Last month, hundreds of people reported illness after eating a Daily Harvest product called “French Lentil + Leek Crumbles” and an investigation has determined what ingredient caused the symptoms.
According to a Tuesday statement from Daily Harvest founder and CEO Rachel Drori, “we have identified tara flour as the cause of the issue.” She said that her company has stopped working with the supplier who provided the tara flour and that it was not used in any of more than 140 other items sold by Daily Harvest.
“We have been working closely with the FDA, the CDC as well as top doctors, microbiologists, toxicologists and three independent labs to find the answer,” said Drori of the investigation. The voluntary recall was announced June 17 for gastrointestinal illness and potential liver function issues related to the product.
Tara flour is a plant-based protein product made by grinding tara tree seeds into a powder that is white or yellowish in color, said Candy Industry magazine. A 2015 study in the Food & Biotechnology journal said that tara trees are leguminous trees indigenous to South America with 8 to 10 cm long red or pale- yellow pods.
“Peru is considered the most important producer worldwide with more than 80% of the world production,” said the study.
“This was the first and only time we’ve used tara flour, which has been available and used in the North American market as a plant-based source of protein prior to our use,” said Drori in her Tuesday update. “Our investigation team will continue working with the FDA, the tara flour producer and others to help determine what specifically made people sick.”
She did not name the supplier of tara flour used in the Daily Harvest product. From April 28 through the June 17 recall, approximately 28,000 units were sold to consumers who purchased the crumbles online and through direct delivery as well as at the Daily Harvest store in Chicago, Ill., and a “pop-up” store in Los Angeles, Calif. Daily Harvest also gave out some free samples.
So far Daily Harvest has received approximately 470 reports of illness or adverse reactions. As of July 14, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration had received 277 Consumer Adverse Event Reports and Consumer Complaints related to the French Lentil + Leek Crumbles with the last illness reported July 9.
Of those there have been an estimated 96 hospitalizations and no deaths. States where illnesses have been reported include:
· Arizona
· California
· Colorado
· Connecticut
· Delaware
· Florida
· Georgia
· Illinois
· Indiana
· Iowa
· Maryland
· Massachusetts
· Minnesota
· Michigan
· Missouri
· Montana
· New Hampshire
· New Jersey
· New York
· North Carolina
· Ohio
· Oklahoma
· Oregon
· Pennsylvania
· Rhode Island
· South Carolina
· South Dakota
· Tennessee
· Texas
· Utah
· Vermont
· Virginia
· Washington
· Wisconsin
Daily Harvest sent emails to consumers if they had their contact information. The company said any consumers “who may still have the recalled product in their freezers should immediately dispose of it.”
French Lentil + Leek Crumbles are frozen and packaged in a 12-ounce white pouches.
According to the FDA, its investigation of the product is ongoing.
“If you experience symptoms including yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice), dark urine, itching with no rash, gastrointestinal illness, nausea, fatigue, body aches, severe abdominal pain and/or fever after consuming this product, please consult with your healthcare provider,” the administration said. “Let your healthcare provider know you have recently consumed the recalled Daily Harvest French Lentil & Leek Crumbles. Healthcare providers should report these illnesses to their health department.”
No other products from Daily Harvest, which Drori founded in 2015, are affected by the recall.
An ABC 7 news report out of San Francisco, Calif., said a Nashville, Tenn., woman felt “clenching” in her sternum and “stabbing pain” in her back after ingesting Revive Superfoods’ mango and pineapple smoothies, which also contains tara flour.
The woman said “she was hospitalized four separate times with liver issues for a total of 17 nights perplexing her doctors,” according to ABC 7.
“Revive Superfoods CEO tells ABC7 News since it became aware of this ingredient as a potential hazard, it contacted regulatory authorities and removed the mango and pineapple smoothie from further sale on its website,” said the outlet, referring to a letter from Yousuf Soliman.
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