diff --git a/backend/src/db/client.ts b/backend/src/db/client.ts
index f62e599..5c85e07 100644
--- a/backend/src/db/client.ts
+++ b/backend/src/db/client.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import { resolve } from "node:path";
 import { type Client, createClient } from "@libsql/client";
 import dotenv from "dotenv";
 import { drizzle } from "drizzle-orm/libsql";
-
+import { log } from "../utils/logger.js";
 // Import utilities from db-utils (side-effect-free)
 import {
 	ensureDataDirectory,
@@ -40,34 +40,34 @@ dotenv.config({ path: envPath });
 // Use absolute path to ensure it works in Docker
 const { dataDir, dbPath, url } = getDbPaths();
 
-console.log(`[DB] Data directory: ${dataDir}`);
-console.log(`[DB] Database path: ${dbPath}`);
-console.log(`[DB] Database URL: ${url}`);
+log.debug(`[DB] Data directory: ${dataDir}`);
+log.debug(`[DB] Database path: ${dbPath}`);
+log.debug(`[DB] Database URL: ${url}`);
 
 // Ensure data directory exists and is writable
 const dirResult = ensureDataDirectory(dataDir);
 if (!dirResult.success) {
-	console.error(`[DB] ERROR: Cannot access data directory: ${dirResult.error}`);
-	console.error(`[DB] Please ensure the volume mount has correct permissions.`);
-	console.error(`[DB] Try running on host: sudo chown -R 1000:1000 ${dataDir}`);
+	log.error(`[DB] ERROR: Cannot access data directory: ${dirResult.error}`);
+	log.error(`[DB] Please ensure the volume mount has correct permissions.`);
+	log.error(`[DB] Try running on host: sudo chown -R 1000:1000 ${dataDir}`);
 	process.exit(1);
 } else {
-	console.log(`[DB] Data directory is writable`);
+	log.debug(`[DB] Data directory is writable`);
 
 	// Log directory stats
 	const stats = statSync(dataDir);
-	console.log(`[DB] Directory permissions: ${stats.mode.toString(8)}`);
-	console.log(`[DB] Directory UID: ${stats.uid}, GID: ${stats.gid}`);
-	console.log(`[DB] Write test successful`);
+	log.debug(`[DB] Directory permissions: ${stats.mode.toString(8)}`);
+	log.debug(`[DB] Directory UID: ${stats.uid}, GID: ${stats.gid}`);
+	log.debug(`[DB] Write test successful`);
 }
 
 let client: Client;
 try {
 	client = createClient({ url });
-	console.log(`[DB] Database client created successfully`);
+	log.debug(`[DB] Database client created successfully`);
 } catch (err: any) {
-	console.error(`[DB] ERROR: Failed to create database client: ${err.message}`);
-	console.error(`[DB] Database path: ${dbPath}`);
+	log.error(`[DB] ERROR: Failed to create database client: ${err.message}`);
+	log.error(`[DB] Database path: ${dbPath}`);
 	process.exit(1);
 }
 
@@ -76,46 +76,46 @@ export const db = drizzle(client);
 // Auto-run migrations (self-healing database)
 async function runMigrations() {
 	// Run drizzle-kit generated migrations
-	console.log(`[DB] Running drizzle migrations...`);
+	log.info(`[DB] Running migrations...`);
 	const migrateResult = await runDrizzleMigrations(db);
 	if (!migrateResult.success) {
-		console.error(`[DB] Migration error:`, migrateResult.error);
+		log.error(`[DB] Migration error: ${migrateResult.error}`);
 	} else if (migrateResult.warning) {
-		console.log(`[DB] Migration warning:`, migrateResult.warning);
+		log.warn(`[DB] Migration warning: ${migrateResult.warning}`);
 	} else {
-		console.log(`[DB] Drizzle migrations completed`);
+		log.debug(`[DB] Drizzle migrations completed`);
 	}
 
 	// Run ALTER TABLE migrations for backward compatibility
 	const alterResult = await runAlterMigrations(client);
 	if (alterResult.errors.length > 0) {
-		alterResult.errors.forEach((err) => console.error(`[DB] ALTER migration error:`, err));
+		alterResult.errors.forEach((err) => log.error(`[DB] ALTER migration error: ${err}`));
 	}
-	console.log(`[DB] Tables verified/created`);
+	log.debug(`[DB] Tables verified/created`);
 
 	// Repair dose IDs with trailing hyphens (from frontend takenBy bug)
 	const trailingResult = await repairTrailingHyphenDoseIds(client);
 	if (trailingResult.repaired > 0) {
-		console.log(`[DB] Repaired ${trailingResult.repaired} dose IDs with trailing hyphens`);
+		log.info(`[DB] Repaired ${trailingResult.repaired} dose IDs with trailing hyphens`);
 	}
 	if (trailingResult.errors.length > 0) {
-		trailingResult.errors.forEach((err) => console.error(`[DB] Trailing-hyphen repair error:`, err));
+		trailingResult.errors.forEach((err) => log.error(`[DB] Trailing-hyphen repair error: ${err}`));
 	}
 
 	// Repair orphaned dose tracking IDs from past schedule changes
 	const repairResult = await repairOrphanedDoseIds(client);
 	if (repairResult.repaired > 0) {
-		console.log(`[DB] Repaired ${repairResult.repaired} orphaned dose tracking IDs`);
+		log.info(`[DB] Repaired ${repairResult.repaired} orphaned dose tracking IDs`);
 	}
 	if (repairResult.errors.length > 0) {
-		repairResult.errors.forEach((err) => console.error(`[DB] Dose repair error:`, err));
+		repairResult.errors.forEach((err) => log.error(`[DB] Dose repair error: ${err}`));
 	}
 
 	// If auth is disabled, ensure a default user exists (ID=1)
 	const authEnabled = process.env.AUTH_ENABLED === "true";
 	const created = await ensureDefaultUser(client, authEnabled);
 	if (created) {
-		console.log(`[DB] Created default user for auth-disabled mode`);
+		log.info(`[DB] Created default user for auth-disabled mode`);
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/backend/src/db/migrate.ts b/backend/src/db/migrate.ts
index 425f8e9..079026f 100644
--- a/backend/src/db/migrate.ts
+++ b/backend/src/db/migrate.ts
@@ -63,17 +63,17 @@ export function getStatementPreview(stmt: string, maxLength: number = 50): strin
 const url = "file:./data/medassist-ng.db";
 
 async function main() {
-	console.log("Starting database setup...");
-	console.log("Database URL:", url);
-	console.log("Migrations folder:", migrationsFolder);
+	console.log("[DB] Starting database setup...");
+	console.log("[DB] Database URL:", url);
+	console.log("[DB] Migrations folder:", migrationsFolder);
 
 	const client = createClient({ url });
 	const db = drizzle(client);
 
-	console.log("Running drizzle migrations...");
+	console.log("[DB] Running drizzle migrations...");
 	await migrate(db, { migrationsFolder });
 
-	console.log("Database setup complete!");
+	console.log("[DB] Database setup complete!");
 	process.exit(0);
 }
 
diff --git a/backend/src/index.ts b/backend/src/index.ts
index 60a0242..3323039 100644
--- a/backend/src/index.ts
+++ b/backend/src/index.ts
@@ -126,9 +126,11 @@ export async function createApp(options?: {
 // Server initialization (runs on import)
 // =============================================================================
 
+import { log } from "./utils/logger.js";
+
 // Wait for database migrations before anything else
 await migrationsReady;
-console.log("[DB] Migrations complete, starting server...");
+log.info("[DB] Migrations complete, starting server...");
 
 // Ensure images directory exists
 const imagesDir = ensureImagesDirectory();
@@ -197,12 +199,14 @@ const start = async () => {
 		// Start the automatic reminder scheduler
 		startReminderScheduler({
 			info: (msg) => app.log.info(msg),
+			debug: (msg) => app.log.debug(msg),
 			error: (msg) => app.log.error(msg),
 		});
 
 		// Start the intake reminder scheduler (checks every minute)
 		startIntakeReminderScheduler({
 			info: (msg) => app.log.info(msg),
+			debug: (msg) => app.log.debug(msg),
 			error: (msg) => app.log.error(msg),
 		});
 	} catch (err) {
diff --git a/backend/src/plugins/auth.ts b/backend/src/plugins/auth.ts
index a965bec..21626ae 100644
--- a/backend/src/plugins/auth.ts
+++ b/backend/src/plugins/auth.ts
@@ -37,7 +37,6 @@ export async function getAnonymousUserId(): Promise<number> {
   `);
 
 	anonymousUserVerified = true;
-	console.log(`Created anonymous user with fixed ID ${ANONYMOUS_USER_ID} for no-auth mode`);
 
 	return ANONYMOUS_USER_ID;
 }
diff --git a/backend/src/routes/oidc.ts b/backend/src/routes/oidc.ts
index afad015..a9de5c9 100644
--- a/backend/src/routes/oidc.ts
+++ b/backend/src/routes/oidc.ts
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ export async function oidcRoutes(app: FastifyInstance) {
 				});
 
 				// Set cookies (use app's centralized cookie options)
-				console.log(
+				request.log.debug(
 					`[OIDC] Setting cookies for user ${user.username}, NODE_ENV=${env.NODE_ENV}, secure=${app.config.cookieOptions.secure}`
 				);
 				setAuthCookies(app, reply, accessToken, refreshToken);
@@ -241,12 +241,12 @@ async function findOrCreateOIDCUser(
 		if (existingByUsername.authProvider === "local" && !existingByUsername.oidcSubject) {
 			// Local user exists without SSO - link this OIDC account to existing user
 			await db.update(users).set({ oidcSubject: oidcSubject }).where(eq(users.id, existingByUsername.id));
-			console.log(`[OIDC] Linked OIDC to existing local user: ${username}`);
+			// Linked OIDC to existing local user
 			return { id: existingByUsername.id, username: existingByUsername.username };
 		} else if (existingByUsername.oidcSubject && existingByUsername.oidcSubject !== oidcSubject) {
 			// User already has a DIFFERENT OIDC subject - create new user with suffix
 			username = `${username}_sso`;
-			console.log(`[OIDC] Username collision (different OIDC subject), using: ${username}`);
+			// Username collision (different OIDC subject), use suffixed name
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -268,7 +268,7 @@ async function findOrCreateOIDCUser(
 		})
 		.returning({ id: users.id, username: users.username });
 
-	console.log(`[OIDC] Created new user: ${newUser.username} (ID: ${newUser.id})`);
+	// New OIDC user created
 	return newUser;
 }
 
diff --git a/backend/src/services/intake-reminder-scheduler.ts b/backend/src/services/intake-reminder-scheduler.ts
index cee3569..b0f6775 100644
--- a/backend/src/services/intake-reminder-scheduler.ts
+++ b/backend/src/services/intake-reminder-scheduler.ts
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import { getDataDir } from "../db/db-utils.js";
 import { doseTracking, medications } from "../db/schema.js";
 import { getDateLocale, getTranslations, type Language, t } from "../i18n/translations.js";
 import { getAllUserSettings, sendShoutrrrNotification, type UserSettings } from "../routes/settings.js";
+import type { ServiceLogger } from "../utils/logger.js";
 // Import shared utilities
 import {
 	cleanOldIntakeReminders,
@@ -210,21 +211,18 @@ ${tr.intakeReminder.footer}`;
 	}
 }
 
-async function checkAndSendIntakeReminders(logger: {
-	info: (msg: string) => void;
-	error: (msg: string) => void;
-}): Promise<void> {
-	logger.info(`[IntakeReminder] Checking for intake reminders...`);
+async function checkAndSendIntakeReminders(logger: ServiceLogger): Promise<void> {
+	logger.debug(`[IntakeReminder] Checking for intake reminders...`);
 
 	// Get all user settings to iterate over each user
 	const allUserSettings = await getAllUserSettings();
 
 	if (allUserSettings.length === 0) {
-		logger.info(`[IntakeReminder] No users with settings found`);
+		logger.debug(`[IntakeReminder] No users with settings found`);
 		return; // No users with settings
 	}
 
-	logger.info(`[IntakeReminder] Found ${allUserSettings.length} users to check`);
+	logger.debug(`[IntakeReminder] Found ${allUserSettings.length} users to check`);
 
 	for (const userSettings of allUserSettings) {
 		await checkAndSendIntakeRemindersForUser(userSettings, logger);
@@ -233,12 +231,12 @@ async function checkAndSendIntakeReminders(logger: {
 
 async function checkAndSendIntakeRemindersForUser(
 	settings: UserSettings & { userId: number },
-	logger: { info: (msg: string) => void; error: (msg: string) => void }
+	logger: ServiceLogger
 ): Promise<void> {
 	const language = settings.language;
 	const tr = getTranslations(language);
 
-	logger.info(
+	logger.debug(
 		`[IntakeReminder] Checking user ${settings.userId} - repeat:${settings.repeatRemindersEnabled} skip:${settings.skipRemindersForTakenDoses}`
 	);
 
@@ -247,13 +245,13 @@ async function checkAndSendIntakeRemindersForUser(
 	const shoutrrrEnabled = settings.shoutrrrEnabled && settings.shoutrrrUrl && settings.shoutrrrIntakeReminders;
 
 	if (!emailEnabled && !shoutrrrEnabled) {
-		logger.info(
+		logger.debug(
 			`[IntakeReminder] User ${settings.userId}: No intake notifications enabled (email:${emailEnabled}, shoutrrr:${shoutrrrEnabled})`
 		);
 		return; // No intake reminder notifications enabled for this user
 	}
 
-	logger.info(
+	logger.debug(
 		`[IntakeReminder] User ${settings.userId}: Notifications enabled (email:${emailEnabled}, shoutrrr:${shoutrrrEnabled})`
 	);
 
@@ -266,11 +264,13 @@ async function checkAndSendIntakeRemindersForUser(
 	const medsWithReminders = rows.filter((row) => row.intakeRemindersEnabled);
 
 	if (medsWithReminders.length === 0) {
-		logger.info(`[IntakeReminder] User ${settings.userId}: No medications have reminders enabled`);
+		logger.debug(`[IntakeReminder] User ${settings.userId}: No medications have reminders enabled`);
 		return; // No medications have reminders enabled for this user
 	}
 
-	logger.info(`[IntakeReminder] User ${settings.userId}: Found ${medsWithReminders.length} medications with reminders`);
+	logger.debug(
+		`[IntakeReminder] User ${settings.userId}: Found ${medsWithReminders.length} medications with reminders`
+	);
 
 	const state = loadIntakeReminderState();
 	const allUpcoming: (UpcomingIntake & { medicationId: number; blisterIndex: number })[] = [];
@@ -285,7 +285,7 @@ async function checkAndSendIntakeRemindersForUser(
 	const todayEnd = new Date(now.toLocaleString("en-US", { timeZone: tz }));
 	todayEnd.setHours(23, 59, 59, 999);
 
-	logger.info(
+	logger.debug(
 		`[IntakeReminder] User ${settings.userId}: Today range: ${todayStart.toISOString()} to ${todayEnd.toISOString()}`
 	);
 
@@ -300,7 +300,7 @@ async function checkAndSendIntakeRemindersForUser(
 		// Medication-level takenBy (for fallback/display purposes)
 		const medicationTakenBy = parseTakenByJson(med.takenByJson);
 
-		logger.info(
+		logger.debug(
 			`[IntakeReminder] User ${settings.userId}: Processing medication "${med.name}" with ${intakes.length} intakes`
 		);
 
@@ -308,7 +308,7 @@ async function checkAndSendIntakeRemindersForUser(
 		const intakesWithReminders = intakes.filter((intake, idx) => {
 			const hasReminder = intake.intakeRemindersEnabled || med.intakeRemindersEnabled;
 			if (!hasReminder) {
-				logger.info(`[IntakeReminder] User ${settings.userId}: Intake ${idx} has reminders disabled, skipping`);
+				logger.debug(`[IntakeReminder] User ${settings.userId}: Intake ${idx} has reminders disabled, skipping`);
 			}
 			return hasReminder;
 		});
@@ -316,7 +316,7 @@ async function checkAndSendIntakeRemindersForUser(
 		// Process each intake separately to track blisterIndex
 		intakesWithReminders.forEach((intake, blisterIndex) => {
 			const actualIndex = intakes.indexOf(intake); // Get the actual index in original array
-			logger.info(
+			logger.debug(
 				`[IntakeReminder] User ${settings.userId}: Intake ${actualIndex} - start: ${intake.start}, every: ${intake.every} days, usage: ${intake.usage}, takenBy: ${intake.takenBy || "(none)"}`
 			);
 
@@ -333,7 +333,7 @@ async function checkAndSendIntakeRemindersForUser(
 				med.id,
 				med.doseUnit ?? "mg"
 			);
-			logger.info(
+			logger.debug(
 				`[IntakeReminder] User ${settings.userId}: Intake ${actualIndex} found ${upcomingIntakes.length} upcoming intakes (reminder window)`
 			);
 
@@ -358,13 +358,13 @@ async function checkAndSendIntakeRemindersForUser(
 					med.id,
 					med.doseUnit ?? "mg"
 				);
-				logger.info(
+				logger.debug(
 					`[IntakeReminder] User ${settings.userId}: Intake ${actualIndex} - all today's intakes: ${allTodaysIntakes.length}, times: ${allTodaysIntakes.map((i) => i.intakeTime.toISOString()).join(", ")}`
 				);
 				const missedIntakes = allTodaysIntakes.filter(
 					(todayIntake) => todayIntake.intakeTime.getTime() < now.getTime()
 				);
-				logger.info(
+				logger.debug(
 					`[IntakeReminder] User ${settings.userId}: Intake ${actualIndex} found ${missedIntakes.length} missed intakes (past intake time)`
 				);
 
@@ -383,10 +383,10 @@ async function checkAndSendIntakeRemindersForUser(
 		});
 	}
 
-	logger.info(`[IntakeReminder] User ${settings.userId}: Total ${allUpcoming.length} intakes for today`);
+	logger.debug(`[IntakeReminder] User ${settings.userId}: Total ${allUpcoming.length} intakes for today`);
 
 	if (allUpcoming.length === 0) {
-		logger.info(`[IntakeReminder] User ${settings.userId}: No intakes for today`);
+		logger.debug(`[IntakeReminder] User ${settings.userId}: No intakes for today`);
 		return; // No upcoming intakes for today
 	}
 
@@ -419,13 +419,13 @@ async function checkAndSendIntakeRemindersForUser(
 					sendCount: 0,
 					advanceSent: false,
 				};
-				logger.info(
+				logger.debug(
 					`[IntakeReminder] User ${settings.userId}: Seeding state for past "${intake.medName}" at ${intake.intakeTimeStr} (no notification — first detection)`
 				);
 			} else {
 				// Upcoming - this is advance reminder (no counter)
 				remindersToSend.push({ ...intake, currentSendCount: 0, maxReminders, isAdvanceReminder: true });
-				logger.info(
+				logger.debug(
 					`[IntakeReminder] User ${settings.userId}: Advance reminder for "${intake.medName}" at ${intake.intakeTimeStr}`
 				);
 			}
@@ -440,13 +440,13 @@ async function checkAndSendIntakeRemindersForUser(
 
 			if (currentNaggingCount >= maxReminders) {
 				// Max nagging reminders reached - stop
-				logger.info(
+				logger.debug(
 					`[IntakeReminder] User ${settings.userId}: Max nagging (${maxReminders}) reached for "${intake.medName}" at ${intake.intakeTimeStr}`
 				);
 			} else if (timeSinceLastReminder >= intervalMs) {
 				const nextSendCount = currentNaggingCount + 1;
 				remindersToSend.push({ ...intake, currentSendCount: nextSendCount, maxReminders, isAdvanceReminder: false });
-				logger.info(
+				logger.debug(
 					`[IntakeReminder] User ${settings.userId}: Nagging reminder for "${intake.medName}" at ${intake.intakeTimeStr} (${nextSendCount}/${maxReminders})`
 				);
 			}
@@ -486,7 +486,7 @@ async function checkAndSendIntakeRemindersForUser(
 				const doseId = `${intake.medicationId}-${intake.blisterIndex}-${dateOnlyMs}-${intake.takenBy}`;
 				const isTaken = takenDoseIds.has(doseId);
 				if (isTaken) {
-					logger.info(
+					logger.debug(
 						`[IntakeReminder] User ${settings.userId}: Skipping "${intake.medName}" - dose ${doseId} already taken`
 					);
 				}
@@ -496,7 +496,7 @@ async function checkAndSendIntakeRemindersForUser(
 				const doseId = `${intake.medicationId}-${intake.blisterIndex}-${dateOnlyMs}`;
 				const isTaken = takenDoseIds.has(doseId);
 				if (isTaken) {
-					logger.info(
+					logger.debug(
 						`[IntakeReminder] User ${settings.userId}: Skipping "${intake.medName}" - dose ${doseId} already taken`
 					);
 				}
@@ -505,7 +505,7 @@ async function checkAndSendIntakeRemindersForUser(
 		});
 
 		if (remindersToSend.length === 0) {
-			logger.info(`[IntakeReminder] User ${settings.userId}: All doses taken, skipping reminders`);
+			logger.debug(`[IntakeReminder] User ${settings.userId}: All doses taken, skipping reminders`);
 			return;
 		}
 	}
@@ -679,10 +679,7 @@ async function checkAndSendIntakeRemindersForUser(
 
 let intakeCheckInterval: NodeJS.Timeout | null = null;
 
-export function startIntakeReminderScheduler(logger: {
-	info: (msg: string) => void;
-	error: (msg: string) => void;
-}): void {
+export function startIntakeReminderScheduler(logger: ServiceLogger): void {
 	logger.info(`[IntakeReminder] Starting intake reminder scheduler (checks every minute)...`);
 
 	// Run immediately on start
diff --git a/backend/src/services/reminder-scheduler.ts b/backend/src/services/reminder-scheduler.ts
index 7b20e5a..879eeec 100644
--- a/backend/src/services/reminder-scheduler.ts
+++ b/backend/src/services/reminder-scheduler.ts
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import { getDataDir } from "../db/db-utils.js";
 import { medications, userSettings } from "../db/schema.js";
 import { getTranslations, type Language, t } from "../i18n/translations.js";
 import { getAllUserSettings, sendShoutrrrNotification, type UserSettings } from "../routes/settings.js";
-
+import type { ServiceLogger } from "../utils/logger.js";
 // Import shared utilities
 import {
 	type Blister,
@@ -236,15 +236,12 @@ ${tr.stockReminder.footer}${isRepeatDaily ? `\n\n${tr.stockReminder.repeatDailyN
 	}
 }
 
-async function checkAndSendReminder(logger: {
-	info: (msg: string) => void;
-	error: (msg: string) => void;
-}): Promise<void> {
+async function checkAndSendReminder(logger: ServiceLogger): Promise<void> {
 	// Get all user settings to iterate over each user
 	const allUserSettings = await getAllUserSettings();
 
 	if (allUserSettings.length === 0) {
-		logger.info("[Reminder] No users with settings found");
+		logger.debug("[Reminder] No users with settings found");
 		return;
 	}
 
@@ -255,7 +252,7 @@ async function checkAndSendReminder(logger: {
 
 async function checkAndSendReminderForUser(
 	settings: UserSettings & { userId: number },
-	logger: { info: (msg: string) => void; error: (msg: string) => void }
+	logger: ServiceLogger
 ): Promise<void> {
 	const language = settings.language;
 	const tr = getTranslations(language);
@@ -377,7 +374,7 @@ async function checkAndSendReminderForUser(
 
 let schedulerTimeout: NodeJS.Timeout | null = null;
 
-function scheduleNextCheck(logger: { info: (msg: string) => void; error: (msg: string) => void }): void {
+function scheduleNextCheck(logger: ServiceLogger): void {
 	const msUntilNext = getMsUntilNextCheck(REMINDER_HOUR);
 	const nextTime = getNextScheduledTime(REMINDER_HOUR);
 
@@ -388,7 +385,7 @@ function scheduleNextCheck(logger: { info: (msg: string) => void; error: (msg: s
 		nextScheduledCheck: nextTime.toISOString(),
 	});
 
-	logger.info(
+	logger.debug(
 		`[Reminder] Next check scheduled for ${formatInTimezone(nextTime)} (${getTimezone()}) (in ${Math.round(msUntilNext / 1000 / 60)} minutes)`
 	);
 
@@ -399,7 +396,7 @@ function scheduleNextCheck(logger: { info: (msg: string) => void; error: (msg: s
 	}, msUntilNext);
 }
 
-export function startReminderScheduler(logger: { info: (msg: string) => void; error: (msg: string) => void }): void {
+export function startReminderScheduler(logger: ServiceLogger): void {
 	logger.info(`[Reminder] Starting reminder scheduler (timezone: ${getTimezone()})...`);
 
 	// Check if we need to run immediately (missed today's check)
diff --git a/backend/src/utils/logger.ts b/backend/src/utils/logger.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c70ce6e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/src/utils/logger.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+/**
+ * Simple startup logger that respects LOG_LEVEL environment variable.
+ * Used for code that runs before Fastify is initialized (db/client.ts, migrations).
+ * Once Fastify is running, use app.log instead.
+ */
+
+const LOG_LEVELS: Record<string, number> = {
+	silent: 60,
+	fatal: 60,
+	error: 50,
+	warn: 40,
+	info: 30,
+	debug: 20,
+	trace: 10,
+};
+
+function getLevel(): number {
+	const envLevel = (process.env.LOG_LEVEL || "info").toLowerCase();
+	return LOG_LEVELS[envLevel] ?? LOG_LEVELS.info;
+}
+
+function shouldLog(level: string): boolean {
+	return LOG_LEVELS[level] >= getLevel();
+}
+
+export const log = {
+	debug(msg: string): void {
+		if (shouldLog("debug")) console.log(msg);
+	},
+	info(msg: string): void {
+		if (shouldLog("info")) console.log(msg);
+	},
+	warn(msg: string): void {
+		if (shouldLog("warn")) console.warn(msg);
+	},
+	error(msg: string): void {
+		if (shouldLog("error")) console.error(msg);
+	},
+};
+
+/** Logger interface for services that receive a logger from the caller */
+export type ServiceLogger = {
+	info: (msg: string) => void;
+	debug: (msg: string) => void;
+	error: (msg: string) => void;
+};