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FDA is still focused on lettuce supplier as source of parasite, despite faulty test result
🇺🇸 United States /Health & Science

FDA is still focused on lettuce supplier as source of parasite, despite faulty test result

From PBS NewsHour · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Federal health officials maintain that Taylor Farms lettuce is the likely source of a multistate parasite outbreak, despite a previously publicized inaccurate test result.
  • The FDA briefly reported a positive test for cyclospora on a Taylor Farms lettuce sample, but later corrected it as a false positive.
  • The investigation, which initially linked the outbreak to lettuce at Taco Bell, continues to focus on shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms' operations in central Mexico, with over 1,600 people infected nationwide.

Federal health officials are still focusing on lettuce from Taylor Farms as the source of a multistate outbreak of a diarrhea-causing parasite, even after a laboratory test result was found to be inaccurate. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had briefly announced a positive finding for cyclospora on a lettuce sample from the company on Saturday, but retracted the information on Sunday, stating it was a false positive.

Despite the testing error, the FDA's traceback investigation and outbreak data continue to point towards shredded iceberg lettuce originating from Taylor Farms' facilities in central Mexico. "FDA's traceback investigation and the outbreak data continue to converge on shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms' locations in central Mexico," stated Donald Prater, the FDA's acting food chief.

The investigation initially linked the rise in cyclospora cases across five states to lettuce served at Taco Bell. In response to the ongoing concerns, Taylor Farms announced a recall of 25 shredded lettuce and salad mix products sold under eight different brand codes, which are used by numerous U.S. food chains and suppliers.

FDA's traceback investigation and the outbreak data continue to converge on shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms' locations in central Mexico.

— Donald PraterFDA's acting food chief, explaining the continued focus on Taylor Farms despite a testing error.

Officials explained that the false positive resulted from a rapid screening test. The sample in question was not part of the company's recall, but the FDA felt compelled to alert the public. A subsequent quality control check revealed the error, and the agency notified Taylor Farms on Sunday. The FDA clarified that no official apology was issued to the company, contrary to social media claims.

Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite transmitted through contaminated food, often produce irrigated or washed with feces-tainted water. In 2026, the parasite has sickened at least 1,645 people in the U.S. and hospitalized 141, according to the FDA and CDC. Health officials are monitoring new cases, emphasizing the urgency to prevent contaminated products from reaching the market.

Which means it's imperative for us to take action to ensure that contaminated product is not making its way to the market.

— Kyle DiamantasFDA's acting commissioner, emphasizing the need for immediate action to prevent further contamination.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by PBS NewsHour. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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