The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that its laboratory’s previous finding of a cyclospora contamination in a sample of lettuce from Taylor Farms linked to a multistate cyclosporiasis outbreak was a false positive.
In an update published Sunday, the FDA said its “experts re-reviewed the sample results” from lettuce supplied by food supplier Taylor Farms de Mexico and “concluded that the finding does not represent true amplification and should be considered a false positive.
In a Saturday notice, the agency initially reported that a sample of shredded iceberg lettuce that was not part of Taylor Farms’ recall tested positive for cyclosporiasis. The FDA removed that language from its website after re-reviewing the sample results.
The FDA asserted Monday that the false positive lab sample does not change its conclusion linking the outbreak to Taylor Farms.
“To clarify, this false-positive lab sample DOES NOT change the basis for FDA’s ongoing outbreak investigation or the overwhelming epidemiological data supporting the current voluntary recall by Taylor Farms,” the agency said in a post on X.
The FDA’s acting food chief Donald Prater also told reporters Monday that the “FDA’s traceback investigation and the outbreak data continue to converge on shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms’ locations in central Mexico.”
The FDA continues to warn consumers not to eat recalled iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms. The agency also advises anyone who purchased or received the recalled lettuce to “carefully clean and sanitize any surfaces or containers that it touched.”
Cyclospora is a parasite that is generally spread through human fecal matter. When ingested, it can cause diarrhea, a loss of appetite, weight loss, stomach pain, body aches, headache, bloating, increased gas, nausea and fatigue, according to the FDA.
The FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Thursday that they were investigating the outbreak of cyclospora linked to shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell locations.
On Friday, Taylor Farms de Mexico issued a voluntary recall of its iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico due to possible contamination.
“Our thoughts remain with everyone who has fallen ill in this outbreak,” Taylor Farms said in a statement Sunday. “We are committed to working with public health authorities as the ongoing outbreak investigation continues.”
That same day, Taco Bell announced it had removed all Taylor Farms products from its restaurants.
There are at least 1,644 cases, according to the CDC, 94 of which have resulted in hospitalizations. The CDC cautions that the true number of illnesses is likely higher than reported.
The FDA said it will continue to collect and analyze product samples along with its state partners. Michigan has reported one of the highest concentrations of illnesses linked to the outbreak.
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