Federal health officials have retracted a positive test for the parasite Cyclospora on a Taylor Farms lettuce sample, attributing the result to an FDA false positive while maintaining a massive recall tied to a multistate cyclospora outbreak.
The Food and Drug Administration announced Sunday that a test result reported Saturday was caused by false amplification. Amplification creates copies of samples to help identify pathogens, making them easier to detect. The agency determined the finding did not represent true amplification and should be considered a false positive. “As of July 19, 2026, there are no confirmed positive sample results for product testing for Cyclospora,” the FDA said in a statement.
Taylor Farms Recall Remains in Effect
Despite the testing error, the false positive does not alter a voluntary recall announced Friday by Taylor Farms de Mexico. The company recalled iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico because it had the potential to be contaminated with Cyclospora. The recalled products were distributed to stores in 27 states, expanding the potential footprint of the food safety crisis.
Taylor Farms produces lettuce for Taco Bell and multiple grocery retailers. The FDA zeroed in on the product after it was provided to Taco Bell locations in five states where people ate before falling ill. On Friday, Taco Bell announced it would no longer use the producer for its lettuce, a significant supply chain shift for the fast-food giant.
The FDA warned consumers in an alert Friday: “Do not eat shredded iceberg lettuce from Mexico served at Taco Bell locations in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia.” The agency added that Taylor Farms continues “working with the firm to ensure product implicated in this outbreak has been removed from the market.”
Dispute Over FDA Apology and Communication
Taylor Farms issued a statement Sunday night claiming the FDA made a mistake and apologized for the false positive. The company echoed the agency’s statement, noting that the FDA has not identified a “single positive product test result for Cyclospora.”
However, a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said Monday that the FDA did not apologize. The agency “simply sent Taylor Farms the facts and what was found following the study,” the spokesperson said. The FDA has removed its Saturday notice of the positive test from its outbreak updates. The discrepancy highlights the tension between regulatory agencies and food producers during public health emergencies. Taylor Farms has had food safety problems before, making this outbreak another significant hurdle for the company.
Food Safety and Testing Challenges
The cyclospora outbreak highlights the difficulties in testing for the parasite. Thomas Gremillion, director of food policy at the Consumer Federation of America, noted last week that it is “really hard to grow cyclospora in the lab.” This difficulty forces labs to rely on advanced techniques.
According to research in the Annals of Clinical & Laboratory Science, “Amplification-based techniques are now used routinely in clinical laboratories to detect organisms that do not grow in conventional culture media.” The FDA said Saturday’s positive test was an erroneous result based on false amplification.
Donald W. Schaffner, chair of the department of food science at Rutgers University, said Sunday that the Taylor Farms recall was “the right thing” for the company to do, regardless of the lab tests. He praised the FDA for showing courage in admitting it was wrong about the positive test.
“Unfortunately testing for this organism is difficult,” Schaffner said by email. “False positives are always possible. In this case, I think it may lead to more confusion and uncertainty in the minds of consumers.”
Schaffner suggested that regulatory agencies should provide more data when announcing positive results, including the false positive rate. “I would hope that consumers wouldn’t ignore it,” he said, referring to the false positive, “but realize that the science is complicated.”
Scale of the Cyclospora Outbreak
The testing error occurs against the backdrop of a significant public health crisis. Nearly 7,000 cases of cyclosporiasis have been confirmed or are under investigation in the United States since May 1, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Cyclosporiasis is a foodborne illness that can cause severe watery diarrhea, fatigue, or loss of appetite, experts say. The illness can last for weeks if left untreated. The CDC and FDA continue to investigate the origins of the outbreak. Taylor Farms has stated it will continue to work with public health officials on the investigation.
What Happens Next
The FDA false positive is likely to intensify scrutiny on the agency’s testing protocols and how it communicates preliminary results to the public. While the Taylor Farms recall remains active, the lack of a confirmed positive product test may complicate legal and regulatory actions tied to the cyclospora outbreak.
Health officials will continue tracking the nearly 7,000 cyclosporiasis cases to determine if other food sources are contributing to the illness. Consumers are advised to remain vigilant about food safety advisories, particularly regarding the recalled iceberg lettuce, as the investigation into the source of the parasite continues. The incident may also prompt food safety regulators to reevaluate the threshold for announcing preliminary test results before they are fully verified.
— Aisha Mensah, health desk, AXO News