The Food and Drug Administration announced Sunday that a sample of Taylor Farms lettuce previously reported as positive for the parasite Cyclospora was a false positive.
Following a re-evaluation of laboratory data, the agency determined that initial testing results were inaccurate.
“Due to the complexity in detection of Cyclospora, FDA laboratory experts re-reviewed the sample results and have concluded that the finding does not represent true amplification and should be considered a false positive,” the agency said in a statement.
As of Sunday, federal officials confirmed that no product samples tested during the investigation have returned a confirmed positive result for Cyclospora.
Taylor Fresh Foods, the parent company of Taylor Farms, acknowledged the update and stated the FDA notified management directly about the revised findings.
“To be clear, at this moment, FDA has not identified a single positive product test result for Cyclospora,” Taylor Fresh Foods said in a statement. The company added that the agency apologized for the error, though the FDA’s public statement did not include a reference to an apology.
The agency stated it informed Taylor Farms of the correction and is continuing to work with the supplier and its Taylor Farms de Mexico operation to verify that affected products have been removed from distribution. Federal and state health partners are ongoing in their collection and analysis of food samples.
The initial report of a positive test, announced by the FDA on Saturday, involved shredded iceberg lettuce. Despite the retracted test result, a voluntary recall initiated by Taylor Farms on July 17 remains in effect for iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico.
The recall was launched after public health officials linked lettuce served at certain Taco Bell locations to the processing operation in Mexico. The affected product was distributed to restaurants, retail locations, and food-service vendors.
“Based on initial information provided by health officials, in an abundance of caution, we completed a voluntary recall of iceberg lettuce from central Mexico,” Taylor Fresh Foods said. “Recalled product was limited to iceberg lettuce grown and processed in central Mexico. All other Taylor Farms products, including all Taylor Farms brand products available for purchase, are not involved in the recall.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an ongoing Cyclospora outbreak linked to shredded iceberg lettuce at Taco Bell restaurants across Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia has resulted in approximately 100 hospitalizations. No deaths have been reported in connection with the outbreak.
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