Explosive diarrhea outbreak: Lettuce tests positive for cyclospora, FDA says – NewsNation
Positive test on shredded iceberg lettuce adds to investigation of parasitic outbreak that has sickened more than 1,600 people nationwide.
(NewsNation) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Sunday that a sample of shredded iceberg lettuce produced by a Taylor Farms subsidiary in Mexico that tested positive for cyclospora was a false alarm.
“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 FDA said in a statement. “Information about the sample has been removed from the July 18, 2026 update. FDA has notified Taylor Farms and continues working with the firm to ensure product implicated in this outbreak has been removed from the market. FDA and state partners continue to collect and analyze product samples.”
On Saturday, the agency had stated the sample of lettuce had tested positive for cyclospora.
According to the FDA, the contaminated sample was collected during the agency’s ongoing outbreak investigation and tested positive for cyclospora, a microscopic parasite that causes severe intestinal illness.
