Tara flour made headlines in 2022 after hundreds got sick from Daily Harvest crumbles.
Now the FDA determines it is unsafe to eat and does not meet its GRAS qualification.
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, 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.
In other words, this product had not received the FDAs label of Generally Recognized as Safe.
And it looks like it will not be getting that seal of approval anytime soon.
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.
And tara flour does not meet either of these qualifications.
But it never hurts to check the labels on your packaged foods to check that.
If you happen to find it in the ingredient list, discard it.
This includes products made in the U.S. or imported into the U.S.
This does raise one question though.
Is tara gum safe?
Its 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 inbubble 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.
U.S. Food & Drug Administration.FDA Update on the Post-market Assessment of Tara Flour.
U.S. Food & Drug Administration.Investigation of Adverse Event Reports: French Lentil & Leek Crumbles (June 2022).
Environmental Defense Fund.Tara Flour: A Reminder of the Real-Life Consequences of Broken GRAS.
U.S. Food & Drug Administration.Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS).
U.S. Food & Drug Administration.Memorandum.
U.S. Food & Drug Administration.CFSAN Adverse Event Reporting System (CAERS).
