FDA maintains focus on Taylor Farms lettuce as source of cyclospora outbreak despite false‑positive test

Federal health officials said on Monday that the FDA continues to target shredded lettuce from Taylor Farms as the likely source of a multistate cyclospora outbreak, even after a laboratory result was later deemed inaccurate.

The agency explained that a test performed over the weekend incorrectly flagged a lettuce sample as positive for the parasite. The false‑positive finding was posted on the FDA website on Saturday and retracted the following day.

The outbreak, which has affected five states, was initially linked to lettuce served at Taco Bell locations. In response, Taylor Farms announced a recall of 25 shredded lettuce and salad‑mix products sold under eight brand codes.

FDA’s acting food chief, Donald Prater, said the traceback investigation and outbreak data continue to point to shredded iceberg lettuce grown in central Mexico, and the agency remains committed to resolving the situation.