A Vegetarian Meat Substitute, French Lentil + Leek Crumbles, Recalled After Causing Severe Gastrointestinal Illness and Liver Damage

Daily Harvest, Inc., New York, NY. Daily Harvest has voluntarily recalled all French Lentil + Leek Crumbles due to consumer reports of gastrointestinal illness and potential liver function issues. To date, the company has received approximately 470 reports of illness or adverse reactions. 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.

From a NY Times article, "One customer described “debilitating” stomach pain that landed the person in the emergency room. Others said they’d experienced fever, jaundice and full-body itching."  The article goes on to state, 

• "The lentil product in question, the crumble, is part of the company’s new plant-based protein line, which was introduced at the end of April. It is meant to be a substitute for ground meat."
• "Higher levels of enzymes indicate that your liver is injured and can point to a wide range of issues, said Dr. Laura Kulik, a hepatologist at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Up to 30 percent of tests showing elevated liver enzymes are related to dietary supplements, she said, including unregulated vitamins and herbal medications. Antibiotics can also cause liver enzymes to rise, as can excessive alcohol consumption, hepatitis and viral infections." 
• "It’s rare that eating food would cause damage to the liver, Dr. Nestle said."
• "Daily Harvest was founded in 2015 and rose to popularity partly because of its celebrity endorsements — Gwyneth Paltrow and Serena Williams are among its investors — and its slick, health-conscious branding. The vegan meal delivery service touts its “organic, nourishing, clean” flatbreads, bowls and soups filled with “sustainably sourced fruits + veggies” and “no artificial anything.”"

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/daily-harvest-issues-voluntary-recall-french-lentil-leek-crumbles-due-potential-health-risk

Daily Harvest Issues Voluntary Recall of French Lentil + Leek Crumbles Due to Potential Health Risk

Summary
Company Announcement Date:  June 23, 2022
FDA Publish Date: June 23, 2022
Product Type:  Food & Beverages  Vegetable Protein Product
Reason for Announcement: Gastrointestinal illness and potential liver function issues
Company Name:  Daily Harvest
Brand Name:  Daily Harvest
Product Description:  French Lentil + Leek Crumbles

Company Announcement

June 23, 2022, Daily Harvest, Inc., New York, NY. Daily Harvest has voluntarily recalled all French Lentil + Leek Crumbles due to consumer reports of gastrointestinal illness and potential liver function issues.

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 directly notified by email those 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.

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. No other Daily Harvest products are affected or part of this recall.

To date, the company has received approximately 470 reports of illness or adverse reactions. Consumer safety is our highest priority, and we have taken immediate steps to stop production and distribution of the product and conduct a root cause investigation, which is ongoing.

This recall is being made in cooperation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Consumers who have questions or would like to report adverse reactions should contact Daily Harvest by email at crumbles-recall@daily-harvest.com or by visiting https://www.dailyharvest.com/content/french-lentil-leek-crumbles-advisory#External Link Disclaimer or by calling 1-888-302-0305 9am – 9pm Eastern Time, 7 days a week.