The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on July 19 that laboratory experts have re-evaluated a lettuce sample from Taylor Farms and concluded the finding of the cyclospora parasite should be considered a false positive. The agency stated that as of Sunday, there were no confirmed positive sample results for cyclospora.
This update follows an announcement on July 18, when the FDA initially reported that a sample of shredded iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms tested positive for the parasite. The parasitic illness has sickened thousands of people across the United States.
The FDA has notified Taylor Farms and is continuing to work with the company to ensure any implicated product has been removed from the market. According to the FDA, Taylor Farms had previously confirmed that the product in question was not part of its existing recall.
Cyclosporiasis, the illness caused by the parasite, has been linked to shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell restaurants in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that the outbreak has led to approximately 100 hospitalizations with no reported deaths.
The lettuce, identified by the FDA as originating from Mexico, was produced in 5-pound bags at Taylor Farms' facility in Guanajuato, Mexico, according to a source familiar with the matter.