If you follow this Reddit thread – https://www.reddit.com/r/revivesuperfoods/comments/voglbs/revive_superfoods_smoothies_liver_issues_sickness/ it certainly seems that the numbers of ill coming forward are growing of people with nearly identical acute symptoms – abnormal liver enzymes and bilirubin, many with gallbladder involvement.  Many have had multiple blood tests, MRIs, CTs, ultrasounds, with likely liver biopsies and gall bladder removals.

These are essentially the same symptoms and outcomes that have surfaced after being retained by and speaking to the over 175 people linked to the consumption of Daily Harvest products – specifically (but not exclusively), the French Lentil + Leek Crumbles. See also this Reddit thread – https://www.reddit.com/r/DailyHarvest/comments/vcqwxe/extreme_stomach_painsickness_from_lentilleek/

We are presently testing about 40 samples of Daily Harvest products, and have offered samples to the FDA, and have offered to share our test results with the FDA and with Daily Harvest. We have asked all clients to report their illnesses to the FDA hotline.

We believe that the illnesses may well be linked to a common ingredient called Tara that comes exclusively from Peru (this due because it is a unique ingredient to the French Lentil + Leek Crumbles AND to certain Revive Smoothies where people are reporting identical symptoms). We have also learned, and are still investigating, that the manufacturer of Daily Harvest products is in Minnesota – more on that soon.

Daily Harvest French Lentil + Leek Crumbles ingredients
Revive Superfood Smoothie Ingredient

We are trying to track down the suppliers of the Tara to both Daily Harvest and Revive – more on that soon as well.

So, the question remains – who supplied the Tara and what is the likely contaminate or toxin that is causing the illnesses? What say you FDA, CFIA, Daily Harvest and Revive?

According to www.silvateam.com, Tara is:

Caesalpinia spinosa is a shrub or tree that can reach a height of 8 meters with spreading, grey-barked leafy branches. The leaves are compound, bipinnate, alternate and spirally organized and reach a length of 35 cm. The fruit is a flat oblong indehiscent reddish pod which contains 4 ~ 7 large round black seeds composed of endosperm (22% by weight), germ (40%) and hull (38%).

The tara tree is native to the Cordillera region of Peru and Bolivia in South America, where the fruit grows from April to December. Tara trees grow at up to 3,000 meters above sea level and tolerate dry climates and poor soils including those high in sand and rocks. The tree is also resistant to most pathogens and pests. Mature pods are usually harvested by hand and typically sun dried before processing.

Tara

A wide range of hydrocolloids and stabilizers are used in the food and beverage industry to perform a range of technological functions and offer innovative products answering to consumer’s needs.
Tara gum is a natural additive, obtained by grinding the endosperm of the seeds of Caesalpinia spinosa, of the Leguminosae family. Tara gum, also called Peruvian carob, is a white to yellowish powder which is soluble in hot water and partially soluble in cold water.

Chemically, tara gum is comprised of polysaccharides, mainly galactomannans, of high molecular weight.

Tara gum is approved as a food additive by the Food Chemicals Codex and functions mainly as a thickener and stabilizer.