US FDA confirms Taylor Farms lettuce sample linked to parasitic illness affecting thousands

A sample of shredded iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms has tested positive for a parasite, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Saturday. This finding is connected to a parasitic illness that has sickened thousands across the United States, marking one of the largest foodborne illness outbreaks in recent years.

The FDA clarified that the positive lettuce sample is not part of Taylor Farms' current recall. However, the California-based supplier is actively working to determine if any of the affected product remains in circulation or in consumers' homes. The agency collected the sample during surveillance while investigating the ongoing outbreak, and the identified lot has been detained.

The illness, cyclosporiasis, has been linked to shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell restaurants in several states, including Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the outbreak has resulted in around 100 hospitalizations, though no deaths have been reported.