FDA Reverses Taylor Farms Lettuce Cyclospora Findings: A False Positive

The US Food and Drug Administration on Sunday took a significant step back from an earlier finding that a lettuce sample supplied by Taylor Farms had tested positive for Cyclospora, the parasite behind a nationwide outbreak that has sickened thousands of Americans.

'Due to the complexity in detection of Cyclospora, FDA laboratory experts re-reviewed the sample results and have concluded that the finding does not represent true amplification and should be considered a false positive,' the FDA stated in a revised notice on its website.

Earlier, on Thursday, the FDA had linked shredded iceberg lettuce supplied to Taco Bell restaurants in five states to the ongoing cyclosporiasis outbreak, stating its traceback investigation pointed to a 'single supplier of iceberg lettuce from Mexico.'

In the wake of the false positive findings, Taylor Farms said it welcomed the FDA's update.

'Today, FDA apologized to us. Yesterday, FDA informed Taylor Fresh Foods that one of its iceberg lettuce products from central Mexico tested positive for cyclospora. Today, we were informed that FDA made a mistake, and this was a false positive,' Taylor Farms stated.

In response to the initial finding, Taylor Farms had voluntarily recalled iceberg lettuce grown and processed in central Mexico 'out of an abundance of caution' and said it would continue to cooperate with health officials.

The recent outbreak has caused a significant stir among health experts, with over 1,600 confirmed cases and 140 hospitalizations as of July 13. The illness can last for several weeks if left untreated.

Michigan health authorities reported more than 5,000 cyclosporiasis cases, the hardest hit state in the outbreak as of July 16. The outbreak's epicenter is believed to be tied to contaminated lettuce and salad greens.

Taylor Farms is the world's largest producer of salad, supplying major chain restaurants and grocery stores across North America.

The FDA stated that while there are no confirmed positive sample results for Cyclospora as of Sunday, it will continue to investigate the outbreak and ensure that food safety standards are met.

The ongoing cyclosporiasis outbreak serves as a reminder of the importance of proper food handling, storage, and preparation. Health experts recommend avoiding bagged lettuce and salads until the outbreak is over and choosing whole heads of lettuce, removing the outer leaves, and washing all produce thoroughly.

Cyclospora thrives in summer heat, and the CDC's deputy director of foodborne, waterborne, and environmental diseases, Gwen Biggerstaff, stated that 'we anticipate continuing to see cases increase possibly through the end of August, which is the end of the cyclosporiasis season.'

The investigation into the source of the Cyclospora contamination remains ongoing, although health experts believe it could have been introduced during washing at production facilities or at the farm.

The complexity of detecting Cyclospora, combined with the time it takes for symptoms to appear, makes it challenging to pinpoint the specific source of the contamination.