FDA says review of Taylor Farms lettuce shows cyclospora finding was false positive
The US Food and Drug Administration announced that its earlier positive test for cyclospora in Taylor Farms lettuce was a false positive, with no confirmed positive samples currently.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said on Sunday that laboratory experts rechecked sample results from Taylor Farms lettuce in an investigation into a cyclospora outbreak and concluded the finding should be considered a false positive.
On Saturday, the FDA had reported a positive test for the cyclospora parasite in shredded iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms. Taylor Fresh Foods, the company, told Reuters that the FDA apologized for the error. The company had voluntarily recalled iceberg lettuce from central Mexico out of an abundance of caution based on the initial information.
As of Sunday, there were no confirmed positive sample results for cyclospora, the FDA added. The agency said it has notified Taylor Farms and continues working with the firm to ensure the implicated product is removed from the market.
The cyclosporiasis outbreak has been linked to shredded iceberg lettuce served at Yum Brands Taco Bell restaurants in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 100 hospitalizations have occurred, with no deaths.
The parasitic infection is caused by the single-celled protozoan Cyclospora. It is typically transmitted through water or food contaminated with feces. Infections are most common during warm weather months, from May to August. Symptoms can take days or weeks to develop, making the outbreak difficult to trace. Diagnosis and reporting then take additional weeks.
