The number of complaints of illnesses related to Daily Harvest brand French Lentil & Leek Crumbles has more than doubled since the FDA’s report on June 30.
As of July 14 the Food and Drug Administration is reporting 277 reports from people who ate the frozen crumbles. The agency continues to advise people to not eat the product and to check their freezers for it. As of June 30, 133 people had reported illnesses to the FDA. The company has reported receiving more than 470 reports.
The product has been recalled. From April 28 to June 17, 2022, 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.
The most recent patient developed symptoms on July 9. All ill people report similar symptoms of gastrointestinal illness and abnormal liver function and more than two dozen have had to have their gallbladders removed. Many of the sick people have gone into liver failure but have recovered to some degree. At least one patient is waiting for a liver transplant.
The sick people live in Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.
Of the 277 patients who have reported illnesses to the FDA, 96 have required hospitalization.
“If you experience symptoms including yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice), dark urine, itching with no rash, gastrointestinal illness, nausea, fatigue, body aches, severe abdominal pain and/or fever after consuming this product, please consult with your healthcare provider. Let your healthcare provider know you have recently consumed the recalled Daily Harvest French Lentil & Leek Crumbles. Healthcare providers should report these illnesses to their health department,” the FDA recommends.
The agency is continuing to investigate the outbreak and asks sick consumers to report their illnesses directly to the agency and their health care providers.
To report a complaint or adverse eventofillness or serious allergic reaction, consumers can:
The owner of Daily Harvest says the company is conducting its own investigation and has tested the product for various pathogens and has not found any problems.
Seattle food safety attorney Bill Marler is representing more than 200 of the ill people and is advising sick people to retain samples of the product, especially unopened bags, for testing.
(To sign up for a free subscription to Food Safety News,click here)
