fix

apps/api/cmd/api/main.go

@@ -26,6 +26,12 @@ func main() {
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Fatalf("config: %v", err)
 	}
+	if cfg.InsecureLocalProductionActive() {
+		slog.Warn("ALLOW_INSECURE_LOCAL_PRODUCTION=1 with loopback WEB_ORIGIN — not for public deploy",
+			"web_origin", cfg.WebOrigin,
+			"http_addr", cfg.HTTPAddr,
+		)
+	}
 	if cfg.ShouldWarnRateLimits() {
 		slog.Warn(cfg.RateLimitWarningMessage(),
 			"rate_limit_replicas", cfg.RateLimitReplicas,

apps/api/cmd/worker/main.go

@@ -157,6 +157,21 @@ func main() {
 	jobSlots := processing.NewJobSlots(processing.DefaultProcessingWorkers)
 	syncSlots := jobs.NewSyncSlots(jobs.DefaultSyncWorkers)
 	log.Printf("worker started - processing workers=%d sync workers=%d poll=%s LISTEN=%s,%s (ClaimNext SKIP LOCKED) + feed sync claim + support AI auto + woo/shopify claim + scheduled enqueue + billing cycles", jobSlots.Workers, syncSlots.Workers, cfg.ProcessingPollInterval, jobs.ChannelProcessingJobs, jobs.ChannelFeedSyncJobs)
+	if cfg.InsecureLocalProductionActive() {
+		log.Printf("worker WARNING: ALLOW_INSECURE_LOCAL_PRODUCTION=1 with loopback WEB_ORIGIN=%s — not for public deploy", cfg.WebOrigin)
+	}
+
+	// Before claiming a fresh heartbeat, reclaim running orphans left by a prior
+	// crash/SIGTERM (ClaimNext only selects pending). Skip when another worker is live.
+	probe := jobs.ProbeWorkerReadiness(ctx, pool, jobs.DefaultHeartbeatStaleAfter)
+	if probe.WorkerCheck == "missing" || probe.WorkerCheck == "stale" {
+		if res, err := processing.ReclaimOrphanedRunning(ctx, pool); err != nil {
+			log.Printf("worker orphan reclaim: %v", err)
+		} else if res.JobsRequeued > 0 || res.ProductsReset > 0 || res.SyncJobsRequeued > 0 {
+			log.Printf("worker orphan reclaim jobs_requeued=%d products_reset=%d sync_requeued=%d (prior worker %s)",
+				res.JobsRequeued, res.ProductsReset, res.SyncJobsRequeued, probe.WorkerCheck)
+		}
+	}
 
 	if err := jobs.TouchHeartbeat(ctx, pool, jobs.ProcessingWorkerID); err != nil {
 		log.Printf("worker heartbeat bootstrap: %v", err)

apps/api/internal/config/config.go

@@ -109,6 +109,12 @@ type Config struct {
 	// Non-production always allows scrapes. Production without this flag: loopback only.
 	MetricsPublic bool
 
+	// AllowInsecureLocalProduction permits loopback WEB_ORIGIN (http or https) when
+	// APP_ENV=production|prod. Env: ALLOW_INSECURE_LOCAL_PRODUCTION=1.
+	// Public (non-loopback) origins still require https. Use only for local systemd /
+	// npm run dev mislabeled as production — never for a public deploy.
+	AllowInsecureLocalProduction bool
+
 	// Postgres pgx pool (api + worker). Defaults preserve historical NewPool hardcodes
 	// and add idle recycle + statement_timeout for multi-tenant churn.
 	// See docs/ops-runtime.md § Postgres pgx pool and db.PoolOptions comments.
@@ -183,8 +189,9 @@ func Load() (Config, error) {
 		StripeWebhookSecret:      os.Getenv("STRIPE_WEBHOOK_SECRET"),
 		StripeMock:               getenvBool("STRIPE_MOCK", false),
 		StripePriceIDs:           loadStripePriceIDs(),
-		MetricsPublic:            getenvBool("METRICS_PUBLIC", false),
-		DBMaxConns:               getenvInt("DB_MAX_CONNS", 20),
+		MetricsPublic:                 getenvBool("METRICS_PUBLIC", false),
+		AllowInsecureLocalProduction:  getenvBool("ALLOW_INSECURE_LOCAL_PRODUCTION", false),
+		DBMaxConns:                    getenvInt("DB_MAX_CONNS", 20),
 		DBMinConns:               getenvInt("DB_MIN_CONNS", 2),
 		DBMaxConnLifetime:        getenvDuration("DB_MAX_CONN_LIFETIME", time.Hour),
 		DBMaxConnLifetimeJitter:  getenvDurationAllowZero("DB_MAX_CONN_LIFETIME_JITTER", 6*time.Minute),
@@ -224,10 +231,21 @@ func (c Config) IsProduction() bool {
 
 // CookieSecure is true when session/CSRF cookies must carry the Secure flag.
 // Prefer SessionSecure; also force Secure when APP_ENV is production (defense in depth).
+// Exception: insecure local production escape with http loopback WEB_ORIGIN follows SessionSecure
+// so cookies work on http://localhost during mislabeled local deploys.
 func (c Config) CookieSecure() bool {
+	if c.InsecureLocalProductionActive() && strings.HasPrefix(strings.ToLower(strings.TrimSpace(c.WebOrigin)), "http://") {
+		return c.SessionSecure
+	}
 	return c.SessionSecure || c.IsProduction()
 }
 
+// InsecureLocalProductionActive reports APP_ENV=production|prod with the explicit
+// loopback escape (ALLOW_INSECURE_LOCAL_PRODUCTION) and a loopback WEB_ORIGIN.
+func (c Config) InsecureLocalProductionActive() bool {
+	return c.IsProduction() && c.AllowInsecureLocalProduction && isLoopbackWebOriginHost(c.WebOrigin)
+}
+
 // ShouldWarnRateLimits reports whether operators opted into multi-replica rate-limit
 // awareness or requested an unsupported shared backend.
 func (c Config) ShouldWarnRateLimits() bool {
@@ -273,14 +291,8 @@ func (c Config) validate() error {
 	if !c.IsProduction() {
 		return nil
 	}
-	if !c.SessionSecure {
-		return fmt.Errorf("SESSION_SECURE=true is required when APP_ENV=production")
-	}
-	if !strings.HasPrefix(strings.ToLower(strings.TrimSpace(c.WebOrigin)), "https://") {
-		return fmt.Errorf("WEB_ORIGIN must be https in production")
-	}
-	if isLoopbackWebOriginHost(c.WebOrigin) {
-		return fmt.Errorf("WEB_ORIGIN must not be localhost/loopback in production")
+	if err := c.validateProductionWebOrigin(); err != nil {
+		return err
 	}
 	if strings.TrimSpace(c.AppEncryptionKey) == "" {
 		return fmt.Errorf("APP_ENCRYPTION_KEY is required in production")
@@ -299,6 +311,40 @@ func (c Config) validate() error {
 	return nil
 }
 
+// validateProductionWebOrigin fails closed for public production: https + non-loopback
+// WEB_ORIGIN and SESSION_SECURE. Loopback http(s) is allowed only with the explicit
+// ALLOW_INSECURE_LOCAL_PRODUCTION escape (local systemd / npm run dev mislabeled as prod).
+func (c Config) validateProductionWebOrigin() error {
+	origin := strings.TrimSpace(c.WebOrigin)
+	https := strings.HasPrefix(strings.ToLower(origin), "https://")
+	loopback := isLoopbackWebOriginHost(origin)
+	localEscape := c.AllowInsecureLocalProduction && loopback
+
+	if localEscape {
+		// SESSION_SECURE is optional for http://localhost escape so cookies work locally.
+		if https && !c.SessionSecure {
+			return fmt.Errorf("SESSION_SECURE=true is required when APP_ENV=production and WEB_ORIGIN is https")
+		}
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	// Prefer WEB_ORIGIN diagnostics for the common local-mislabeled-production crash loop
+	// (http://localhost + APP_ENV=production) before SESSION_SECURE.
+	if !https {
+		if loopback {
+			return fmt.Errorf("WEB_ORIGIN must be https in production (got %q). Public deploy: set WEB_ORIGIN=https://your.domain. Local systemd/npm run dev: set APP_ENV=development, or ALLOW_INSECURE_LOCAL_PRODUCTION=1 with loopback WEB_ORIGIN only — otherwise api/worker exit and leave processing_jobs status=running forever", origin)
+		}
+		return fmt.Errorf("WEB_ORIGIN must be https in production (got %q); set WEB_ORIGIN=https://your.public.domain", origin)
+	}
+	if loopback {
+		return fmt.Errorf("WEB_ORIGIN must not be localhost/loopback in production (got %q). Public deploy: use your https domain. Local only: APP_ENV=development or ALLOW_INSECURE_LOCAL_PRODUCTION=1", origin)
+	}
+	if !c.SessionSecure {
+		return fmt.Errorf("SESSION_SECURE=true is required when APP_ENV=production")
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
 // validateSMTPConfig no longer fails closed at boot: SMTP credentials live in
 // admin platform settings (with optional env fallback). Incomplete SMTP_ENABLED
 // env is ignored until admin configures delivery.

apps/api/internal/config/config_test.go

@@ -217,6 +217,61 @@ func TestProductionValidateFailsClosed(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestProductionLoopbackWebOriginEscape(t *testing.T) {
+	base := Config{
+		AppEnv:                 "production",
+		WebOrigin:              "http://localhost:28472",
+		SessionSecure:          false,
+		AppEncryptionKey:       "enc",
+		TokenSigningSecret:     "tok",
+		ProcessingPollInterval: 250 * time.Millisecond,
+		DBMaxConns:             20,
+		DBMinConns:             2,
+		DBMaxConnLifetime:      time.Hour,
+		DBMaxConnIdleTime:      5 * time.Minute,
+		DBHealthCheckPeriod:    time.Minute,
+		DBStatementTimeout:     30 * time.Second,
+	}
+
+	denied := base
+	if err := denied.validate(); err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected http loopback WEB_ORIGIN rejected without escape")
+	} else if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "ALLOW_INSECURE_LOCAL_PRODUCTION") {
+		t.Fatalf("error should mention escape hatch: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	allowed := base
+	allowed.AllowInsecureLocalProduction = true
+	if err := allowed.validate(); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if !allowed.InsecureLocalProductionActive() {
+		t.Fatal("expected insecure local production active")
+	}
+	if allowed.CookieSecure() {
+		t.Fatal("http loopback escape should not force CookieSecure")
+	}
+
+	httpsLocal := allowed
+	httpsLocal.WebOrigin = "https://localhost:28472"
+	if err := httpsLocal.validate(); err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected SESSION_SECURE required for https loopback escape")
+	}
+	httpsLocal.SessionSecure = true
+	if err := httpsLocal.validate(); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	// Escape must not weaken public (non-loopback) http.
+	publicHTTP := base
+	publicHTTP.AllowInsecureLocalProduction = true
+	publicHTTP.WebOrigin = "http://app.example.com"
+	publicHTTP.SessionSecure = true
+	if err := publicHTTP.validate(); err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected public http WEB_ORIGIN rejected even with escape flag")
+	}
+}
+
 func TestValidateSMTPEnabledDoesNotRequireEnvHost(t *testing.T) {
 	// SMTP credentials live in admin platform settings; boot must succeed with SMTP_ENABLED=true and empty host.
 	cfg := Config{
@@ -298,6 +353,15 @@ func TestCookieSecure(t *testing.T) {
 	if (Config{AppEnv: "development", SessionSecure: false}).CookieSecure() {
 		t.Fatal("development without SessionSecure should not enable CookieSecure")
 	}
+	insecureLocal := Config{
+		AppEnv:                       "production",
+		WebOrigin:                    "http://localhost:28472",
+		AllowInsecureLocalProduction: true,
+		SessionSecure:                false,
+	}
+	if insecureLocal.CookieSecure() {
+		t.Fatal("insecure local production http escape should not force CookieSecure")
+	}
 }
 
 func TestLoadSessionSecureDefaultsWithAppEnv(t *testing.T) {

apps/api/internal/processing/category_test.go

@@ -181,6 +181,19 @@ func TestCoerceCategoryToCompanyUniqueID_nameToUID(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestResolveCompanyCategoryUniqueID_usedByV1Projection(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+	names := map[string]string{"50": "Štedilniki"}
+	valid := map[string]struct{}{"50": {}}
+	// Poll/projection path: mapped name-only token must resolve like processOne.
+	if got := resolveCompanyCategoryUniqueID("Štedilniki", names, valid); got != "50" {
+		t.Fatalf("got %q want 50", got)
+	}
+	if got := resolveCompanyCategoryUniqueID("50", names, valid); got != "50" {
+		t.Fatalf("uid passthrough got %q", got)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestCategoryUniqueIDFromAny_nestedNameOnly(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 	got := categoryUniqueIDFromAny(map[string]any{"name": "Štedilniki"})

apps/api/internal/processing/pipeline.go

@@ -548,11 +548,13 @@ func (p *Pipeline) RetryJob(ctx context.Context, companyID, id uuid.UUID) (Job,
 		firstStep = progress[0].Step
 	}
 
-	itemStatuses := []string{"failed", "cancelled"}
+	// Include "processing": ProcessJob can fail after claim (hydrate/etc.) and leave
+	// rows stuck in processing — RetryJob must reclaim them or the job never drains.
+	itemStatuses := []string{"failed", "cancelled", "processing"}
 	resetProcessed := false
 	if job.Status == "completed" {
 		// Completed retries should rerun the whole job, not immediately no-op.
-		itemStatuses = []string{"processed", "failed", "cancelled"}
+		itemStatuses = []string{"processed", "failed", "cancelled", "processing"}
 		resetProcessed = true
 	}
 
@@ -677,6 +679,7 @@ func (p *Pipeline) ProcessJob(ctx context.Context, jobID uuid.UUID) error {
 		items, err := p.loadPendingItems(ctx, jobID, batch)
 		if err != nil {
 			flushProgress(true)
+			_ = p.reclaimOrphanedProcessingItems(ctx, jobID)
 			return err
 		}
 		if len(items) == 0 {
@@ -687,24 +690,34 @@ func (p *Pipeline) ProcessJob(ctx context.Context, jobID uuid.UUID) error {
 			if err := p.Pool.QueryRow(ctx, `
 				SELECT COUNT(*) FROM processing_job_products
 				WHERE job_id = $1 AND processed_product_id IS NULL
-				  AND status IN ('pending', 'processing')`, jobID).Scan(&open); err != nil {
+					AND status IN ('pending', 'processing')`, jobID).Scan(&open); err != nil {
 				flushProgress(true)
+				_ = p.reclaimOrphanedProcessingItems(ctx, jobID)
 				return fmt.Errorf("processing: count open items job=%s: %w", jobID, err)
 			}
 			if open > 0 {
-				if _, err := p.Pool.Exec(ctx, `
+				ct, err := p.Pool.Exec(ctx, `
 					UPDATE processing_job_products
 					SET status = 'pending', error = NULL, updated_at = now()
-					WHERE job_id = $1 AND status = 'processing' AND processed_product_id IS NULL`, jobID); err != nil {
+					WHERE job_id = $1 AND status = 'processing' AND processed_product_id IS NULL`, jobID)
+				if err != nil {
 					flushProgress(true)
+					_ = p.reclaimOrphanedProcessingItems(ctx, jobID)
 					return fmt.Errorf("processing: reclaim fresh processing job=%s: %w", jobID, err)
 				}
+				// Fail closed: pending-only open that claim skipped must not spin forever.
+				if ct.RowsAffected() == 0 {
+					flushProgress(true)
+					_ = p.reclaimOrphanedProcessingItems(ctx, jobID)
+					return fmt.Errorf("processing: open items unclaimable job=%s open=%d", jobID, open)
+				}
 				continue
 			}
 			break
 		}
 		if err := p.hydrateJobItems(ctx, companyID, items); err != nil {
 			flushProgress(true)
+			_ = p.reclaimOrphanedProcessingItems(ctx, jobID)
 			return fmt.Errorf("processing: hydrate batch job=%s: %w", jobID, err)
 		}
 		creditsStop := false

apps/api/internal/processing/stuck_cleanup.go

@@ -18,6 +18,56 @@ type StuckCleanupResult struct {
 	SyncJobsMarkedFailed int64
 }
 
+// OrphanReclaimResult counts rows touched by ReclaimOrphanedRunning.
+type OrphanReclaimResult struct {
+	JobsRequeued     int64
+	ProductsReset    int64
+	SyncJobsRequeued int64
+}
+
+// ReclaimOrphanedRunning resets in-flight work left by a dead worker process so
+// ClaimNext / feed sync claim can pick it up again. Call only when the processing
+// worker heartbeat is missing or stale (single-worker architecture) — never while
+// another live worker may own the rows.
+//
+// Unlike CleanupStuck (age-gated fail), this requeues immediately: running → pending
+// for jobs/sync jobs, and processing → pending for job products without a result.
+func ReclaimOrphanedRunning(ctx context.Context, pool *pgxpool.Pool) (OrphanReclaimResult, error) {
+	var out OrphanReclaimResult
+	if pool == nil {
+		return out, fmt.Errorf("reclaim orphaned running: nil pool")
+	}
+
+	ctJobs, err := pool.Exec(ctx, `
+		UPDATE processing_jobs
+		SET status = 'pending', started_at = NULL, error = NULL, updated_at = now()
+		WHERE status = 'running'`)
+	if err != nil {
+		return out, fmt.Errorf("reclaim orphaned jobs: %w", err)
+	}
+	out.JobsRequeued = ctJobs.RowsAffected()
+
+	ctProd, err := pool.Exec(ctx, `
+		UPDATE processing_job_products
+		SET status = 'pending', error = NULL, updated_at = now()
+		WHERE status = 'processing' AND processed_product_id IS NULL`)
+	if err != nil {
+		return out, fmt.Errorf("reclaim orphaned products: %w", err)
+	}
+	out.ProductsReset = ctProd.RowsAffected()
+
+	ctSync, err := pool.Exec(ctx, `
+		UPDATE feed_sync_jobs
+		SET status = 'pending', started_at = NULL, error = NULL, completed_at = NULL, updated_at = now()
+		WHERE status = 'running'`)
+	if err != nil {
+		return out, fmt.Errorf("reclaim orphaned sync jobs: %w", err)
+	}
+	out.SyncJobsRequeued = ctSync.RowsAffected()
+
+	return out, nil
+}
+
 // CleanupStuck aligns worker and admin stuck-cleanup semantics:
 // mark long-running jobs failed, reset stranded processing_job_products
 // from 'processing' back to 'pending', and fail aged running feed_sync_jobs

apps/api/internal/processing/stuck_cleanup_integration_test.go

@@ -200,6 +200,138 @@ func TestCleanupStuckResetsJobsAndProducts(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestReclaimOrphanedRunningRequeuesImmediately(t *testing.T) {
+	dsn := os.Getenv("DATABASE_URL")
+	if dsn == "" {
+		t.Skip("DATABASE_URL not set")
+	}
+
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 20*time.Second)
+	defer cancel()
+
+	pg, err := pgxpool.New(ctx, dsn)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	defer pg.Close()
+
+	var companyID uuid.UUID
+	err = pg.QueryRow(ctx, `
+		SELECT company_id
+		FROM raw_products
+		WHERE company_id IS NOT NULL
+		ORDER BY updated_at DESC
+		LIMIT 1`).Scan(&companyID)
+	if errorsIsNoRows(err) {
+		t.Skip("no raw_products rows available")
+	}
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	var userID uuid.UUID
+	err = pg.QueryRow(ctx, `SELECT id FROM users ORDER BY created_at DESC LIMIT 1`).Scan(&userID)
+	if errorsIsNoRows(err) {
+		t.Skip("no users rows available")
+	}
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	var rawID uuid.UUID
+	err = pg.QueryRow(ctx, `
+		SELECT id
+		FROM raw_products
+		WHERE company_id = $1
+		ORDER BY updated_at DESC
+		LIMIT 1`, companyID).Scan(&rawID)
+	if errorsIsNoRows(err) {
+		t.Skip("no raw_products for selected company")
+	}
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	var jobID uuid.UUID
+	err = pg.QueryRow(ctx, `
+		INSERT INTO processing_jobs (
+			company_id, user_id, status, total_products, processed_products,
+			processing_type, started_at, updated_at
+		) VALUES ($1, $2, 'running', 1, 0, 'full', now(), now())
+		RETURNING id`,
+		companyID, userID,
+	).Scan(&jobID)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	defer func() {
+		_, _ = pg.Exec(context.Background(), `DELETE FROM processing_job_products WHERE job_id = $1`, jobID)
+		_, _ = pg.Exec(context.Background(), `DELETE FROM processing_jobs WHERE id = $1`, jobID)
+	}()
+
+	if _, err := pg.Exec(ctx, `
+		INSERT INTO processing_job_products (job_id, raw_product_id, status, updated_at)
+		VALUES ($1, $2, 'processing', now())`, jobID, rawID); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	var syncFeedID uuid.UUID
+	err = pg.QueryRow(ctx, `
+		INSERT INTO input_feeds (company_id, name, url, feed_type, status, sync_interval_minutes, options)
+		VALUES ($1, 'orphan-reclaim-feed', 'https://example.com/orphan.csv', 'csv', 'active', 60, '{}'::jsonb)
+		RETURNING id`, companyID).Scan(&syncFeedID)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	defer func() {
+		_, _ = pg.Exec(context.Background(), `DELETE FROM feed_sync_jobs WHERE feed_id = $1`, syncFeedID)
+		_, _ = pg.Exec(context.Background(), `DELETE FROM input_feeds WHERE id = $1`, syncFeedID)
+	}()
+
+	var syncID uuid.UUID
+	err = pg.QueryRow(ctx, `
+		INSERT INTO feed_sync_jobs (feed_id, company_id, status, started_at, updated_at)
+		VALUES ($1, $2, 'running', now(), now())
+		RETURNING id`, syncFeedID, companyID).Scan(&syncID)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	res, err := ReclaimOrphanedRunning(ctx, pg)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if res.JobsRequeued < 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("jobs_requeued=%d want >= 1", res.JobsRequeued)
+	}
+	if res.ProductsReset < 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("products_reset=%d want >= 1", res.ProductsReset)
+	}
+	if res.SyncJobsRequeued < 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("sync_requeued=%d want >= 1", res.SyncJobsRequeued)
+	}
+
+	var jobStatus, productStatus, syncStatus string
+	if err := pg.QueryRow(ctx, `SELECT status FROM processing_jobs WHERE id = $1`, jobID).Scan(&jobStatus); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if jobStatus != "pending" {
+		t.Fatalf("job status=%q want pending", jobStatus)
+	}
+	if err := pg.QueryRow(ctx, `SELECT status FROM processing_job_products WHERE job_id = $1`, jobID).Scan(&productStatus); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if productStatus != "pending" {
+		t.Fatalf("product status=%q want pending", productStatus)
+	}
+	if err := pg.QueryRow(ctx, `SELECT status FROM feed_sync_jobs WHERE id = $1`, syncID).Scan(&syncStatus); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if syncStatus != "pending" {
+		t.Fatalf("sync status=%q want pending", syncStatus)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestLoadPendingItemsReclaimsAgedProcessing(t *testing.T) {
 	dsn := os.Getenv("DATABASE_URL")
 	if dsn == "" {

apps/api/internal/processing/v1_legacy.go

@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ var (
 	v1BreakTagRe = regexp.MustCompile(`(?i)<br\s*/?>`)
 	v1BlockEndRe = regexp.MustCompile(`(?i)</(p|div|li|h[1-6]|tr)>`)
 )
+
 // ParseV1ProcessingType mirrors legacy parseV1ProcessingTypeFromBody.
 // Accepts string ("full" / step), JSON array of steps, or nil (defaults to full).
 func ParseV1ProcessingType(raw any) (storageValue string, responseValue any, err error) {
@@ -311,6 +312,16 @@ func (p *Pipeline) LoadV1ProcessJobItems(ctx context.Context, companyID, jobID u
 		if catStr == "" {
 			catStr = categoryUniqueIDFromMaps(mapped, rawData)
 		}
+		// Coerce display names → taxonomy unique_id (same as processOne / d161b28).
+		if catStr != "" && len(categoryNames) > 0 {
+			valid := make(map[string]struct{}, len(categoryNames))
+			for uid := range categoryNames {
+				valid[uid] = struct{}{}
+			}
+			if resolved := resolveCompanyCategoryUniqueID(catStr, categoryNames, valid); resolved != "" {
+				catStr = resolved
+			}
+		}
 		if catNameStr == "" && catStr != "" {
 			if name, ok := categoryNames[catStr]; ok && name != "" {
 				catNameStr = name