FDA Determines Tara Flour Is Not Safe to Consume

On May 15, 2024, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) issued an update statement on the safety of tara flour, determining that it is unsafe to eat. 

If tara flour sounds familiar, it may be because in June 2022, it was the topic of hot debate due to hundreds of Daily Harvest customers getting sick and filing complaints with the FDA after eating the company’s French Lentils + Leek Crumbles. The crumbles contained tara flour which had been used as a food additive. 

Tara trees are grown in South America and produce pods. According to the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), different parts of the tara seeds can be used for varying purposes. One part can be made into a gum and used as a thickening agent in food products. Another part of the seeds can be ground into flour and used as a protein source. The flour was used in the Daily Harvest crumbles. 

Tara flour has only been used in the U.S. food market since 2021. The EDF states that when the illnesses broke out, they could find no evidence that the FDA had previously reviewed tara flour for safety. In other words, this product had not received the FDA’s label of Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS).

And it looks like it will not be getting that seal of approval any time soon. 

In their update, the FDA states that “tara flour in human food does not meet the Generally Recognized As Safe (or GRAS) standard and is an unapproved food additive.” This means that any food product containing tara flour is considered adulterated. 

GRAS is a qualification that the FDA gives to food additives they deem safe to eat. According to the FDA, “Any substance that is intentionally added to food is a food additive, that is subject to premarket review and approval by FDA, unless the substance is generally recognized, among qualified experts, as having been adequately shown to be safe under the conditions of its intended use, or unless the use of the substance is otherwise excepted from the definition of a food additive.”

In other words, additives cannot be used in the U.S. food supply unless they’ve been deemed GRAS by the FDA or have enough scientific evidence of their safety. And tara flour does not meet either of these qualifications. 

Chances are, you probably don’t have products containing tara flour since it hasn’t been widely used—especially since the Daily Harvest incident. But it never hurts to check the labels on your pre-packaged foods to make sure. If you happen to find it in the ingredient list, discard it. 

According to the FDA’s statement, they are watching for any products that contain tara flour so they can be removed or prevented from getting into the American food supply. This includes products made in the U.S. or imported into the U.S.  

This does raise one question though. Is tara gum safe? 

According to the FDA’s memo attached to the statement, tara gum is “distinct from tara flour” and “its safety profile is well established, supporting its use as a thickening agent and/or stabilizer in human foods.” 

It’s also important to note that taro flour or powder is not the same as tara flour. Taro flour comes from a completely different plant. Taro is a root vegetable, similar to potatoes. Taro powder is also sometimes used in bubble tea. 

The Bottom Line

There is not enough evidence to deem tara flour safe to eat. If you have products containing tara flour, do not eat them and toss them immediately. Tara gum is made from a different part of the tara plant pod and is considered safe to consume. If you ever experience adverse effects from any food, it’s worth reporting it to the FDA’s CFSAN Adverse Event Reporting System (CAERS).