The FDA has declared tara flour as not “Generally Recognized As Safe” (GRAS) and banned its use and importation in the United States. This decision follows an outbreak linked to the ingredient nearly two years ago. Tara flour was found in Daily Harvest French Lentil + Leek Crumbles and Revive Superfoods’ Mango & Pineapple Smoothies, which sickened around 500 people in the U.S. and Canada in 2022.
Tara flour being identified as not GRAS means that it, or any food made with it, is considered adulterated. This makes its sale or use illegal in the United States. Congress created the GRAS designation in 1958 for food additives with a long history of safe use in food. It allows food companies to skip the traditional approval process by proving that experts agree the substance is safe.
The FDA’s action came after a letter from a toxicologist at the agency’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) highlighted safety issues with tara flour. This was underscored by the fact that no international food standards support its safe processing and consumption.
In Canada, similar findings led to a ban on tara flour in September 2023. About 470 people in 39 U.S. states fell ill after consuming Daily Harvest French Lentil + Leek Crumbles in 2022. Others got sick from Revive Superfoods’ Mango & Pineapple Smoothies containing tara flour. Patients experienced food poisoning symptoms and liver and gallbladder issues, with more than 40 people requiring gallbladder removal.
On July 19, 2022, Daily Harvest informed customers that its internal investigations identified tara flour from Smirk’s, sourced from Molinos Asociados in Peru, as the cause of the illnesses.
In December 2023, food safety attorney Bill Marler wrote to FDA’s Deputy Commissioner for Foods, urging action against tara flour. Marler represents many patients who became ill after consuming foods with the ingredient. He cited scientific studies showing bodily harm from tara flour and noted that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency had already advised businesses to stop its sale and procurement.
Evidence showed that the Daily Harvest outbreak was due to tara flour from Molinos Asociados in Peru. This flour was imported by Smirk’s, a Colorado company, and supplied to Stone Gate Foods, a Minnesota-based manufacturer that used it in the production of French Lentil + Leek Crumbles.
Studies conducted in the U.S. after the outbreak found problems with tara flour, raising concerns about how Molinos knew to test for liver function and why Smirk’s continued its distribution.
Tara is a leguminous tree native to Peru, producing an oblong pod with seeds used in leather production. Tara gum, different from tara flour, is used safely in food as a thickening agent. However, tara flour has not been adequately tested or used as a human food ingredient in the U.S.
On June 17, 2022, Daily Harvest identified tara flour as the likely cause of a foodborne illness outbreak. This led to hundreds of adverse events, including gastrointestinal distress and hospitalization. The FDA announced on May 15 that they are not aware of any current domestic development or manufacturing of products containing tara flour in the U.S.
The FDA has started screening at ports of entry for tara flour used in imported food. As of May 15, there have been no recent shipments detected.
Uncovering Tara Flour’s Controversial Path
Before it was banned, tara flour was actually considered a promising new ingredient. It was derived from a tree native to Peru called the tara tree. This tree is mostly known for its use in leather production since it has properties that help make materials thicker. It was only recently when the food industry started using its seeds to make flour. A big selling point for the tara seeds are its high protein content and other potential health benefits.
Trouble started brewing when Daily Harvest started including tara flour in its French Lentil and Leek Crumbles. Other companies like Revive Superfoods also started including the ingredient into their smoothies. Unfortunately, this only lead to the spread of an outbreak that caused food poisoning and other liver or gallbladder issues.
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A Deeper Dive into the Issue
The FDA’s decision to ban tara flour was caused by serious concerns and the hazards it could pose the general public. This ingredient was linked to an outbreak of diseases that affected at least 500 people in the United States and Canada alone in 2022. Most of the patients showed symptoms that ranged from food poisoning to something more serious like liver and gallbladder issues. 40 people even had to have their gallbladders surgically removed. This led to the FDA labelling tara flour as not “Generally Recognized As Safe” (GRAS). In other words, tara flour has been effectively banned and outlawed in the United States.
Interestingly, tara gum from the same tree can be safely used as a thickening agent in food. But the key difference is that tara flour was never fully tested for its effects on human health. This had people questioning the oversight and testing protocols for all new ingredients entering the market. FDA’s official announcement gave us more details on the decisions about the regulations and provided us with more insight on the reasons behind the ban.
Daily Harvest actually identified the root of the outbreak as early as 2022. Their investigation traced back to the tara flour from Molinos Asociados in Peru. Despite this, tara flour was still being distributed by Smirk’s and used in other food products without enough tests on its safety. This in turn led to widespread illnesses.
This whole controversy highlights how important it is to have a strict adherence to safety standards and thoroughly testing each ingredient. It also shows how dangerous it can be when we use relatively unknown ingredients and include them in our food supply without enough testing.
To ensure the safety of our food, both the FDA and other international authorities must remain vigilant. Screening for imported tara flour has intensified since the ban with no recent shipments detected as of May 2023.
From The Club
It’s scary to think how certain ingredients can affect our health without us even knowing it. It’s a good thing that the proper authorities are on top of everything and making sure that all of the food we eat are safe. The FDA and other related agencies should have stricter guidelines on which ingredients can be considered safe to consume. After all, prevention is always better than cure.