Daily Harvest to Pay $23 Million to Settle Lentil Meal Recall Lawsuits

Daily Harvest Inc. and its manufacturer, Second Bite Foods Inc., have agreed to settle a class action lawsuit for nearly $23 million over its recalled "French Lentil + Leek Crumble" meal product.

The settlement, filed on Thursday in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York, aims to compensate consumers who purchased the contaminated lentil crumbles linked to hundreds of reported illnesses in 2022.

Recalled lentil crumbles spark lawsuits

The saga began in June 2022 when Daily Harvest, a popular meal-delivery service known for its pre-made healthy options, issued a voluntary recall of the lentil crumbles. This followed a surge in reports of severe gastrointestinal illness and liver damage among consumers who had eaten the product.

While the exact cause of the illnesses remains a mystery, Daily Harvest suspected an adverse reaction to an ingredient used in the tara flour, a component of the crumbles. The company emphasized cooperation with the FDA and independent experts in investigating the issue, but tests for common foodborne pathogens and toxins all came back negative.

Despite the recall, consumers continued reporting health issues, and lawsuits began piling up against Daily Harvest. One such case involved Breeanne Buckley Peni, who became severely ill after consuming the crumbles, requiring hospitalization and gallbladder removal surgery. Her lawsuit, filed on behalf of a nationwide class of consumers, became the basis for the recent settlement.

Settlement reached for affected consumers

The class action lawsuit, filed on behalf of a nationwide class of consumers, was initiated by Breeanne Buckley Peni who became severely ill after consuming the Daily Harvest lentil crumbles. Her case highlighted the significant health problems some consumers experienced, including hospitalization and surgery, including reports of gallbladder removals.

The proposed settlement, filed on Thursday in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York, awaits court approval. If approved, the $23 million fund will be used to compensate those who purchased the recalled product and experienced qualifying health problems.

The Daily Harvest lentil meal class action lawsuit is Buckley et al v. Daily Harvest Inc. et al, Case No 1:22-cv-05443-DLC in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York.