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The Food and Drug Administration reported on July 19, 2026, that a positive test for the Cyclospora parasite in a sample of iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms should be considered a false positive. Laboratory experts re-reviewed the results due to the known complexity in detecting the parasite and concluded there was no true amplification. The agency removed information about the sample from its prior update, notified Taylor Farms and continues to work with the company to ensure implicated products are off the market, according to an FDA statement.
Taylor Farms had initiated a voluntary recall of all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico the day before the initial test announcement. The action covered products distributed to 27 states and extended to certain Marketside-branded lettuce sold at Walmart stores in 15 states. The company stated that no Taylor Farms branded salads or kits were associated with the illnesses and that it had suspended distribution from the region indefinitely while cooperating with investigators.
Federal health authorities have recorded no confirmed positive Cyclospora results in product samples as of July 19. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised against eating shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell locations in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia. CDC data links the outbreak to the lettuce supplied to those restaurants, with symptoms typically appearing up to two weeks after exposure.
Cyclosporiasis produces watery diarrhea that can persist for days or weeks, often accompanied by fatigue, loss of appetite and substantial weight loss. No deaths have been reported in the current cluster, though at least dozens of patients have required hospitalization. FDA and state partners continue to collect and analyze additional samples as the investigation remains open.
This marks the latest food safety challenge for Taylor Farms, which Reuters reported was also tied to a 2024 E. coli outbreak linked to slivered onions used in McDonald’s Quarter Pounder burgers. The California-based supplier, one of the largest produce companies in the United States, emphasized in its statement that an independent farm representing less than 1 percent of the nation’s iceberg lettuce supply had been the focus of the traceback. Taylor Farms added that it stopped receiving product from the implicated lot and continues to work with the FDA, CDC and state authorities.
The CDC typically records hundreds of Cyclospora cases annually in the United States, with many tied to imported fresh produce such as leafy greens, herbs and berries from endemic areas. A 2024 assessment by the agency highlighted the difficulty of eliminating risk through washing alone. Public health officials have urged consumers to check for recalled products and monitor for symptoms in the wake of the false positive determination.
