FDA Admits Taylor Farms Lettuce Cyclospora Test Was False Positive

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a rare correction after acknowledging that a laboratory test linking Taylor Farms lettuce to Cyclospora contamination was wrong.

The agency announced Sunday that additional review confirmed the sample produced a false positive, prompting an apology to Taylor Farms after the initial announcement suggested the company's Mexican lettuce supplier had tested positive for the parasite.

While the correction removes one piece of evidence from the investigation, the voluntary recall remains in effect as federal health officials continue working to determine the exact source of a multistate Cyclospora outbreak that has sickened thousands.

FDA Says No Confirmed Positive Lettuce Samples Exist

In a statement released Sunday, the FDA said it had reexamined the laboratory results from a sample collected from Taylor Farms de Mexico.

Officials determined the original positive finding resulted from what they described as false amplification during laboratory testing.

"As of July 19, 2026, there are no confirmed positive sample results for product testing for Cyclospora," the FDA said.

The agency also removed Saturday's notice reporting the positive test from its public outbreak updates.

Taylor Farms Says FDA Apologized

Taylor Farms responded Sunday night, saying the FDA acknowledged its mistake and apologized.

The company emphasized that there has not been a single confirmed positive product test for Cyclospora connected to its lettuce and said it will continue cooperating with public health officials as they investigate the outbreak.

Despite the corrected test result, Taylor Farms' previously announced voluntary recall of iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico remains unchanged.

The FDA said it is continuing to work with the company to ensure recalled products have been removed from the marketplace.

Why The Recall Is Still Active

Even though the laboratory result was incorrect, health officials say the recall is still considered an important precaution.

The FDA had previously identified Taylor Farms de Mexico as the supplier of shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell restaurants in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia, where several people reported eating before becoming ill.

Following the investigation, Taco Bell announced it would stop using lettuce from that supplier.

The recalled lettuce was also distributed to grocery retailers in 27 states, although Louisiana was not among the states included in the Taco Bell advisory.

What Louisiana Consumers Should Know

While Louisiana has not been part of the FDA's Taco Bell warning, the ongoing Cyclospora outbreak has received national attention, and health experts continue encouraging consumers to pay attention to food recalls.

Earlier this month, health officials urged anyone who purchased recalled lettuce products to discard them and avoid consuming affected products.

Consumers should continue checking recall notices and follow FDA guidance as investigators work to pinpoint the exact source of contamination.

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Nearly 7,000 Cyclospora Cases Reported Nationwide

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 7,000 cases of cyclosporiasis have been confirmed or remain under investigation across the United States since May 1.

Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that can cause symptoms including:

• Severe watery diarrhea
• Fatigue
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss
• Stomach cramps
• Nausea

Symptoms can last for days or even weeks if left untreated.

Food safety experts say detecting Cyclospora in laboratory testing is especially challenging, making false positives possible.

Donald Schaffner, chair of Rutgers University's Department of Food Science, said Taylor Farms made the right decision by issuing a recall while the investigation continues, even though the positive test later proved incorrect.

He also praised the FDA for publicly correcting the error but acknowledged the reversal could leave consumers confused.

"The science is complicated," Schaffner said, noting that identifying Cyclospora remains one of the more difficult challenges in food safety testing.