The 2022 French Lentil + Leek Crumbles Recall
In June 2022, Daily Harvest, a popular frozen meal-delivery service, initiated a voluntary recall of its French Lentil + Leek Crumbles following an outcry of consumer complaints. Launched just months earlier, the new plant-based protein item was intended as a meat substitute. However, it quickly became the center of a food safety scandal when consumers began reporting severe, mysterious illnesses after consumption. Over 28,000 units of the product were distributed across the United States between April and mid-June 2022, primarily through online subscription delivery but also via retail locations.
Social media platforms, including TikTok and Reddit, became a hub for affected customers and influencers to share their harrowing experiences. Reports included extreme gastrointestinal pain, nausea, fever, fatigue, and concerning liver enzyme elevations. In the most severe cases, patients suffered liver damage and, shockingly, required gallbladder removal surgery. The company's initial response—including an email that mentioned only "gastrointestinal discomfort" and offered a minimal $10 credit—was widely criticized as inadequate and insensitive by furious customers.
Identifying Tara Flour as the Likely Culprit
As investigations by both Daily Harvest and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proceeded, the cause of the illness remained a mystery for several weeks. Initial tests for common foodborne pathogens like Salmonella and E. coli came back negative, confounding health experts. Eventually, Daily Harvest announced in July 2022 that it had identified a specific ingredient, tara flour, as the likely source of the problem. Tara flour is derived from the seeds of the Peruvian tara tree and was used as a source of protein in the crumbles.
A study published in January 2025 further solidified the link between the French Lentil + Leek Crumbles and the reported illnesses. The investigation revealed that cases of severe illness were strongly associated with consumption of the crumbles, which were the only Daily Harvest product containing tara flour. Critically, while tara gum (a by-product) has a well-established safety profile, the safety of tara flour itself had not been verified and was introduced to the market under a self-certification process with limited FDA oversight. This regulatory gap became a major point of concern for food safety advocates.
The Fallout: Legal Battles and Financial Turmoil
In the wake of the recall and customer illnesses, Daily Harvest faced a barrage of legal challenges. Numerous class action lawsuits were filed on behalf of affected consumers seeking compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. In May 2024, a significant class action settlement was reached, with Daily Harvest and its suppliers agreeing to pay out millions of dollars to consumers who had suffered personal injuries. The settlement offered tiered compensation based on the severity of the injury, from those with monetary damages to those who required gallbladder removal surgery.
Beyond the legal consequences, the incident had a devastating impact on Daily Harvest's brand and bottom line. The company's reputation for clean, healthy, and safe products was severely damaged. According to reports, the number of customer accounts and revenue both plummeted in the year following the scandal. This financial turmoil highlights the significant risks for food startups when a single ingredient or manufacturing error can lead to widespread health issues and loss of consumer trust.
Comparison of Daily Harvest's Responses
| Response Stage | Daily Harvest's Initial Action (June 2022) | Daily Harvest's Later Actions (July 2022 onwards) |
|---|---|---|
| Recall Announcement | Emailed some customers about “gastrointestinal discomfort.” | Issued a full, public voluntary recall of all French Lentil + Leek Crumbles. |
| Customer Communication | Initial emails were seen as downplaying severity; offered $10 credit. | Launched a dedicated email and phone line for customer reports. |
| Investigation | Acknowledged consumer reports and stated an internal investigation was underway. | Identified tara flour as the likely cause and announced they would stop sourcing it from that supplier. |
| Legal Posture | Did not comment on pending litigation and focused on the ongoing investigation. | Engaged in court-ordered settlements to resolve multiple class action lawsuits. |
| Public Image | Damage to brand reputation and trust escalated due to perceived slow response. | Attempted to rebuild trust with transparency and cooperation in legal proceedings. |
Long-Term Symptoms Reported by Daily Harvest Consumers
Following the recall, many consumers reported long-lasting or severe symptoms related to their consumption of the tainted product. These included:
- Elevated liver enzymes
- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes)
- Unexplained body-wide itching with no visible rash
- Severe abdominal pain
- Fatigue and body aches
- Dark urine and pale-colored stool
- Gallbladder dysfunction and, in some cases, the need for surgical removal of the organ
The FDA's Ongoing Investigation
Although the outbreak was linked to tara flour, the specific mechanism causing the widespread liver and gallbladder injuries remains unclear. The FDA's investigation into the incident, which included sample collection and analysis, did not identify a definitive source or single point of contamination within the tara flour itself. However, in 2024, a subsequent FDA review found no evidence supporting the safety of tara flour, leading to its disqualification as a food additive. The FDA maintains an ongoing record of the investigation to keep the public informed.
Visit the FDA's investigation page for more details.
Conclusion
The 2022 recall of Daily Harvest's French Lentil + Leek Crumbles represents a major food safety failure that resulted in severe health consequences for hundreds of consumers. The identification of a novel, unverified ingredient, tara flour, as the likely cause of the illness exposed a vulnerability in the regulatory oversight of new food products. While Daily Harvest has since taken steps to address the crisis, including settling lawsuits and discontinuing the problematic product, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of robust quality control and transparent communication in the food industry. The episode left many consumers with long-lasting health problems and a deep distrust in a brand built on a promise of natural, healthy, and reliable nutrition. The company's slow initial reaction amplified the crisis, turning a product recall into a public relations catastrophe and a costly legal battle.
