FDA Retracts Taylor Farms Lettuce Test Result in Cyclospora Outbreak

FDA Retracts Test Result Linking Taylor Farms Lettuce to Cyclosporiasis Outbreak

FDA Retracts Positive Test Result

Federal regulators have reversed their stance on a key piece of evidence in the investigation into a cyclosporiasis outbreak that has sickened thousands of people across the United States. On Saturday, the FDA had reported that a sample of shredded iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms tested positive for Cyclospora. However, by Sunday, the agency issued a correction.

“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 in an official statement. The FDA confirmed that as of Sunday, July 20, 2026, no product samples have produced a confirmed positive result for Cyclospora.

Former FDA Commissioner Robert Califf, speaking to POLITICO, suggested that such laboratory challenges are frequent in food safety monitoring. Equivocal tests are very common, Califf stated. So is the human instinct to value a ‘test result’ more than a constellation of factors.

Taylor Farms Maintains Voluntary Recall

While the specific test result has been retracted, the operational status of the recall initiated by Taylor Fresh Foods remains in effect. The company confirmed that it was informed of the laboratory error by the FDA. According to reports, Taylor Fresh Foods stated that the FDA apologized to the company over the erroneous result, though the FDA did not include an apology in the agency language provided to the press.

Taylor Fresh Foods emphasized that the scope of the recall is narrow and that its broader product line remains unaffected. In a company statement, Taylor Fresh Foods noted: “To be clear, at this moment, FDA has not identified a single positive product test result for Cyclospora.” The statement further clarified: Recalled product was limited to iceberg lettuce grown and processed in central Mexico. All other Taylor Farms products, including all Taylor Farms brand products available for purchase, are not involved in the recall.

The company initiated the voluntary recall on July 17, 2026, after federal investigators traced lettuce served at certain Taco Bell restaurants back to the Taylor Farms de Mexico operation. Taylor Farms stated that it acted out of an abundance of caution based on initial information provided by health officials. The recall encompasses iceberg lettuce distributed to retail stores, including certain Walmart locations, as well as restaurants and other food-service customers.

Outbreak Status and Investigation Scope

The investigation into the cyclosporiasis outbreak—a parasitic infection that causes diarrhea, potentially leading to dehydration—remains ongoing across five states. According to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), dozens of patients have been hospitalized, though none have died as a result of the outbreak.

The FDA’s traceback investigation previously identified a convergence on Taylor Farms de Mexico as the supplier of shredded iceberg lettuce used by Taco Bell locations where affected individuals consumed food before becoming ill. The agency is continuing to work with the company to ensure all implicated products are removed from the market, and state partners are continuing to collect and analyze additional product samples.

Taylor Farms has reiterated its commitment to cooperating with the federal inquiry. We are committed to working with public health authorities as the ongoing outbreak investigation continues, the company stated. The FDA maintains its advisory to consumers to avoid the recalled products while the investigation into the source of the contamination persists.

Sources: Washingtonpost, Fox Business.

Update (July 20, 2026)

According to cbsnews.com, the FDA clarified on Monday that the false-positive lab result does not change the basis for its ongoing outbreak investigation or the epidemiological data supporting the current voluntary recall. The agency noted that its investigation continues to converge on shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms locations in central Mexico.

The outbreak has now spread to 34 states and sickened more than 1,600 people, according to the CDC, though state health departments report significantly higher figures, such as over 5,000 confirmed cases in Michigan alone. Food safety expert Jennifer McEntire noted that testing for the cyclospora parasite is more complex than for pathogens like E. coli or Salmonella. Dr. Céline Gounder questioned the FDA's policy regarding the public announcement of a presumptive positive result before confirmatory testing was complete.