The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced Sunday that a sample of Taylor Farms lettuce previously reported to have tested positive for the parasite cyclospora was a false positive. The agency stated that laboratory experts re-reviewed the results and determined the finding did not represent true amplification.
As of Sunday, the FDA reported it has not found any confirmed positive sample results for product testing for cyclospora. Taylor Farms stated that the FDA apologized for the mistake.
Outbreak Context and Scope
The retraction follows a multistate outbreak of cyclosporiasis, a food- and waterborne illness that causes long-lasting, watery, and sometimes explosive diarrhea. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the outbreak began in May and has spread to 34 states, sickening more than 1,600 people. However, some state health departments have reported higher numbers; the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services reported more than 5,000 confirmed cases as of Friday.
The CDC identified lettuce supplied to select Taco Bell restaurants as a source of the outbreak. The affected iceberg lettuce was distributed to restaurants in five states: Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia. No deaths have been reported, though the CDC noted approximately 100 hospitalizations.
Industry Response and Recalls
Despite the false positive finding, Taylor Farms took several precautionary measures. On Friday, the company announced it was voluntarily removing iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico, suspending distribution from that region indefinitely. Taylor Farms noted that an FDA traceback indicated a specific independent farm, representing less than 1% of the U.S. iceberg lettuce supply, as the potential source.
The company recalled shredded iceberg lettuce distributed between June 29 and July 16 to 27 states, including:
- Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
Several other companies reported taking action:
- Taco Bell: Confirmed the removal of affected Taylor Farms lettuce from its restaurants and nationwide supply chain.
- Jack in the Box: Removed recalled lettuce from stores in Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana, replacing it with a different domestic source.
- Sysco: Proactively removed all Taylor Farms processed iceberg lettuce from Mexico from distribution.
- US Foods: Notified customers that a limited number of products under its Cross Valley Farms brand were impacted.
- Walmart: Removed four Marketside bagged iceberg lettuce salad products from stores in more than two dozen states as a precaution, though it stated there was no indication its products were affected.
The Nature of Cyclospora
Public health experts describe cyclosporiasis as an intestinal illness caused by a microscopic parasite. Outbreaks typically occur in late spring and summer and have historically been linked to green onions, snow peas, raspberries, basil, cilantro, and bagged salads.
The parasite is resistant to the chlorine washes used by the industry, and while heat kills the parasite, the produce it typically contaminates is eaten raw. Because it does not spread from person to person, it is generally linked to contaminated fresh produce.
FDA Testing and Oversight
The FDA noted that the detection of cyclospora is complex. The agency continues to work with Taylor Farms to ensure product implicated in the outbreak is removed from the market, and FDA and state partners are continuing to collect and analyze samples.
Update (July 20, 2026)
According to washingtonpost.com, the FDA stated that despite the retraction of the specific test result, there is “overwhelming epidemiological data” to support the voluntary recall initiated by Taylor Farms. The agency maintains its link between the company's lettuce and the ongoing cyclosporiasis outbreak.
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