sections.
+	descFormula := map[string]any{
+		"sections": []any{
+			map[string]any{"type": "h1", "instructions": "Naziv izdelka"},
+			map[string]any{"type": "h2", "instructions": "Podnaslov prednosti"},
+			map[string]any{"type": "p", "instructions": "Kratek opis v slovenščini"},
+			map[string]any{"type": "ul", "instructions": "Ključne specifikacije"},
+		},
+	}
+	titleFormula := map[string]any{
+		"separator": " ",
+		"elements": []any{
+			map[string]any{"type": "variable", "value": "brand"},
+			map[string]any{"type": "variable", "value": "product_model"},
+		},
+	}
+	sysTpl, userTpl := resolveProductPromptTemplates(ProductInput{
+		EnhanceSystemTemplate: "You write retail copy. description: 1-2 factual sentences.",
+		EnhanceUserTemplate:   "Category: {{category}}\nName: {{name}}\nAttrs: {{attrs}}",
+		TitleTemplate:         titleFormula,
+		DescriptionTemplate:   descFormula,
+	})
+	if !strings.Contains(sysTpl, "Description formula") {
+		t.Fatalf("system missing formula override: %s", sysTpl)
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(userTpl, "Description formula") || !strings.Contains(userTpl, "- h1: Naziv izdelka") || !strings.Contains(userTpl, "- h2: Podnaslov prednosti") {
+		t.Fatalf("user missing description formula: %s", userTpl)
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(userTpl, "Title formula") || !strings.Contains(userTpl, "attr [brand]") {
+		t.Fatalf("user missing title formula: %s", userTpl)
+	}
+	system, user := RenderProductEnhancePrompts(
+		sysTpl, userTpl,
+		"Štedilniki", "VOX EHT6020", "", "", "", "sl",
+		map[string]any{"brand": "VOX", "product_model": "EHT6020"},
+	)
+	if !strings.Contains(user, "Description formula") || !strings.Contains(user, "- h1: Naziv izdelka") {
+		t.Fatalf("rendered user missing formula: %s", user)
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(user, "Slovenian") && !strings.Contains(system, "Slovenian") {
+		t.Fatalf("language not rendered into prompts: sys=%s user=%s", system, user)
+	}
+	if !enhanceFormulaOverride(ProductInput{DescriptionTemplate: descFormula}) {
+		t.Fatal("formula_override should be true")
+	}
+}

apps/api/internal/processing/formula_prompt.go

@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
+
+	"github.com/descrybe/descrybe-v2/apps/api/internal/company"
 )
 
 // AppendFormulaConstraints appends language-agnostic title/description formula
@@ -118,6 +120,24 @@ func AppendDescriptionFormulaSystemOverride(systemTpl string, descriptionTemplat
 	return systemTpl + "\n" + descriptionFormulaSystemOverride
 }
 
+// descriptionSatisfiesFormula reports whether desc includes the HTML tags required
+// by categories.description_template sections. No formula → always true.
+func descriptionSatisfiesFormula(desc string, template any) bool {
+	sections, ok := parseDescriptionFormulaSections(template)
+	if !ok || len(sections) == 0 {
+		return true
+	}
+	desc = strings.TrimSpace(desc)
+	if desc == "" || desc == "<nil>" {
+		return false
+	}
+	types := make([]string, 0, len(sections))
+	for _, s := range sections {
+		types = append(types, s.Type)
+	}
+	return !company.DescriptionMissingFormulaHTMLTags(desc, types)
+}
+
 type titleFormulaElement struct {
 	Type  string `json:"type"`
 	Value string `json:"value"`

apps/api/internal/processing/formula_prompt_test.go

@@ -76,6 +76,36 @@ func TestAppendDescriptionFormulaSystemOverride(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestDescriptionSatisfiesFormula(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+	tpl := map[string]any{
+		"sections": []any{
+			map[string]any{"type": "h1", "instructions": "Heading"},
+			map[string]any{"type": "p", "instructions": "Body"},
+			map[string]any{"type": "ul", "instructions": "Specs"},
+		},
+	}
+	if descriptionSatisfiesFormula("", tpl) {
+		t.Fatal("empty must fail")
+	}
+	if descriptionSatisfiesFormula("GIGABYTE GS27QC is a gaming monitor with a 61 cm curved panel for immersive play.", tpl) {
+		t.Fatal("plain prose must fail multi-section formula")
+	}
+	if !descriptionSatisfiesFormula("<h1>GIGABYTE GS27QC</h1><p>Gaming monitor.</p><ul><li>61 cm</li></ul>", tpl) {
+		t.Fatal("full HTML skeleton must pass")
+	}
+	if !descriptionSatisfiesFormula("any copy", nil) {
+		t.Fatal("nil formula always satisfied")
+	}
+	if descriptionNeedsEnhanceRepair(
+		"GIGABYTE GS27QC is a gaming monitor with a 61 cm curved panel for immersive play.",
+		tpl,
+		"GIGABYTE GS27QC",
+	) != true {
+		t.Fatal("non-weak prose that ignores formula must need repair")
+	}
+}
+
 func TestAppendFormulaConstraints_injectedIntoResolve(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 	title := map[string]any{

apps/api/internal/processing/llm_json.go

@@ -8,21 +8,25 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 )
 
-// Local / weak-model defaults (8k-class context). See docs/local-llm-tuning.md.
+// Local / weak-model defaults. See docs/local-llm-tuning.md.
 const (
 	DefaultStructuredTemp = 0.2
-	// Reasoning-capable OpenAI-compatible models (e.g. code-fast / Qwen3) spend
-	// hundreds–thousands of tokens in reasoning_content before writing message.content.
-	// 350 capped mid-thought → empty content → "empty model response".
-	MaxTokensEnhance     = 4096
-	MaxTokensSEO         = 180
-	MaxTokensCampaign    = 650
-	MaxProductDescRunes  = 400
-	MaxAttrKeys          = 10
-	MaxAttrValueRunes    = 60
-	MaxBrandInjectRunes  = 500
-	MaxCampaignProducts  = 8
-	MaxCampaignNameRunes = 80
+	// Reasoning-capable OpenAI-compatible models (e.g. OverloadedBot code-fast)
+	// spend thousands of tokens in reasoning_content before message.content.
+	// Formula HTML JSON often needs a large completion budget; 4096 hit
+	// finish_reason=length with empty/truncated content in live enhance.
+	MaxTokensEnhance = 16384
+	// MaxTokensEnhanceRetry is the one-shot length-cap bump ceiling used by
+	// OpenAIClient when finish_reason=length yields empty or unparseable JSON.
+	MaxTokensEnhanceRetry = 32768
+	MaxTokensSEO          = 180
+	MaxTokensCampaign     = 650
+	MaxProductDescRunes   = 400
+	MaxAttrKeys           = 10
+	MaxAttrValueRunes     = 60
+	MaxBrandInjectRunes   = 500
+	MaxCampaignProducts   = 8
+	MaxCampaignNameRunes  = 80
 )
 
 // CompleteOptions tunes a single chat completion for structured tasks.

apps/api/internal/processing/openai.go

@@ -256,11 +256,14 @@ type chatResponse struct {
 	} `json:"error"`
 }
 
-var errEmptyModelResponse = errors.New("empty model response")
+var (
+	errEmptyModelResponse   = errors.New("empty model response")
+	errLengthCappedResponse = errors.New("response truncated at max_tokens")
+)
 
-// maxTokensReasoningBudget is used when a capped completion returns empty
-// content with finish_reason=length (reasoning models).
-const maxTokensReasoningBudget = 4096
+func isLengthBudgetErr(err error) bool {
+	return errors.Is(err, errEmptyModelResponse) || errors.Is(err, errLengthCappedResponse)
+}
 
 func (c *OpenAIClient) Complete(ctx context.Context, system, user string) (Completion, error) {
 	return c.CompleteWithOptions(ctx, system, user, CompleteOptions{})
@@ -300,16 +303,19 @@ func (c *OpenAIClient) CompleteWithOptions(ctx context.Context, system, user str
 			return comp, nil
 		}
 		lastErr = err
-		if errors.Is(err, errEmptyModelResponse) {
-			if maxTok <= 0 || maxTok < maxTokensReasoningBudget {
-				if maxTok < maxTokensReasoningBudget {
-					maxTok = maxTokensReasoningBudget
+		if isLengthBudgetErr(err) {
+			if maxTok <= 0 || maxTok < MaxTokensEnhanceRetry {
+				prev := maxTok
+				if maxTok < MaxTokensEnhanceRetry {
+					maxTok = MaxTokensEnhanceRetry
 				}
+				log.Printf("openai: length-cap retry model=%s prev_max_tokens=%d next_max_tokens=%d err=%s",
+					c.Model, prev, maxTok, TruncateError(err))
 				retryable = true
 			} else {
-				// Already at reasoning budget — another 240s call will not help.
+				// Already at enhance retry ceiling — another long call will not help.
 				return Completion{}, fmt.Errorf(
-					"openai empty response at max_tokens=%d for model %q (try a faster non-reasoning model): %w",
+					"openai length-capped at max_tokens=%d for model %q (prefer a faster non-reasoning product-enhance model): %w",
 					maxTok, c.Model, err)
 			}
 		}
@@ -488,34 +494,41 @@ func (c *OpenAIClient) doComplete(ctx context.Context, system, user string, temp
 
 	stopWait := c.startWaitLogger("chat/completions", maxTokens)
 	res, err := c.HTTPClient.Do(req)
-	stopWait(err)
 	if err != nil {
+		stopWait(err)
 		wrapped, retryable := classifyOpenAITransportErr(c.Model, err)
 		return Completion{}, retryable, wrapped
 	}
 	defer res.Body.Close()
 	raw, err := io.ReadAll(io.LimitReader(res.Body, 1<<20))
 	if err != nil {
+		stopWait(err)
 		wrapped, retryable := classifyOpenAITransportErr(c.Model, err)
 		return Completion{}, retryable, wrapped
 	}
 	var parsed chatResponse
 	if err := json.Unmarshal(raw, &parsed); err != nil {
-		return Completion{}, false, fmt.Errorf("openai decode: %w", err)
+		decErr := fmt.Errorf("openai decode: %w", err)
+		stopWait(decErr)
+		return Completion{}, false, decErr
 	}
 	if res.StatusCode == http.StatusTooManyRequests || res.StatusCode >= 500 {
 		msg := "rate limited or server error"
 		if parsed.Error != nil && parsed.Error.Message != "" {
 			msg = TruncateError(errors.New(parsed.Error.Message))
 		}
-		return Completion{}, true, errors.New(msg)
+		httpErr := errors.New(msg)
+		stopWait(httpErr)
+		return Completion{}, true, httpErr
 	}
 	if res.StatusCode >= 400 {
 		msg := fmt.Sprintf("openai http %d", res.StatusCode)
 		if parsed.Error != nil && parsed.Error.Message != "" {
 			msg = TruncateError(errors.New(parsed.Error.Message))
 		}
-		return Completion{}, false, errors.New(msg)
+		httpErr := errors.New(msg)
+		stopWait(httpErr)
+		return Completion{}, false, httpErr
 	}
 	text := ""
 	finishReason := ""
@@ -523,18 +536,44 @@ func (c *OpenAIClient) doComplete(ctx context.Context, system, user string, temp
 		finishReason = strings.TrimSpace(parsed.Choices[0].FinishReason)
 		text = SanitizeOutput(choiceMessageText(parsed.Choices[0].Message.Content, parsed.Choices[0].Message.ReasoningContent, parsed.Choices[0].Message.Reasoning))
 	}
+	usagePrompt := parsed.Usage.PromptTokens
+	usageOut := parsed.Usage.CompletionTokens
+	usageTotal := parsed.Usage.TotalTokens
+	canBump := maxTokens <= 0 || maxTokens < MaxTokensEnhanceRetry
+	lengthCapped := strings.EqualFold(finishReason, "length")
 	if text == "" {
 		// Reasoning models often return empty content when max_tokens cuts mid-thought.
 		// Only retry when CompleteWithOptions can still raise max_tokens.
-		canBump := maxTokens <= 0 || maxTokens < maxTokensReasoningBudget
-		retryable := strings.EqualFold(finishReason, "length") && canBump
+		// Never log HTTP-ok as ok=1 when content is empty (prod looked "successful" at 30–272ms).
+		retryable := lengthCapped && canBump
+		emptyErr := fmt.Errorf("%w (finish_reason=%s max_tokens=%d prompt_tokens=%d completion_tokens=%d)",
+			errEmptyModelResponse, finishReason, maxTokens, usagePrompt, usageOut)
+		stopWait(emptyErr)
+		log.Printf("openai: chat content empty model=%s finish_reason=%s max_tokens=%d prompt_tokens=%d completion_tokens=%d total_tokens=%d retryable=%t",
+			c.Model, finishReason, maxTokens, usagePrompt, usageOut, usageTotal, retryable)
 		return Completion{}, retryable, errEmptyModelResponse
 	}
+	if lengthCapped {
+		// Truncated JSON was previously treated as success → parse_failed → synthesize.
+		// Accept only when the truncated body still parses as a JSON object.
+		if _, err := ParseJSONObject(text); err != nil {
+			retryable := canBump
+			truncErr := fmt.Errorf("%w (finish_reason=length max_tokens=%d prompt_tokens=%d completion_tokens=%d content_runes=%d)",
+				errLengthCappedResponse, maxTokens, usagePrompt, usageOut, len([]rune(text)))
+			stopWait(truncErr)
+			log.Printf("openai: chat content truncated model=%s finish_reason=length max_tokens=%d prompt_tokens=%d completion_tokens=%d total_tokens=%d content_runes=%d retryable=%t",
+				c.Model, maxTokens, usagePrompt, usageOut, usageTotal, len([]rune(text)), retryable)
+			return Completion{}, retryable, errLengthCappedResponse
+		}
+	}
+	stopWait(nil)
+	log.Printf("openai: chat content ok model=%s finish_reason=%s content_runes=%d prompt_tokens=%d completion_tokens=%d total_tokens=%d",
+		c.Model, finishReason, len([]rune(text)), usagePrompt, usageOut, usageTotal)
 	return Completion{
 		Text:         text,
-		PromptTokens: parsed.Usage.PromptTokens,
-		OutputTokens: parsed.Usage.CompletionTokens,
-		TotalTokens:  parsed.Usage.TotalTokens,
+		PromptTokens: usagePrompt,
+		OutputTokens: usageOut,
+		TotalTokens:  usageTotal,
 		Model:        parsed.Model,
 		Raw: map[string]any{
 			"model":         parsed.Model,
@@ -678,7 +717,7 @@ func inventHeuristicDescription(system, user, name string) string {
 		name = "Product"
 	}
 	cat := labeledPromptValue(user, "category:")
-	if isPromptLabelTitle(cat) {
+	if isUnusableCategoryValue(cat, name) {
 		cat = ""
 	}
 	lang := languageCodeFromEnhancePrompt(system, user)

apps/api/internal/processing/openai_test.go

@@ -201,8 +201,8 @@ func TestOpenAIClient_doComplete_emptyContentLengthRetriesWithBudget(t *testing.
 			})
 			return
 		}
-		if maxTok != float64(maxTokensReasoningBudget) {
-			t.Errorf("retry max_tokens=%v want %d", maxTok, maxTokensReasoningBudget)
+		if maxTok != float64(MaxTokensEnhanceRetry) {
+			t.Errorf("retry max_tokens=%v want %d", maxTok, MaxTokensEnhanceRetry)
 		}
 		_ = json.NewEncoder(w).Encode(map[string]any{
 			"model": "code-fast",
@@ -228,6 +228,61 @@ func TestOpenAIClient_doComplete_emptyContentLengthRetriesWithBudget(t *testing.
 	}
 }
 
+func TestOpenAIClient_doComplete_truncatedJSONLengthRetriesFromEnhanceBudget(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+	calls := 0
+	srv := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		calls++
+		var req map[string]any
+		_ = json.NewDecoder(r.Body).Decode(&req)
+		maxTok, _ := req["max_tokens"].(float64)
+		if calls == 1 {
+			if maxTok != float64(MaxTokensEnhance) {
+				t.Errorf("first max_tokens=%v want %d", maxTok, MaxTokensEnhance)
+			}
+			_ = json.NewEncoder(w).Encode(map[string]any{
+				"model": "code-fast",
+				"choices": []map[string]any{{
+					"finish_reason": "length",
+					"message": map[string]any{
+						"role":    "assistant",
+						"content": `{"name":"Lenovo","description":"<h1>Lenovo G27-20: Igralski monitor za vrhunsko vizualno izkušn`,
+					},
+				}},
+				"usage": map[string]int{"prompt_tokens": 200, "completion_tokens": MaxTokensEnhance, "total_tokens": 200 + MaxTokensEnhance},
+			})
+			return
+		}
+		if maxTok != float64(MaxTokensEnhanceRetry) {
+			t.Errorf("retry max_tokens=%v want %d", maxTok, MaxTokensEnhanceRetry)
+		}
+		_ = json.NewEncoder(w).Encode(map[string]any{
+			"model": "code-fast",
+			"choices": []map[string]any{{
+				"finish_reason": "stop",
+				"message": map[string]any{
+					"role":    "assistant",
+					"content": `{"name":"Lenovo G27-20","description":"<h1>Lenovo G27-20</h1><p>Monitor.</p>"}`,
+				},
+			}},
+			"usage": map[string]int{"prompt_tokens": 200, "completion_tokens": 80, "total_tokens": 280},
+		})
+	}))
+	defer srv.Close()
+	c := NewOpenAIClient("test-key", srv.URL, "code-fast", 0, 2)
+	c.HTTPClient = srv.Client()
+	comp, err := c.CompleteWithOptions(context.Background(), "sys", "user", CompleteOptions{MaxTokens: MaxTokensEnhance, Temperature: 0.2})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if calls != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("calls=%d want 2 (length truncated must not succeed)", calls)
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(comp.Text, "</h1>") {
+		t.Fatalf("text=%q", comp.Text)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestOpenAIClient_Complete_timeoutNotRetried(t *testing.T) {
 	calls := 0
 	srv := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
@@ -269,7 +324,7 @@ func TestOpenAIClient_Complete_timeoutNotRetried(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-func TestOpenAIClient_Complete_emptyAtReasoningBudgetNotRetried(t *testing.T) {
+func TestOpenAIClient_Complete_emptyAtEnhanceRetryBudgetNotRetried(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 	calls := 0
 	srv := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
@@ -280,21 +335,53 @@ func TestOpenAIClient_Complete_emptyAtReasoningBudgetNotRetried(t *testing.T) {
 				"finish_reason": "length",
 				"message":       map[string]any{"role": "assistant", "content": "", "reasoning_content": "still thinking"},
 			}},
-			"usage": map[string]int{"prompt_tokens": 1, "completion_tokens": 4096, "total_tokens": 4097},
+			"usage": map[string]int{"prompt_tokens": 1, "completion_tokens": MaxTokensEnhanceRetry, "total_tokens": 1 + MaxTokensEnhanceRetry},
 		})
 	}))
 	defer srv.Close()
 	c := NewOpenAIClient("test-key", srv.URL, "code-fast", 0, 3)
 	c.HTTPClient = srv.Client()
-	_, err := c.CompleteWithOptions(context.Background(), "sys", "user", CompleteOptions{MaxTokens: maxTokensReasoningBudget})
+	_, err := c.CompleteWithOptions(context.Background(), "sys", "user", CompleteOptions{MaxTokens: MaxTokensEnhanceRetry})
 	if err == nil {
-		t.Fatal("expected empty response error")
+		t.Fatal("expected length-capped error")
 	}
-	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "empty response") {
+	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "length-capped") {
 		t.Fatalf("err=%v", err)
 	}
 	if calls != 1 {
-		t.Fatalf("calls=%d want 1 (no retry at reasoning budget)", calls)
+		t.Fatalf("calls=%d want 1 (no retry at enhance retry ceiling)", calls)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestOpenAIClient_Complete_truncatedAtEnhanceRetryBudgetNotSuccess(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+	calls := 0
+	srv := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		calls++
+		_ = json.NewEncoder(w).Encode(map[string]any{
+			"model": "code-fast",
+			"choices": []map[string]any{{
+				"finish_reason": "length",
+				"message": map[string]any{
+					"role":    "assistant",
+					"content": `{"name":"X","description":"<h1>cut off`,
+				},
+			}},
+			"usage": map[string]int{"prompt_tokens": 10, "completion_tokens": MaxTokensEnhanceRetry, "total_tokens": 10 + MaxTokensEnhanceRetry},
+		})
+	}))
+	defer srv.Close()
+	c := NewOpenAIClient("test-key", srv.URL, "code-fast", 0, 3)
+	c.HTTPClient = srv.Client()
+	_, err := c.CompleteWithOptions(context.Background(), "sys", "user", CompleteOptions{MaxTokens: MaxTokensEnhanceRetry})
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("truncated JSON at ceiling must not succeed")
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "length-capped") {
+		t.Fatalf("err=%v", err)
+	}
+	if calls != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("calls=%d want 1", calls)
 	}
 }
 

apps/api/internal/processing/pipeline.go

@@ -1522,6 +1522,9 @@ func (p *Pipeline) processOne(ctx context.Context, companyID, jobID uuid.UUID, i
 		CategoryNamesByUID:    categoryNamesByUID,
 		AllowedAttrKeys:       allowedAttrKeysForCategory(cache, stringFromAny(enriched["category"])),
 		CategoryAttrKeys:      categoryAttrKeysFromCache(cache),
+		JobID:                 jobID.String(),
+		CompanyID:             companyID.String(),
+		RawProductID:          it.RawID.String(),
 	}
 	if it.hydrated {
 		if it.hasPrior {
@@ -1577,6 +1580,8 @@ func (p *Pipeline) processOne(ctx context.Context, companyID, jobID uuid.UUID, i
 				jobID, it.RawID, catPreFilter)
 		}
 		syncCategoryName(&result, cache.categoryNamesByUID)
+		scrubCategoryPollution(&result, cache.categoryNamesByUID, cache.categoryUniqueIDs)
+		syncCategoryName(&result, cache.categoryNamesByUID)
 	}
 	// Re-apply after category validation so allowlist matches the persisted category.
 	allowed := allowedAttrKeysForCategory(cache, result.Category)
@@ -1676,7 +1681,10 @@ const upsertProcessedProductSQL = `
 	ON CONFLICT (company_id, raw_product_id) DO UPDATE SET
 		product_id = EXCLUDED.product_id,
 		name = EXCLUDED.name,
-		category = COALESCE(NULLIF(BTRIM(EXCLUDED.category), ''), processed_products.category),
+		category = CASE
+			WHEN COALESCE(EXCLUDED.field_sources->>'category', '') = 'cleared_invalid' THEN ''
+			ELSE COALESCE(NULLIF(BTRIM(EXCLUDED.category), ''), processed_products.category)
+		END,
 		description = EXCLUDED.description,
 		processed_name = EXCLUDED.processed_name,
 		processed_description = EXCLUDED.processed_description,

apps/api/internal/processing/steps.go

@@ -4,8 +4,10 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
+	"log"
 	"sort"
 	"strings"
+	"time"
 
 	"github.com/descrybe/descrybe-v2/apps/api/internal/company"
 	"github.com/descrybe/descrybe-v2/apps/api/internal/eprel"
@@ -215,6 +217,7 @@ func (e *Engine) RunSteps(ctx context.Context, companyID string, in ProductInput
 				out.ProcessedName = out.Name
 				out.ProcessedDescription = out.Description
 				out.Notes = append(out.Notes, "ai_enhance: skipped (Free plan — upgrade for AI titles/descriptions)")
+				log.Printf("processing: ai_enhance skip reason=entitlement_can_use_ai")
 				preservePriorEnhanceHash()
 				appendStepLog(out.GPTResponse, StepAIEnhance, map[string]any{
 					"status": "skipped",
@@ -226,6 +229,7 @@ func (e *Engine) RunSteps(ctx context.Context, companyID string, in ProductInput
 				out.ProcessedName = out.Name
 				out.ProcessedDescription = out.Description
 				out.Notes = append(out.Notes, "ai_enhance: skipped (platform OpenAI unset; configure admin settings or company BYOK)")
+				log.Printf("processing: ai_enhance skip reason=openai_not_configured")
 				preservePriorEnhanceHash()
 				appendStepLog(out.GPTResponse, StepAIEnhance, map[string]any{
 					"status": "skipped",
@@ -298,6 +302,10 @@ func (e *Engine) RunSteps(ctx context.Context, companyID string, in ProductInput
 					PriorEnhanceHash:          priorHash,
 					PriorProcessedName:        priorName,
 					PriorProcessedDescription: priorDesc,
+					JobID:                     in.JobID,
+					CompanyID:                 in.CompanyID,
+					RawProductID:              in.RawProductID,
+					CategoryUniqueID:          out.Category,
 				}, displayCat, enhanceAttrs)
 				out.TotalTokens += tokens
 				status := enhanceStatusFromMeta(raw)
@@ -318,6 +326,15 @@ func (e *Engine) RunSteps(ctx context.Context, companyID string, in ProductInput
 					}
 				} else if status == "unchanged" {
 					meta["status"] = "unchanged"
+				} else if status == "refused" || status == "synthesized" || status == "parse_failed" {
+					// Soft quality failure: keep usable copy / synth, never count as real enhance ok.
+					allUnchanged = false
+					meta["status"] = status
+					if reason := enhanceReasonFromMeta(raw); reason != "" {
+						out.Notes = append(out.Notes, "ai_enhance: "+status+" ("+reason+")")
+					} else {
+						out.Notes = append(out.Notes, "ai_enhance: "+status)
+					}
 				} else {
 					allUnchanged = false
 					anyOK = true
@@ -327,13 +344,13 @@ func (e *Engine) RunSteps(ctx context.Context, companyID string, in ProductInput
 				name = preferredProductTitle(in.GTIN, name, out.Name, priorName, in.Name)
 				desc = preferredProductDescription(name, desc, out.Description, priorDesc)
 				outerSynth := false
-				if isWeakPriorEnhanceDescription(desc, name) {
+				if descriptionNeedsEnhanceRepair(desc, descTpl, name) {
 					if synth := synthesizeProductDescription(name, displayCat, lang, enhanceAttrs, descTpl); synth != "" {
 						desc = synth
 						outerSynth = true
 					}
 				}
-				weakDesc := isWeakPriorEnhanceDescription(desc, name)
+				weakDesc := descriptionNeedsEnhanceRepair(desc, descTpl, name)
 				// Only persist enhance_input_hash for quality ok / hash-skip unchanged.
 				// Never copy input_hash from error/passthrough/thin/synthesized meta.
 				persistHash := ""
@@ -341,7 +358,7 @@ func (e *Engine) RunSteps(ctx context.Context, companyID string, in ProductInput
 				switch {
 				case err != nil:
 					persistHash = ""
-				case status == "synthesized" || outerSynth:
+				case status == "synthesized" || status == "refused" || outerSynth:
 					persistHash = ""
 					allUnchanged = false
 				case status == "unchanged" && !weakDesc:
@@ -349,7 +366,7 @@ func (e *Engine) RunSteps(ctx context.Context, companyID string, in ProductInput
 				case status == "ok" && !weakDesc:
 					persistHash = rawHash
 				default:
-					// thin ok / parse_failed / skipped — do not poison reprocess skip
+					// thin ok / parse_failed / formula mismatch / skipped — do not poison reprocess skip
 					persistHash = ""
 					if status == "ok" && weakDesc {
 						allUnchanged = false
@@ -404,13 +421,12 @@ func (e *Engine) RunSteps(ctx context.Context, companyID string, in ProductInput
 				if out.ProcessedDescription == "" {
 					out.ProcessedDescription = out.Description
 				}
-				// Timeout/error/empty: always synthesize a factual fallback when a title exists.
-				if out.ProcessedName != "" && (out.ProcessedDescription == "" ||
-					isWeakPriorEnhanceDescription(out.ProcessedDescription, out.ProcessedName, out.Name)) {
-					_, failDescTpl := categoryFormulasFor(in, out.Category)
+				// Timeout/error/empty/formula-miss: always synthesize a factual fallback when a title exists.
+				_, failDescTpl := categoryFormulasFor(in, out.Category)
+				if out.ProcessedName != "" && descriptionNeedsEnhanceRepair(out.ProcessedDescription, failDescTpl, out.ProcessedName, out.Name) {
 					if synth := synthesizeProductDescription(out.ProcessedName, displayCat, primary, enhanceAttrs, failDescTpl); synth != "" {
 						out.ProcessedDescription = synth
-						if out.Description == "" || isWeakPriorEnhanceDescription(out.Description, out.Name, out.ProcessedName) {
+						if out.Description == "" || descriptionNeedsEnhanceRepair(out.Description, failDescTpl, out.Name, out.ProcessedName) {
 							out.Description = synth
 						}
 						if lf, ok := localized[primary]; ok {
@@ -453,11 +469,27 @@ func (e *Engine) RunSteps(ctx context.Context, companyID string, in ProductInput
 				out.SkipCreditDebit = true
 				out.FieldSources["name"] = "ai_enhance_unchanged"
 				out.FieldSources["description"] = "ai_enhance_unchanged"
-				out.Notes = append(out.Notes, "ai_enhance: skipped (inputs unchanged)")
+				out.Notes = append(out.Notes, "ai_enhance_unchanged")
+				log.Printf("processing: ai_enhance_unchanged")
 			} else {
 				out.AIProviderMode = e.EngineProviderMode()
 				out.FieldSources["name"] = "ai_enhance"
 				out.FieldSources["description"] = "ai_enhance"
+				for _, m := range langMetas {
+					if mm, ok := m.(map[string]any); ok {
+						reason, _ := mm["reason"].(string)
+						if reason == "" {
+							if raw, ok := mm["raw"].(map[string]any); ok {
+								reason, _ = raw["reason"].(string)
+							}
+						}
+						if reason != "" {
+							out.Notes = append(out.Notes, "ai_enhance: forced re-enhance ("+reason+")")
+							log.Printf("processing: ai_enhance forced re-enhance reason=%s", reason)
+							break
+						}
+					}
+				}
 			}
 			appendStepLog(out.GPTResponse, StepAIEnhance, map[string]any{
 				"status":    map[string]any{"unchanged": allUnchanged, "ok": anyOK, "failed": anyFailed},
@@ -475,7 +507,6 @@ func (e *Engine) RunSteps(ctx context.Context, companyID string, in ProductInput
 	preserveCategoryIfEmpty(&out, in.PriorCategory)
 	noteMissingCategory(&out, policy, e != nil && e.Vector != nil && e.Vector.Enabled())
 	syncCategoryName(&out, in.CategoryNamesByUID)
-	displayCat := categoryDisplayLabel(out)
 	out.Name = preferredProductTitle(in.GTIN, out.Name, out.ProcessedName, in.Name, in.PriorProcessedName)
 	out.ProcessedName = preferredProductTitle(in.GTIN, out.ProcessedName, out.Name, in.PriorProcessedName, in.Name)
 	out.Description = preferredProductDescription(out.Name, out.Description, out.ProcessedDescription, in.Description)
@@ -483,22 +514,52 @@ func (e *Engine) RunSteps(ctx context.Context, companyID string, in ProductInput
 	if out.ProcessedName == "" {
 		out.ProcessedName = out.Name
 	}
+	// Titles are finalized first so name-as-category and formula leakage can be cleared.
+	scrubCategoryPollution(&out, in.CategoryNamesByUID, nil)
+	syncCategoryName(&out, in.CategoryNamesByUID)
+	displayCat := categoryDisplayLabel(out)
+	// After vector/mapped category resolution, formulas may key for the first time —
+	// repair short prose / title echo that ignored A1 description_template.
 	_, finalDescTpl := categoryFormulasFor(in, out.Category)
-	if out.ProcessedDescription == "" || isWeakPriorEnhanceDescription(out.ProcessedDescription, out.ProcessedName, out.Name) {
+	finalRepaired := false
+	if descriptionNeedsEnhanceRepair(out.ProcessedDescription, finalDescTpl, out.ProcessedName, out.Name) {
 		if synth := synthesizeProductDescription(out.ProcessedName, displayCat, in.Language, out.Attributes, finalDescTpl); synth != "" {
 			out.ProcessedDescription = synth
+			finalRepaired = true
 		}
 	}
-	if out.Description == "" || isWeakPriorEnhanceDescription(out.Description, out.Name, out.ProcessedName) {
-		if out.ProcessedDescription != "" && !isWeakPriorEnhanceDescription(out.ProcessedDescription, out.Name, out.ProcessedName) {
+	if descriptionNeedsEnhanceRepair(out.Description, finalDescTpl, out.Name, out.ProcessedName) {
+		if out.ProcessedDescription != "" && !descriptionNeedsEnhanceRepair(out.ProcessedDescription, finalDescTpl, out.Name, out.ProcessedName) {
 			out.Description = out.ProcessedDescription
+			finalRepaired = true
 		} else if synth := synthesizeProductDescription(out.Name, displayCat, in.Language, out.Attributes, finalDescTpl); synth != "" {
 			out.Description = synth
-			if out.ProcessedDescription == "" || isWeakPriorEnhanceDescription(out.ProcessedDescription, out.ProcessedName, out.Name) {
+			finalRepaired = true
+			if descriptionNeedsEnhanceRepair(out.ProcessedDescription, finalDescTpl, out.ProcessedName, out.Name) {
 				out.ProcessedDescription = synth
 			}
 		}
 	}
+	if finalRepaired {
+		delete(out.FieldSources, FieldEnhanceInputHash)
+		primary := strings.TrimSpace(in.Language)
+		if primary == "" && len(in.ContentLanguages) > 0 {
+			primary = strings.TrimSpace(in.ContentLanguages[0])
+		}
+		if primary == "" {
+			primary = company.DefaultLanguage
+		}
+		for lang, lf := range out.LocalizedContent {
+			lf.EnhanceInputHash = ""
+			if lang == primary {
+				lf.ProcessedDescription = out.ProcessedDescription
+				if lf.ProcessedName == "" {
+					lf.ProcessedName = out.ProcessedName
+				}
+			}
+			out.LocalizedContent[lang] = lf
+		}
+	}
 	if out.Attributes == nil {
 		out.Attributes = map[string]any{}
 	}
@@ -528,7 +589,7 @@ func preserveCategoryIfEmpty(out *StepResult, prior string) {
 		return
 	}
 	prior = strings.TrimSpace(prior)
-	if prior == "" {
+	if prior == "" || isUnusableCategoryValue(prior, out.ProcessedName, out.Name) {
 		return
 	}
 	out.Category = SanitizeText(prior)
@@ -563,7 +624,7 @@ func tryVectorCategorize(ctx context.Context, e *Engine, companyID string, out *
 		})
 		return
 	}
-	if strings.TrimSpace(cat) == "" {
+	if strings.TrimSpace(cat) == "" || isUnusableCategoryValue(cat, out.ProcessedName, out.Name) {
 		return
 	}
 	out.Category = SanitizeOutput(cat)
@@ -632,78 +693,252 @@ func appendStepLog(gpt map[string]any, name string, raw any) {
 	gpt["steps"] = append(steps, map[string]any{"step": name, "raw": raw})
 }
 
+// descriptionFormulaRetrySuffix is appended once when LLM JSON ignored the
+// category description_template (short prose / title echo instead of multi-section HTML).
+const descriptionFormulaRetrySuffix = "\n\nINVALID DESCRIPTION. Your JSON ignored the Description formula. Reply with ONLY one JSON object; \"description\" must be ONE HTML string covering each formula section in order with matching tags (h1/h2/h3/h4, p, ul)."
+
+// descriptionNeedsEnhanceRepair is true when desc is weak/empty/title-echo or
+// fails an active category description_template (A1 multi-section HTML).
+// Heuristic invent/synth is intentionally excluded here — enhanceHashForceReason
+// blocks hash-skip for synth so reprocess can still upgrade to real LLM copy.
+func descriptionNeedsEnhanceRepair(desc string, template any, titles ...string) bool {
+	if isWeakPriorEnhanceDescription(desc, titles...) {
+		return true
+	}
+	return !descriptionSatisfiesFormula(desc, template)
+}
+
+// enhanceHashForceReason returns why a matching prior enhance_input_hash must not
+// skip the LLM (empty = safe to reuse as ai_enhance_unchanged).
+func enhanceHashForceReason(in ProductInput) string {
+	if isPromptLabelTitle(in.PriorProcessedName) {
+		return "prompt_label_title"
+	}
+	if reason := company.EnhanceHashSkipBlockReason(in.PriorProcessedDescription, in.PriorProcessedName, in.Name); reason != "" {
+		return reason
+	}
+	if !descriptionSatisfiesFormula(in.PriorProcessedDescription, in.DescriptionTemplate) {
+		return "formula-mismatch"
+	}
+	return ""
+}
+
 func (e *Engine) enhance(ctx context.Context, in ProductInput, category string, attrs map[string]any) (string, string, int, any, error) {
+	catUID := strings.TrimSpace(in.CategoryUniqueID)
+	catName := strings.TrimSpace(category)
 	sysTpl, userTpl := resolveProductPromptTemplates(in)
 	hash := HashEnhanceInput(category, in.Name, in.Description, in.BrandPrompt, in.Language, sysTpl, userTpl, attrs)
 	if e == nil || e.Completer == nil {
 		name := preferredProductTitle(in.GTIN, in.Name, in.PriorProcessedName)
+		logEnhanceOutcome(in, catUID, catName, "skip", "completer_nil", Completion{}, 0, "")
 		return name,
 			preferredProductDescription(name, in.Description, in.PriorProcessedDescription),
-			0, map[string]any{"status": "skipped", "input_hash": hash}, nil
+			0, map[string]any{"status": "skipped", "reason": "completer_nil"}, nil
 	}
 	// Skip LLM when inputs match the last successful enhance (before any credit debit),
-	// but never reuse a thin / title-echo prior description, or a prompt-leakage title.
+	// but never reuse thin / title-echo / invent-synth / formula-mismatch priors,
+	// or a prompt-leakage title.
+	var forceReason string
 	if in.PriorEnhanceHash != "" && in.PriorEnhanceHash == hash &&
-		(in.PriorProcessedName != "" || in.PriorProcessedDescription != "") &&
-		!isPromptLabelTitle(in.PriorProcessedName) &&
-		!isWeakPriorEnhanceDescription(in.PriorProcessedDescription, in.PriorProcessedName, in.Name) {
-		name := preferredProductTitle(in.GTIN, in.PriorProcessedName, in.Name)
-		desc := preferredProductDescription(name, in.PriorProcessedDescription, in.Description)
-		return name, desc, 0, map[string]any{
-			"status":     "unchanged",
-			"input_hash": hash,
-		}, nil
+		(in.PriorProcessedName != "" || in.PriorProcessedDescription != "") {
+		forceReason = enhanceHashForceReason(in)
+		if forceReason == "" {
+			name := preferredProductTitle(in.GTIN, in.PriorProcessedName, in.Name)
+			desc := preferredProductDescription(name, in.PriorProcessedDescription, in.Description)
+			logEnhanceOutcome(in, catUID, catName, "skip", "unchanged_hash", Completion{}, 0, "")
+			return name, desc, 0, map[string]any{
+				"status":     "unchanged",
+				"input_hash": hash,
+			}, nil
+		}
+		log.Printf("processing: ai_enhance skip_blocked reason=%s category=%q name=%q",
+			forceReason, truncateRunes(category, 80), truncateRunes(in.Name, 80))
 	}
 	system, user := RenderProductEnhancePrompts(sysTpl, userTpl, category, in.Name, in.Description, in.GTIN, in.BrandPrompt, in.Language, attrs)
+	logEnhancePrompt(in, catUID, catName, system, user)
+	started := time.Now()
 	comp, obj, err := CompleteJSON(ctx, e.Completer, system, user, CompleteOptions{
 		MaxTokens:   MaxTokensEnhance,
 		Temperature: DefaultStructuredTemp,
 	})
+	elapsed := time.Since(started)
 	if err != nil {
 		// Network/provider failure vs parse failure after retry
 		name := preferredProductTitle(in.GTIN, in.Name, in.PriorProcessedName)
 		desc := preferredProductDescription(name, in.Description, in.PriorProcessedDescription)
-		if isWeakPriorEnhanceDescription(desc, name) {
+		outcome := "refuse"
+		reason := "empty_or_provider_error"
+		if descriptionNeedsEnhanceRepair(desc, in.DescriptionTemplate, name) {
 			if synth := synthesizeProductDescription(name, category, in.Language, attrs, in.DescriptionTemplate); synth != "" {
 				desc = synth
+				outcome = "synthesized"
 			}
 		}
 		if obj == nil && comp.Text == "" {
+			logEnhanceOutcome(in, catUID, catName, outcome, reason+":"+TruncateError(err), comp, elapsed, forceReason)
 			return name, desc, 0, map[string]any{
 				"provider": "passthrough",
 				"error":    TruncateError(err),
 			}, err
 		}
-		// Parse failed after retry — keep usable copy; synthesize when empty/weak.
+		// Parse failed after retry — keep usable copy; synthesize when empty/weak/formula-miss.
+		if outcome != "synthesized" {
+			outcome = "refuse"
+			reason = "parse_failed"
+		} else {
+			reason = "parse_failed"
+		}
+		logEnhanceOutcome(in, catUID, catName, outcome, reason, comp, elapsed, forceReason)
 		return name, desc, comp.TotalTokens, map[string]any{
 			"status": "parse_failed",
+			"reason": "invalid_json",
 			"error":  "AI returned invalid JSON; kept original title/description",
 			"raw":    truncateRunes(comp.Text, 200),
 		}, nil
 	}
-	name := preferredProductTitle(in.GTIN, SanitizeOutput(fmt.Sprint(obj["name"])), in.Name, in.PriorProcessedName)
-	desc := preferredProductDescription(name, SanitizeOutput(fmt.Sprint(obj["description"])), in.Description, in.PriorProcessedDescription)
+	llmName := SanitizeOutput(fmt.Sprint(obj["name"]))
+	llmDesc := SanitizeOutput(fmt.Sprint(obj["description"]))
+	// Never prefer-fallback to originals for empty/leakage LLM fields — that stamped
+	// status=ok + input_hash on garbage enhance output (prod: 30–272ms "ok", wrong copy).
+	if reason := llmEnhanceHardRefuseReason(llmName, llmDesc); reason != "" {
+		name := preferredProductTitle(in.GTIN, llmName, in.Name, in.PriorProcessedName)
+		desc := preferredProductDescription(name, llmDesc)
+		synthesized := false
+		if descriptionNeedsEnhanceRepair(desc, in.DescriptionTemplate, name) {
+			if desc == "" {
+				desc = preferredProductDescription(name, in.Description, in.PriorProcessedDescription)
+			}
+			if descriptionNeedsEnhanceRepair(desc, in.DescriptionTemplate, name) {
+				if synth := synthesizeProductDescription(name, category, in.Language, attrs, in.DescriptionTemplate); synth != "" {
+					desc = synth
+					synthesized = true
+				}
+			}
+		}
+		status := "refused"
+		outcome := "refuse"
+		if synthesized {
+			status = "synthesized"
+			outcome = "synthesized"
+		}
+		meta := map[string]any{
+			"status": status,
+			"reason": reason,
+			"raw":    comp.Raw,
+		}
+		if forceReason != "" {
+			meta["forced_reenhance"] = true
+			meta["force_reason"] = forceReason
+		}
+		logEnhanceOutcome(in, catUID, catName, outcome, reason, comp, elapsed, forceReason)
+		return name, desc, comp.TotalTokens, meta, nil
+	}
+
+	name := preferredProductTitle(in.GTIN, llmName, in.Name, in.PriorProcessedName)
+	// Quality-gate on LLM description alone (do not absorb originals yet).
+	desc := preferredProductDescription(name, llmDesc)
+	didFormulaRetry := false
+	// Fast garbage that ignores A1 description_template: one formula-aware retry, then synthesize.
+	if !descriptionSatisfiesFormula(desc, in.DescriptionTemplate) &&
+		FormatDescriptionFormulaConstraint(in.DescriptionTemplate) != "" {
+		didFormulaRetry = true
+		retryUser := user + descriptionFormulaRetrySuffix
+		retryStarted := time.Now()
+		comp2, obj2, err2 := CompleteJSON(ctx, e.Completer, system, retryUser, CompleteOptions{
+			MaxTokens:   MaxTokensEnhance,
+			Temperature: DefaultStructuredTemp,
+		})
+		elapsed += time.Since(retryStarted)
+		comp.PromptTokens += comp2.PromptTokens
+		comp.OutputTokens += comp2.OutputTokens
+		comp.TotalTokens += comp2.TotalTokens
+		if err2 == nil && obj2 != nil {
+			n2 := SanitizeOutput(fmt.Sprint(obj2["name"]))
+			d2 := SanitizeOutput(fmt.Sprint(obj2["description"]))
+			if llmEnhanceHardRefuseReason(n2, d2) == "" {
+				name = preferredProductTitle(in.GTIN, n2, name, in.Name, in.PriorProcessedName)
+				desc = preferredProductDescription(name, d2)
+				if comp2.Raw != nil {
+					comp.Raw = comp2.Raw
+				}
+				if comp2.Text != "" {
+					comp.Text = comp2.Text
+				}
+			}
+		}
+	}
 	synthesized := false
-	if isWeakPriorEnhanceDescription(desc, name) {
-		if synth := synthesizeProductDescription(name, category, in.Language, attrs, in.DescriptionTemplate); synth != "" {
-			desc = synth
-			synthesized = true
+	if descriptionNeedsEnhanceRepair(desc, in.DescriptionTemplate, name) {
+		if desc == "" {
+			desc = preferredProductDescription(name, in.Description, in.PriorProcessedDescription)
+		}
+		if descriptionNeedsEnhanceRepair(desc, in.DescriptionTemplate, name) {
+			if synth := synthesizeProductDescription(name, category, in.Language, attrs, in.DescriptionTemplate); synth != "" {
+				desc = synth
+				synthesized = true
+			}
 		}
 	}
 	meta := map[string]any{
 		"status": "ok",
 		"raw":    comp.Raw,
 	}
+	if forceReason != "" {
+		meta["reason"] = forceReason
+		meta["forced_reenhance"] = true
+	}
+	outcome := "ok"
+	reason := forceReason
 	// Heuristic synthesize must not poison enhance_input_hash (would hash-skip
 	// formula-aware LLM copy on reprocess). Only persist hash for real LLM quality.
 	if synthesized {
 		meta["status"] = "synthesized"
-	} else if !isWeakPriorEnhanceDescription(desc, name) {
+		outcome = "synthesized"
+		if didFormulaRetry {
+			reason = "formula_retry"
+		} else {
+			reason = "weak_or_formula_mismatch"
+		}
+		meta["reason"] = reason
+	} else if descriptionNeedsEnhanceRepair(desc, in.DescriptionTemplate, name) {
+		meta["status"] = "refused"
+		outcome = "refuse"
+		if didFormulaRetry {
+			reason = "formula_retry"
+		} else {
+			reason = "weak_or_formula_mismatch"
+		}
+		meta["reason"] = reason
+	} else {
 		meta["input_hash"] = hash
+		if didFormulaRetry {
+			reason = "formula_retry"
+			if meta["reason"] == nil {
+				meta["reason"] = reason
+			}
+		}
 	}
+	logEnhanceOutcome(in, catUID, catName, outcome, reason, comp, elapsed, forceReason)
 	return name, desc, comp.TotalTokens, meta, nil
 }
 
+// llmEnhanceHardRefuseReason reports empty/leakage LLM fields that must never be
+// accepted as quality enhance (even when originals could fill the gap).
+func llmEnhanceHardRefuseReason(name, desc string) string {
+	name = strings.TrimSpace(name)
+	desc = strings.TrimSpace(desc)
+	if name == "" || name == "<nil>" {
+		return "empty_name"
+	}
+	if isPromptLabelTitle(name) {
+		return "prompt_leakage_name"
+	}
+	if desc == "" || desc == "<nil>" {
+		return "empty_description"
+	}
+	return ""
+}
+
 func sanitizeJSON(v any) string {
 	if v == nil {
 		return "{}"
@@ -841,6 +1076,24 @@ var promptLeakagePhrases = []string{
 	"prefer attrs values",
 	"order matters; join with",
 	"do not hardcode a language",
+	// Description / title formula scaffolding (Format*FormulaConstraint + enhance templates).
+	"emit description as one html",
+	"emit one html string",
+	"covering each section",
+	"tags matching section",
+	"overrides any shorter",
+	"competing full html",
+	"metadescription",
+	"never ignore the description",
+	"follow any description formula",
+	"when a description formula",
+	"structured html sections",
+	"never copy name as description",
+	"do not invent specs",
+	"prefer 1-3 factual",
+	"1-2 sentences",
+	"keep literal text as written",
+	"build name from attrs using this structure",
 }
 
 var promptLeakageLongKeywords = []string{
@@ -850,6 +1103,97 @@ var promptLeakageLongKeywords = []string{
 	"json",
 	"attrs",
 	"retail title",
+	"html string",
+	"section type",
+}
+
+// isUnusableCategoryValue rejects tokens that must never become Category /
+// CategoryName: prompt labels / title-formula scaffolding, or the product
+// title itself (name-as-category). Callers with taxonomy should prefer
+// scrubCategoryPollution so a title that legitimately equals a category name
+// can still resolve to unique_id.
+func isUnusableCategoryValue(s string, productTitles ...string) bool {
+	s = strings.TrimSpace(s)
+	if s == "" || s == "<nil>" {
+		return false
+	}
+	if isPromptLabelTitle(s) {
+		return true
+	}
+	return categoryTokenEqualsProductTitle(s, productTitles...)
+}
+
+func categoryTokenEqualsProductTitle(s string, productTitles ...string) bool {
+	s = strings.TrimSpace(s)
+	if s == "" || s == "<nil>" {
+		return false
+	}
+	for _, t := range productTitles {
+		t = strings.TrimSpace(t)
+		if t == "" || t == "<nil>" {
+			continue
+		}
+		if strings.EqualFold(s, t) {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
+func taxonomyDisplayNameSet(namesByUID map[string]string) map[string]struct{} {
+	if len(namesByUID) == 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+	out := make(map[string]struct{}, len(namesByUID))
+	for _, name := range namesByUID {
+		n := strings.ToLower(strings.TrimSpace(name))
+		if n != "" {
+			out[n] = struct{}{}
+		}
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
+// scrubCategoryPollution clears Category / CategoryName when they hold prompt
+// leakage/formula text, or equal the product title without resolving to a
+// company taxonomy unique_id / display name.
+func scrubCategoryPollution(out *StepResult, namesByUID map[string]string, valid map[string]struct{}) {
+	if out == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	titles := []string{out.ProcessedName, out.Name}
+	clearCategory := func(note string) {
+		out.Category = ""
+		out.CategoryName = ""
+		if out.FieldSources == nil {
+			out.FieldSources = map[string]any{}
+		}
+		out.FieldSources["category"] = "cleared_invalid"
+		out.Notes = append(out.Notes, note)
+	}
+	cat := strings.TrimSpace(out.Category)
+	if cat != "" {
+		switch {
+		case isPromptLabelTitle(cat):
+			clearCategory("category: ignored (prompt leakage)")
+		case categoryTokenEqualsProductTitle(cat, titles...) &&
+			resolveCompanyCategoryUniqueID(cat, namesByUID, valid) == "":
+			clearCategory("category: ignored (product title)")
+		}
+	}
+	name := strings.TrimSpace(out.CategoryName)
+	if name == "" {
+		return
+	}
+	if isPromptLabelTitle(name) {
+		out.CategoryName = ""
+		return
+	}
+	if categoryTokenEqualsProductTitle(name, titles...) {
+		if _, ok := taxonomyDisplayNameSet(namesByUID)[strings.ToLower(name)]; !ok {
+			out.CategoryName = ""
+		}
+	}
 }
 
 // preferredProductTitle picks the first usable title, skipping empty values,

apps/api/internal/processing/steps_test.go

@@ -223,8 +223,12 @@ func TestIsPromptLeakageTitle(t *testing.T) {
 		"write name in {{language}}":                                  true,
 		"Schema: {\"name\":\"string\",\"description\":\"string\"}":    true,
 		"Reply with ONLY JSON (no markdown)":                          true,
-		"Vox SWA-8000W dishwasher":                                    false,
-		"Acme Widget Pro":                                             false,
+		"Emit description as ONE HTML string covering each section in order": true,
+		"Description formula (REQUIRED — overrides any shorter \"1-2 sentences\" rule)": true,
+		"when a Description formula follows, emit ONE HTML string": true,
+		"never copy name as description":                           true,
+		"Vox SWA-8000W dishwasher":                                 false,
+		"Acme Widget Pro":                                          false,
 		"": false,
 	}
 	for in, want := range cases {
@@ -242,6 +246,119 @@ func TestIsPromptLeakageTitle(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestIsUnusableCategoryValue_rejectsNameAndFormula(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+	title := "NOSILEC W53070 81-140CM 180ST VOGELS"
+	if !isUnusableCategoryValue(title, title) {
+		t.Fatal("product title must not be usable as category")
+	}
+	if !isUnusableCategoryValue("Title formula (order matters; join with \" \")", title) {
+		t.Fatal("title formula must not be usable as category")
+	}
+	if !isUnusableCategoryValue("Emit description as ONE HTML string covering each section", title) {
+		t.Fatal("description formula must not be usable as category")
+	}
+	if !isUnusableCategoryValue("Category:", title) {
+		t.Fatal("prompt label must not be usable as category")
+	}
+	if isUnusableCategoryValue("28", title) {
+		t.Fatal("taxonomy unique_id must remain usable")
+	}
+	if isUnusableCategoryValue("TV mounts", title) {
+		t.Fatal("real category display name must remain usable")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestScrubCategoryPollution_clearsNameAsCategory(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+	title := "Vogel's WALL 3245 TV Wall Mount"
+	out := StepResult{
+		Name:          title,
+		ProcessedName: title,
+		Category:      title,
+		CategoryName:  title,
+		FieldSources:  map[string]any{"category": "vector"},
+	}
+	scrubCategoryPollution(&out, nil, nil)
+	if out.Category != "" || out.CategoryName != "" {
+		t.Fatalf("expected category cleared, got Category=%q CategoryName=%q", out.Category, out.CategoryName)
+	}
+	if src, _ := out.FieldSources["category"].(string); src != "cleared_invalid" {
+		t.Fatalf("field_sources.category=%v want cleared_invalid", out.FieldSources["category"])
+	}
+}
+
+func TestEnhance_rejectsDescriptionFormulaLeakageTitle(t *testing.T) {
+	leak := "Emit description as ONE HTML string covering each section in order in Slovenian"
+	e := &Engine{
+		Completer: stubCompleter{fn: func(system, user string) (Completion, error) {
+			return Completion{Text: `{"name":"` + leak + `","description":"A solid washer."}`, TotalTokens: 2}, nil
+		}},
+		Vector: NoopVectorCategorizer{},
+	}
+	out, err := e.RunSteps(context.Background(), "co", ProductInput{
+		GTIN:   "8712285326882",
+		Name:   "Vox SWA-8000W",
+		Mapped: map[string]any{"name": "Vox SWA-8000W", "description": "Washer", "category": "demo-electronics"},
+	}, "enhance_only", nil, StepPolicy{AllowAI: true})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if out.ProcessedName != "Vox SWA-8000W" {
+		t.Fatalf("ProcessedName=%q want Vox SWA-8000W (reject description formula leakage)", out.ProcessedName)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestRunSteps_rejectsProductNameAsCategory(t *testing.T) {
+	title := "NOSILEC W53070 81-140CM 180ST VOGELS"
+	e := &Engine{
+		Completer: stubCompleter{fn: func(system, user string) (Completion, error) {
+			return Completion{Text: `{"name":"` + title + `","description":"TV wall mount for large screens."}`, TotalTokens: 2}, nil
+		}},
+		Vector: NoopVectorCategorizer{},
+	}
+	out, err := e.RunSteps(context.Background(), "co", ProductInput{
+		GTIN:          "8712285326882",
+		Name:          title,
+		PriorCategory: title,
+		Mapped:        map[string]any{"name": title, "description": title, "category": title},
+	}, "enhance_only", nil, StepPolicy{AllowAI: true})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if out.Category == title || strings.EqualFold(out.Category, out.ProcessedName) {
+		t.Fatalf("Category=%q must not equal product title", out.Category)
+	}
+	if categoryDisplayLabel(out) == title {
+		t.Fatalf("display category leaked product title: %q", categoryDisplayLabel(out))
+	}
+}
+
+func TestRunSteps_rejectsFormulaAsCategory(t *testing.T) {
+	leak := "Title formula (order matters; join with \" \"). Build name from Attrs"
+	e := &Engine{
+		Completer: stubCompleter{fn: func(system, user string) (Completion, error) {
+			return Completion{Text: `{"name":"Vox SWA-8000W","description":"Washer."}`, TotalTokens: 2}, nil
+		}},
+		Vector: NoopVectorCategorizer{},
+	}
+	out, err := e.RunSteps(context.Background(), "co", ProductInput{
+		GTIN:          "8712285326882",
+		Name:          "Vox SWA-8000W",
+		PriorCategory: leak,
+		Mapped:        map[string]any{"name": "Vox SWA-8000W", "description": "Washer", "category": leak},
+	}, "enhance_only", nil, StepPolicy{AllowAI: true})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if out.Category != "" {
+		t.Fatalf("Category=%q want empty (formula rejected)", out.Category)
+	}
+	if categoryDisplayLabel(out) != "" {
+		t.Fatalf("display=%q want empty", categoryDisplayLabel(out))
+	}
+}
+
 func TestEnhance_rejectsFormulaLeakageTitle(t *testing.T) {
 	leak := "short retail title; follow any Title formula constraints that follow; use Attrs"
 	e := &Engine{

apps/api/internal/processing/upsert_processed_product_test.go

@@ -28,6 +28,10 @@ func TestUpsertProcessedProductSQL_usesOnConflict(t *testing.T) {
 	if !strings.Contains(upsertProcessedProductSQL, "COALESCE(NULLIF(BTRIM(EXCLUDED.category), ''), processed_products.category)") {
 		t.Fatalf("expected category preserve on conflict: got SQL without COALESCE preserve")
 	}
+	// Intentional scrub/filter clears must wipe a previously persisted product-title category.
+	if !strings.Contains(upsertProcessedProductSQL, "cleared_invalid") {
+		t.Fatalf("expected cleared_invalid category wipe path in upsert SQL")
+	}
 	// Free template meta must persist; existing non-empty meta must be preserved on reprocess.
 	if !strings.Contains(upsertProcessedProductSQL, "meta_title") || !strings.Contains(upsertProcessedProductSQL, "meta_description") {
 		t.Fatalf("expected meta_title/meta_description columns in upsert")

apps/api/internal/processing/v1_legacy.go

@@ -326,11 +326,23 @@ func (p *Pipeline) LoadV1ProcessJobItems(ctx context.Context, companyID, jobID u
 			if name, ok := categoryNames[catStr]; ok && name != "" {
 				catNameStr = name
 			} else if nested, ok := mapped["category"].(map[string]any); ok {
-				for _, k := range []string{"name", "category_name", "title"} {
-					if s := strings.TrimSpace(stringFromAny(nested[k])); s != "" {
-						catNameStr = s
-						break
+				// Only accept nested display names that resolve in company taxonomy —
+				// never product title / title-formula leftovers from feed objects.
+				for _, k := range []string{"name", "category_name"} {
+					s := strings.TrimSpace(stringFromAny(nested[k]))
+					if s == "" || isUnusableCategoryValue(s, titleStr) {
+						continue
 					}
+					uid := resolveCompanyCategoryUniqueID(s, categoryNames, nil)
+					if uid == "" {
+						continue
+					}
+					if resolvedName := strings.TrimSpace(categoryNames[uid]); resolvedName != "" {
+						catNameStr = resolvedName
+					} else {
+						catNameStr = s
+					}
+					break
 				}
 			}
 		}