FDA backtracks on Taylor Farms cyclospora lettuce test, California firm notes ‘mistake’

The Taylor Farms lettuce sample from Mexico that tested positive for the parasite cyclospora actually was a “false positive,” the Food and Drug Administration now says.

Last week, the FDA said rising cases in the U.S. of cyclosporiasis — a stomach bug caused by the parasite that leads to severe diarrhea — were linked to shredded lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico. But now the cause of the outbreak is undetermined.

“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 agency said on its website Sunday. “FDA has notified Taylor Farms and continues working with the firm to ensure product implicated in this outbreak has been removed from the market. FDA and state partners continue to collect and analyze product samples. As of July 19, 2026, there are no confirmed positive sample results for product testing for cyclospora.”

Monterey-County-based Taylor Fresh Foods, the full name of Taylor Farms, said it had completed the voluntary recall of iceberg lettuce grown and processed in central Mexico. No other Taylor Fresh Foods products in the country were affected by the FDA’s initial findings.

Taylor Farms confirmed the FDA’s updated findings in a written statement Sunday.

“Today, we were informed that FDA made a mistake, and this was a false positive,” the company said in the statement. “To be clear, at this moment, FDA has not identified a single positive product test result for cyclospora.”

Taylor Farms is the leading global producer of salads, according to its website.

More than 1,600 confirmed cases caused by the foodborne parasite have been reported in the country, with multiple states reporting elevated levels compared to the same time last year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC had said the primary outbreak stemmed from shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell locations located in Ohio and four other states. .

The California Department of Public Health has said cyclosporiasis cases in California remain within normal limits. The department is still urging Californians to thoroughly wash produce.

Outbreaks of cyclosporiasis occur when a person with the cyclospora parasite and poor hand hygiene handles food. Once the food is contaminated, it can spread to consumers.

Taco Bell said in a statement last week that it has “taken immediate action to voluntarily remove potentially impacted lettuce from a supplier in select states.” It did not respond to requests for comments about which states are involved.

This story was originally published July 20, 2026 at 11:49 AM with the headline “FDA backtracks on Taylor Farms cyclospora lettuce test, California firm notes ‘mistake’.”