The Food and Drug Administration clarified that a Taylor Farms lettuce sample was a false positive during a nationwide Cyclospora outbreak.

The Food and Drug Administration announced that a sample of shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico, initially reported as positive for the Cyclospora parasite, was actually a false positive. Despite this laboratory correction, the administration maintains that the overwhelming epidemiological data still supports the voluntary recall of iceberg lettuce grown and processed in central Mexico. The outbreak has sickened more than 1,600 people across the United States, with 94 hospitalizations reported. The largest cluster of cases is linked to shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell locations in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia. Taylor Farms has already removed the affected lettuce from its supply chain for the remainder of the growing season. FDA Commissioner Kyle Diamantas stated that while the false positive did not change the basis of the ongoing investigation, the agency continues to test produce at the southern border and other potential sources. Health officials recommend cooking produce to 158 F and washing it thoroughly to reduce the risk of infection.

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