Taylor Farms lettuce sample that tested positive for cyclospora was a false positive, FDA says

Key Points:

• The FDA confirmed that a previously positive test for cyclospora in Taylor Farms lettuce was a false positive after re-evaluation by laboratory experts, with no confirmed positive samples found as of Sunday.
• Taylor Farms voluntarily removed iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico following its initial link to a large U.S. cyclosporiasis outbreak, despite the FDA traceback pointing to a specific farm representing less than 1% of U.S. iceberg lettuce supply.
• The CDC identified iceberg lettuce supplied to select Taco Bell restaurants in five states as a source of the multistate outbreak, prompting Taco Bell and Walmart to remove affected products from their stores and restaurants.
• The outbreak, first reported in May, has spread to 34 states with over 1,600 cases reported by the CDC, though some state health departments, like Michigan, report significantly higher numbers; no deaths have been reported.
• Cyclosporiasis is caused by the cyclospora parasite, leading to prolonged diarrhea, and outbreaks are commonly linked to fresh produce such as bagged salads and herbs, typically occurring in late spring and summer.