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California Daily Harvest Lentil Injury Attorneys
Many people enjoy the convenience of ordering chef-created meals through delivery companies that can be easily prepared and ready in minutes. One such company, Daily Harvest, has been a favorite of people who are trying to eat healthfully with its emphasis on vegetables, fruits, and healthy grains. Unfortunately, however, Daily Harvest initiated a voluntary recall in June 2022 of its Fench Lentil + Leak Crumbles because of potential adverse health effects. More than 28,000 units of recalled products that were sold to people across the U.S., including in Los Angeles, were affected by the recall.
Here is some information about the recall and what you should do if you have experienced serious illness following consuming this product. If you were sickened and injured after consuming this product, you might be entitled to pursue compensation through a defective product injury claim with the help of the Steven M. Sweat, Personal Injury Lawyers, APC.
Daily Harvest Recall
On June 23, 2022, Daily Harvest and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the company’s voluntary recall of 28,000 units of the French Lentil + Leek Crumbles. The affected units were sold between April 23, 2022, and June 17, 2022, throughout the U.S. by mail, at a pop-up store in Los Angeles, and at the Daily Harvest store in Chicago, Illinois. The recall was announced after hundreds of people reported experiencing severe illnesses following their consumption of the lentil and leek product, with many requiring hospitalization and surgery.
Consumers who purchased and consumed this product have reported experiencing the following medical issues:
- Liver damage
- Liver failure
- Abdominal distress
- Gastrointestinal illness
- Severe nausea
- Gallbladder failure
- Gallbladder removal surgery
Some otherwise healthy people reported they experienced liver damage resulting in high amounts of liver enzymes in their blood. According to the FDA, Daily Harvest was first made aware of around 470 customers who suffered deleterious health consequences after consuming the French Lentil + Leek Crumbles product in April 2022, which raises questions about why the company waited to announce the recall until June. The recall affects all lot codes of the product. People who have some of this product in their freezers should not consume it.
State health officials, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the FDA are all investigating the cause of the reported illnesses. More than 133 consumers used the Consumer Adverse Events Reporting System through the FDA’s website to report becoming ill. Out of the adverse events reports, 42 reported they were sickened enough that they had to be hospitalized, and some consumers reported they had to undergo gallbladder removal surgery.
Symptoms
Some of the symptoms reported by people who consumed the product include the following:
- Frequent bouts of diarrhea
- Severe abdominal cramping and pain
- Fever
- Nausea
- Jaundice of the eyes and skin
- Light-colored stools
- Dark urine
- Body aches
- Fatigue
- Itching without a rash
The French Lentil + Leek Crumbles were sold or given out as samples to customers who reported illnesses in the following states:
- California
- Washington
- Oregon
- Montana
- Colorado
- Wisconsin
- Virginia
- Tennessee
- Rhode Island
- Pennsylvania
- Ohio
- North Carolina
- New York
- New Jersey
- New Hampshire
- Missouri
- Michigan
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Iowa
- Illinois
- Georgia
- Florida
- Connecticut
Which Products Were Recalled?
According to the recall, all units of the Daily Harvest French Lentil + Leek Crumbles were affected. These products are frozen and are sold in 12-oz. packages. Daily Harvest is written at the top of the package with a large “Crumbles” immediately below. French Lentils + Leek appear in bold print. The frozen French Lentil + Leek products were sold through direct delivery, in a pop-up store in Los Angeles, online, and through the Daily Harvest store in Chicago.
The recall occurred because of the hundreds of reported illnesses and injuries from consumers, including some who required hospitalization and surgery, after consuming the products.
What Was the Source of the Contamination?
While the exact cause is still being investigated, Daily Harvest announced on July 19, 2022, that they had identified the source as being the tara flour the company used in the French Lentil + Leek Crumbles product. According to a note to consumers posted on the company’s website, Daily Harvest reported that they had isolated the source to the flour, which the company states it only used in the French Lentils + Leek Crumbles. Tara flour is made from a seed sourced from Peru. Investigators are analyzing the tara flour used to manufacture the product to identify the exact cause of the illnesses.
The company has had its labs, product samples, and manufacturing facilities tested for a variety of different pathogens and bacteria. They have also tested for allergens, mycotoxins, and aflatoxins. However, they haven’t yet been able to identify the specific cause.
Many people have shared information about side effects they have experienced from consuming the Daily Harvest products, including abdominal pains, liver damage, gallbladder problems, and others that have resulted in hospitalization and emergency department visits. Hundreds of people who were injured or seriously sickened might be able to hold the company accountable by filing product liability lawsuits.
Potential Damages
By pursuing monetary compensation, people who have suffered food-borne illnesses and injuries caused by consuming the French Lentils + Leeks Crumbles between April and late June might be able to hold the manufacturer accountable. Food manufacturers like Daily Harvest have a duty to ensure the products they offer to consumers are safe. When they fail to do so, they might be liable to pay damages to everyone who is injured as a result.
How much compensation might be recoverable in a Daily Harvest lentil injury lawsuit will vary. The amount of compensation will depend on the extent and severity of your injuries and other factors. Some of the types of compensatory damages that might be available include the following:
- Past and future medical treatment costs
- Surgical expenses
- Wage losses if you were forced to miss work
- Physical pain and suffering
- Psychological trauma
- Other damages
If it is discovered that Daily Harvest knew about the dangers of its product but concealed the information from consumers, punitive damages might also be available. Your lawyer can review your case and explain the types of damages that you might be able to recover and how much your claim might be worth.
Will it Cost Anything to Retain a Lawyer?
The injury attorneys at the law firm of Steven M. Sweat, Personal Injury Lawyers, APC work on a contingent-fee basis. This means that you won’t have to pay any money out of pocket for attorney’s fees. Instead, we only receive a payment if and when we successfully recover money for you through a settlement or verdict. We also offer complimentary case evaluations so that we can analyze the legal merits of your case and help you understand whether your claim has legal merits.
If we recover money for you in your lawsuit against Daily Harvest, we will take a percentage of the total settlement or award as our fee. During your consultation, we will explain our fees so that you understand how they work. However, you will not have to pay any money upfront to hire our attorneys. Contact us today for a free consultation at 866-966-5240.