FDA Declares False Positive in Taylor Farms Lettuce Cyclospora Test, Impacting Taco Bell Supply
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced that a previous test result indicating the presence of the cyclospora parasite in Taylor Farms' shredded iceberg lettuce was a false positive. This lettuce had been linked to an outbreak of cyclosporiasis, which caused severe gastrointestinal symptoms in several states, including Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia. The FDA's re-evaluation of the lettuce samples from Taylor Farms, which were produced in Guanajuato, Mexico, confirmed no positive results for the parasite. The FDA continues to collaborate with Taylor Farms to ensure that any implicated products are removed from the market. The outbreak has resulted in approximately 100 hospitalizations, but no deaths have been reported, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.