The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Sunday that a laboratory test linking Taylor Farms iceberg lettuce to the cyclospora parasite was a false positive [3].
This development complicates the federal investigation into a multistate cyclosporiasis outbreak. While the specific test result was retracted, the agency continues to associate the company's products with the illnesses, keeping the public at risk if contaminated produce remains in circulation.
In a statement released July 19, 2026 [3], the FDA said that there have been zero confirmed positive sample results for Cyclospora cayetanensis as of that date [2]. The parasite causes an intestinal infection known as cyclosporiasis, which often stems from contaminated food or water.
Despite the lack of a confirmed positive sample, the FDA said it continues to associate Taylor Farms lettuce with the broader outbreak. The agency is still investigating the source of the contamination to determine how the parasite entered the supply chain.
Taylor Farms has responded by issuing a voluntary recall of its iceberg lettuce [1]. The recall effort currently covers 27 states [1]. The company is working to remove the affected products from retail and food service locations to prevent further infections.
Public health officials continue to monitor the outbreak as they seek a definitive link between the produce and the reported cases. The agency's decision to maintain the link to Taylor Farms, despite the laboratory error, suggests that other epidemiological evidence points toward the producer.
“The FDA said that a laboratory test that had linked a sample of Taylor Farms iceberg lettuce to the cyclospora parasite was a false positive.”
The retraction of the positive test result highlights the technical challenges of detecting Cyclospora, which is notoriously difficult to culture in a lab. However, the FDA's insistence on maintaining the link to Taylor Farms indicates that the agency is relying on epidemiological data—such as patient interviews and distribution patterns—rather than a single laboratory sample to drive the recall and investigation.
