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FDA Says Positive Cyclospora Test on Taylor Farms Lettuce Was a False Positive

The agency’s re‑review leaves traceback and patient interviews pointing to shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms in central Mexico while the recall and testing continue.

Overview

  • Federal lab experts re‑reviewed a lettuce sample and on Monday concluded the earlier Cyclospora result was a false positive, leaving no confirmed positive product tests to date.
  • Investigators say epidemiologic interviews and supply‑chain traceback still converge on shredded iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms de Mexico, and the company’s voluntary recall remains in effect.
  • The FDA and state partners are continuing product testing, import and border screening, and patient interviews to find direct evidence while advising consumers to discard recalled items.
  • Case totals continue to rise and vary by source, with the CDC reporting about 1,600 confirmed linked cases and Michigan reporting more than 6,000 illnesses and over 100 hospitalizations.
  • Cyclospora is hard to detect on produce because it must mature in the environment and yields weak test signals, so public health actions rely heavily on interviews and traceback, a dynamic that heightens commercial and supply‑chain consequences for suppliers and restaurants.