What is the Daily Harvest lentil lawsuit and what happened?

December 25, 2025 •

3 min read

In 2022, hundreds of Daily Harvest customers reported severe gastrointestinal distress and liver problems after consuming the company’s French Lentil + Leek Crumbles. This health crisis led to what is the Daily Harvest lentil lawsuit, resulting in a recall and multiple class-action settlements for affected individuals.

Quick Summary

A 2022 class action against Daily Harvest centered on hundreds of illnesses, including liver damage, linked to their French Lentil + Leek Crumbles containing toxic tara flour. Multiple settlements compensated affected consumers for their injuries.

Key Points

Source of Illness: The Daily Harvest lentil lawsuit was triggered by a foodborne illness outbreak linked to the company's French Lentil + Leek Crumbles product in 2022.
Toxic Ingredient: The cause was determined to be tara flour, an ingredient in the crumbles that contained a toxic non-protein amino acid called baikiain, which led to liver damage.
Widespread Injuries: Hundreds of consumers reported severe gastrointestinal issues, and many were hospitalized, with some requiring gallbladder removal surgery.
Legal Resolution: The crisis resulted in multiple class-action settlements, including a $23 million payout from Daily Harvest and a $7.67 million settlement from its suppliers.
FDA Action: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration later declared tara flour an unsafe food additive, officially restricting its use.

Origins of the Daily Harvest Health Crisis

In the spring of 2022, meal delivery service Daily Harvest introduced its French Lentil + Leek Crumbles. Reports of severe illness soon followed, shared initially on social media platforms like Reddit and TikTok, before escalating into formal complaints to the FDA. Symptoms reported by customers included debilitating abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and in more severe cases, liver dysfunction and elevated enzyme levels. The growing number of complaints led Daily Harvest to issue a voluntary recall of the product in June 2022, acknowledging reports of "gastrointestinal issues". Daily Harvest initially offered a $10 store credit to affected customers, a gesture widely criticized as insufficient given the seriousness of the reported health problems.

Identifying the Culprit: The Tara Flour Investigation

Initially, the cause of the illnesses was unknown, with tests for common foodborne pathogens like Salmonella coming back negative. Daily Harvest announced they were working with the FDA and independent labs. Weeks later, in late July 2022, the company identified the likely cause as tara flour.

Tara flour, derived from the seeds of the tara tree, was used as a plant-based protein source in the crumbles. Subsequent analysis and scientific investigation revealed that the tara flour contained a toxic non-protein amino acid called baikiain, which was determined to be the substance causing liver injury in consumers. The FDA later declared tara flour an unsafe food additive in May 2024.

The Legal Aftermath and Settlements

Following the reports of widespread illness and hospitalizations, several class-action lawsuits were filed against Daily Harvest and its suppliers, alleging that the company failed to ensure product safety. These legal actions sought compensation for affected consumers who suffered injuries after consuming the crumbles.

Comparison of Responses to the Health Crisis


Aspect	Daily Harvest	Affected Consumers
Initial Report of Illnesses	Downplayed severity, referred to as "gastrointestinal discomfort."	Shared detailed accounts of severe pain, hospitalization, and serious organ damage on social media.
Communication	Offered minimal updates, initially sent emails with $10 credit.	Amplified awareness and coordinated information through online forums like Reddit and TikTok.
Investigation	Conducted internal investigation, later confirmed tara flour as the cause.	Submitted complaints to the FDA, sparking a federal investigation into the product.
Legal Action	Faced multiple class-action lawsuits.	Filed class-action lawsuits for compensation for medical bills, pain, and suffering.
Compensation	Reached a $23 million settlement with victims in 2024.	Received compensation based on injury severity, ranging from monetary damages to significant payouts for surgeries.

The Final Settlement and Compensation

Multiple settlements were reached to resolve the class-action lawsuits. In 2024, Daily Harvest and supplier Stone Gate Foods settled for $23 million. In early 2025, a separate $7.67 million settlement with suppliers Smirk's Ltd. and Molinos Asociados was finalized. These settlements established a tiered system for compensation based on the severity of the claimants' injuries. Compensation levels ranged from monetary damages for minor injuries up to significant payouts for those who were hospitalized or underwent gallbladder removal.

Conclusion: A Wake-Up Call for Food Safety

What is the Daily Harvest lentil lawsuit? It represents a significant product liability case stemming from a foodborne illness outbreak caused by toxic tara flour in the company's French Lentil + Leek Crumbles. The incident highlighted the critical need for rigorous food safety standards, thorough ingredient vetting, and transparent corporate communication. The legal settlements provided compensation to affected consumers and underscored the importance of corporate accountability. The FDA's subsequent action declaring tara flour an unsafe food additive further emphasized the severity of the issue. This case serves as a crucial reminder for both the food industry and consumers about the potential risks of novel ingredients and the importance of vigilance in food safety. For additional information, the FDA's investigation page provides details on the adverse event reports.

Frequently Asked Questions

People were getting sick due to a toxic component in tara flour, an ingredient used in the French Lentil + Leek Crumbles. The substance, baikiain, caused acute liver and gastrointestinal injuries.

The product at the center of the lawsuit was the French Lentil + Leek Crumbles, a plant-based frozen meal item that Daily Harvest distributed from April to June 2022.

Daily Harvest's initial response included a voluntary recall of the crumbles and a public statement addressing "gastrointestinal discomfort." The company initially offered a $10 credit to affected customers.

Symptoms included severe abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, fever, fatigue, body aches, dark urine, jaundice, and itching. In serious cases, liver failure and the need for gallbladder removal were reported.

There were multiple settlements. Daily Harvest and Stone Gate Foods settled for $23 million, while suppliers Smirk's Ltd. and Molinos Asociados settled for $7.67 million. Individual compensation varied based on the severity of injury.

In May 2024, the FDA completed its safety review and declared tara flour an unsafe food additive, preventing its use by manufacturers without prior consultation.

After initial tests for common pathogens failed, further chemical analysis identified the presence of baikiain, a non-protein amino acid in the tara flour, which was shown to cause liver injury in animal models.