FDA says false-positive lettuce test doesn't change Taylor Farms cyclospora probe

TORONTO — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Monday ​defended publicizing a lettuce sample later found to be a ‌false positive for cyclospora, saying the reversal does not undermine its investigation into a five-state outbreak tied to Taylor Farms lettuce from central Mexico.

The FDA on ​Saturday had said that a sample of shredded iceberg lettuce ​supplied by Taylor Farms tested positive for the parasite that ⁠has sickened thousands of people in the U.S. But on ​Sunday, it called that a false positive after a re-review.

As of Sunday, there ​were no confirmed positive sample results for cyclospora, the FDA added.

A spokesperson for Taylor Fresh Foods told Reuters that the company was informed the FDA made a ​mistake.

"To be clear, at this moment, FDA has not identified a ​single positive product test result for cyclospora," the company said.

Taylor Fresh Foods added ‌that ⁠it had completed a voluntary recall of iceberg lettuce from central Mexico as a precaution based on the initial information given.

The FDA in its latest update said it has "notified Taylor Farms and continues working with the ​firm to ensure ​the product implicated ⁠in this outbreak has been removed from the market."

The company had earlier confirmed that the product ​was not part of its current recall, according to the ​FDA.

Cyclosporiasis has ⁠been linked to shredded iceberg lettuce served at Yum Brands' (YUM.N), opens new tab Taco Bell restaurants in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia. It has so far ⁠resulted ​in around 100 hospitalizations and no deaths, ​according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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