Federal health authorities stated on Monday that they continue to identify lettuce from Taylor Farms as the probable origin of a multistate outbreak of cyclospora, a parasite that causes gastrointestinal illness. This determination persists despite an erroneous laboratory finding announced over the weekend that was later identified as inaccurate.
The FDA disclosed that a rapid screening test produced an incorrect positive result for cyclospora on a lettuce sample from Taylor Farms. The agency posted this result to its website on Saturday but subsequently retracted it on Sunday after quality control procedures revealed the finding was a false positive. Taylor Farms was notified of the correction on Sunday. The company subsequently referenced the revised test results in social media communications and suggested the FDA had apologized, though agency officials disputed that characterization.
Federal and state investigators have been examining a rise in cyclospora cases linked to lettuce served at Taco Bell locations across five states. Taylor Farms announced a recall of 25 shredded lettuce and salad mix products sold under eight different brand codes on Saturday. These products are distributed among various U.S. food chains and suppliers. FDA officials stated that traceback investigations and outbreak data patterns continue to point toward shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms locations in central Mexico as the contamination source.
Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite transmitted through food that has contacted human feces, typically when produce is irrigated or washed with contaminated water. The parasite causes intestinal illness characterized by frequent bowel movements. In 2026, cyclospora has affected at least 1,645 individuals nationwide and resulted in 141 hospitalizations. The agencies are examining five separate illness clusters, including the Taylor Farms-associated outbreak. Recent cases have continued to emerge as of last week.
Food safety investigators often lack definitive biological evidence linking recalled produce to foodborne illness outbreaks. Standard tests for detecting foodborne pathogens frequently do not identify cyclospora, and laboratory cultivation of the parasite remains impossible. Investigators therefore rely on accounts of food consumption, case timing and proximity, and other epidemiological patterns to reach conclusions.