Tara flour may have caused more than 470 reported illness associated with the use of Daily Harvest’s French Lentil + Leek Crumbles, which was recalled in 2022 (FDA 2022). Recalled products were distributed to consumers via online sales and home delivery, and at retail locations in Chicago and Los Angeles. Adverse effects reported include fever, vomiting, fatigue, diarrhea, and high liver enzyme levels that resulted in emergency care.

Tara flour has a high protein content but is not a legally accepted food ingredient (Food Ingredient News 2022). It was used and listed as an ingredient in the recalled product. Similar adverse health events were reported with consumption of Revive Superfoods (Oakville, ON, Canada) Mango and Pineapple smoothies, which also contained tara protein as an ingredient.

A scientific investigation following the reports of illness suggested, based on testing in mice, that a compound in tara flour known as baikiain can, once metabolized in the body, create compounds toxic to the liver (Chittiboyina, Chem Res Tox 2023).

Consumers are advised to review ingredient panels of packaged foods to check for the presence of tara flour.

For more information, use the links below.

Is Baikiain in Tara Flour a Causative Agent for the Adverse Events Associated with the Recalled Frozen French Lentil & Leek Crumbles Food Product? - A Working Hypothesis

Investigation of Adverse Event Reports: French Lentil & Leek Crumbles (June 2022)

See related recalls and warnings:

Ground Cumin Recalled Due to Salmonella Risk