FDA says lettuce test linking it to cyclosporiasis outbreak was false positive
The Food and Drug Administration retracted earlier test results that had tied a Cyclospora outbreak to Taylor Farms iceberg lettuce, stating the findings were false positives and no product has yet been identified as the source.
The Food and Drug Administration issued an apology on Sunday, acknowledging that earlier laboratory results linking a nationwide cyclosporiasis outbreak to shredded iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms were false positives. The agency said it has not identified any food item as the source of the parasite and that no positive product tests have been confirmed.
Taylor Farms had recalled all batches of iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico after the FDA reported a positive test from a sample collected during targeted import surveillance. The recalled lot was not the same as the one initially flagged, and the company was investigating whether that lot had reached consumers. With the false-positive determination, it remains unclear whether any additional recall will be issued.
Michigan has reported the highest number of cases, with 5,002 infections and at least 102 hospitalizations, according to state health officials. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says cases have been confirmed in 34 states. Cyclosporiasis, caused by the parasite Cyclospora, is typically contracted through contaminated food or water and usually resolves within a week, though severe cases may require hospitalization.
"We regret the error and are working to ensure accurate testing moving forward," an FDA spokesperson said. The outbreak continues to be monitored as officials seek the true source of contamination.