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FDA Calls Cyclospora Lettuce Test 'False Positive' Amid Ongoing Outbreak Investigation
🇲🇽 Mexico /Health & Science

FDA Calls Cyclospora Lettuce Test 'False Positive' Amid Ongoing Outbreak Investigation

From El Universal · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • The U.S. FDA retracted a statement that a sample of Mexican lettuce tested positive for cyclospora, calling it a "false positive" but continuing its investigation into a widespread diarrhea outbreak.
  • Taylor Farms had voluntarily recalled iceberg lettuce from Guanajuato, Mexico, affecting 35 products across 27 states, due to the outbreak.
  • While the FDA stated the "false positive" does not alter the investigation's foundation, it confirmed ongoing collaboration with federal and state partners to address the outbreak affecting over 1,600 confirmed cases.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has retracted its earlier assertion that a sample of Mexican lettuce used by Taylor Fresh Foods tested positive for cyclospora, the parasite linked to a significant diarrhea outbreak across the United States. The agency now describes the result as a "false positive" but emphasized that investigations into the outbreak are ongoing. The FDA informed Taylor Farms on Sunday of the corrected test result after initially alerting the company over the weekend about a positive import control sample.

Finally, it turned out to be a false positive, and on Sunday, Taylor Farms was informed of the corrective test result.

— FDAThe FDA's statement on X regarding the retracted positive test result for cyclospora in Mexican lettuce.

Following the initial reports, Taylor Foods announced a voluntary recall of all iceberg lettuce produced in Guanajuato, Mexico. This recall impacts 35 different products distributed across 27 states. The company stated that despite the FDA's clarification, it had completed the voluntary withdrawal, noting that the FDA had not identified a single confirmed positive product test for cyclospora at that time. However, the FDA clarified that the sample in question was from a separate shipment collected during routine import inspections and not directly linked to the lettuce already associated with the outbreak and recall.

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

— Taylor FoodsTaylor Foods' statement following the FDA's clarification about a 'false positive' test result.

The FDA stressed that this "false positive" laboratory result does not change the basis of the ongoing investigation or the epidemiological data supporting Taylor Farms' voluntary market withdrawal. The agency affirmed its commitment to collaborating with federal and state partners to investigate the multi-state outbreak and ensure implicated products are removed from the market. Reports indicate that many affected individuals had consumed food at Taco Bell restaurants supplied by Taylor Farms lettuce. As of Saturday, over 1,600 cases were confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in states including Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia.

For clarity, this false positive laboratory sample does NOT modify the foundation of the FDA's ongoing investigation into the outbreak nor the overwhelming epidemiological data supporting Taylor Farms' current voluntary market withdrawal.

— FDAThe FDA's statement on X clarifying the impact of the 'false positive' test result on the ongoing investigation.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Universal in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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