Since mid-June, we have been contacted by nearly 250 people – primarily, otherwise healthy women between the ages of 25 to 55 – but, also including children, men, and even the family of a breast-fed infant. Most have eaten the French Lentil & Leek Crumbles; however, other Daily Harvest products have been reported to have been consumed. All report similar complaints of severe abdominal or back pain. Nearly all report elevated liver tests showing acute liver failure. Many have been hospitalized (some repeatedly). There have been reports of a dozen liver biopsies and at least 25 gall bladder removals. A large number report ongoing symptoms that require ongoing liver function testing. To date, no one has a diagnosis of what specific, toxin, chemical or other contaminate in the Daily Harvest product is causing these remarkably consistent symptoms.
We have asked all to contact the FDA, and many have offered leftover product (opened and unopened) to test. Where the FDA has not offered to test, we are testing. We will provide those test results to the FDA and Daily Harvest. We have also offered to share both self-reported symptoms and lab tests in an effort to determine to cause of these illnesses.
Note: We are also investigating people with similar symptoms listed above linked to Revive Smoothies. Interesting, the smoothies and the French Lentil & Leek Crumbles share a common ingredient – Tara.
FDA, time to update your chart. As of last week, according to the FDA:
Total Adverse Illness Events: 133
Hospitalizations: 42
Deaths: 0
Last illness onset: June 21, 2022
States with Adverse Illness Events: CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, IL, IA, IN, MA, MD, MI, MO, MT, NH, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OR, PA, RI, TN, TX, VA, WA, WI
Product Distribution: Nationwide
According to the FDA, on June 17, 2022, in response to consumer complaints submitted to the company, Daily Harvest voluntarily initiated a recall of their French Lentil & Leek Crumbles. In response to Consumer Adverse Event Reports (CAERS) and Consumer Complaints submitted to the FDA, the FDA has initiated an investigation, including an inspection and sample collection to determine the cause of illnesses. As of June 28, the FDA has received 133 CAERS reports, and Consumer Complaints related to this product.
From April 28 to June 17, 2022, approximately 28,000 units of the recalled product were distributed to consumers in the continental United States through online sales and direct delivery, as well as through retail sales at the Daily Harvest store in Chicago, IL, and a “pop-up” store in Los Angeles, CA. Samples were also provided to a small number of consumers.
Daily Harvest emailed [SOME] consumers who were shipped the affected product, and other consumers for whom the company had contact information and consumers were issued a credit for the recalled product. Consumers who may still have the recalled product in their freezers should immediately dispose of it.
FDA’s investigation is ongoing, and more information will be provided as it becomes available.
Product was sold through online sales and in two retail locations; the Daily Harvest store in Chicago, IL, and a “pop-up” store in Los Angeles, CA. French Lentil + Leek Crumbles is a frozen product packaged in a 12oz white pouch with the words “Daily Harvest” at the top, a large “CRUMBLES” immediately below the top and the words “French Lentil + Leek” in bold, as shown below. All lot codes of the French Lentil + Leek Crumbles are affected.