Yesterday, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that Taylor Farms lettuce had falsely tested positive for Cyclospora amid the five-state cyclosporiasisoutbreak.
“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 said in a statement. “As of July 19, 2026, there are no confirmed positive sample results for product testing.”
A voluntary recall
On Friday, Taylor Farms de Mexico said in a statement that it was voluntarily removing iceberg lettuce from Walmart stores, Jack in the Box restaurants, and food service companies in 27 states.
The California-based company said, “Taylor Farms de Mexico is voluntarily removing all iceberg lettuce sources from central Mexico from the U.S. market because it has the potential to be contaminated with Cyclospora. While the FDA traceback is indicating a specific independent farm, which represents less than 1% of the U.S.’s iceberg lettuce supply, as the possible source of the outbreak, we have removed all iceberg lettuce from the region indefinitely.”
The investigation into the Cyclospora outbreak indicated that some people became sick after eating Taylor Farms’ shredded iceberg lettuce at Taco Bell restaurants in Indiana, Kentucky Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia. Taco Bell has stopped using the lettuce.
