The FDA reversed course Sunday on a positive cyclospora test from Taylor Farms, declaring the laboratory finding a false positive after experts re-examined the results. The agency said no confirmed positive samples for the parasitic illness have been identified in the investigation.
The reversal came just one day after federal health officials announced that shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms had tested positive for cyclospora, triggering immediate concern as the nation grapples with a broader outbreak. Taylor Fresh Foods confirmed the FDA had informed the company of its error and said the agency issued an apology.
Taylor Farms had already initiated a voluntary recall of iceberg lettuce from central Mexico based on the initial positive finding. The company said it acted out of caution given the information it had received at the time. The FDA is continuing to work with Taylor Farms to ensure any implicated product is removed from shelves.
The cyclospora outbreak has been linked to shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell locations across five states: Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia. The CDC reports roughly 100 hospitalizations related to the outbreak, with no deaths recorded so far.
Cyclospora is a single-cell parasite typically spread through food or water contaminated with feces. The infection is most common during warmer months, typically May through August. Symptoms can take days or even weeks to appear after exposure, complicating tracking and diagnosis of cases. Additional weeks often pass before cases are formally reported, making real-time surveillance difficult.
Author James Rodriguez: "A false positive in a public health crisis erodes confidence in outbreak response at a critical moment, even if the error was caught and corrected quickly."
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