Product Recall In PA Parasite Outbreak Was False Positive, FDA Says

One of the FDA's clearest leads in the investigation into the source of the cyclosporiasis parasite outbreak linking it to Taylor Fresh Foods was a false positive, officials announced Monday morning.

Taylor Fresh Foods, which produces lettuce for Taco Bell and numerous grocery stores, had launched a recall of iceberg lettuce from central Mexico based on that result. That recall remains in effect.

"Today, we were informed that FDA made a mistake, and this was a false positive," the company said in a statement. "To be clear, at this moment, FDA has not identified a single positive product test result for cyclospora."

However, traceback evidence from numerous cases still links the parasite to both Taylor Fresh Foods and Taco Bells in multiple states, the FDA said. There are 167 Taco Bell locations in Pennsylvania. The recall from Taylor Fresh Foods covered 27 states, including Pennsylvania.

Taco Bell said on July 17 that they would no longer use lettuce made by Taylor.

The FDA is continuing to investigate the suspected link of the parasite to Taylor Fresh Foods. The false positive was simply the clearest evidence yet. The traceback efforts found large patterns in sick individuals that connected them to Taylor's iceberg lettuce.

The mistake in the laboratory testing was caused by the complexities and unique challenges involved in identifying cyclosporiasis, officials said.

"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 shared in a statement.

Taylor Farms says they are continuing to work with the FDA on the ongoing investigation.

Pennsylvania has 28 confirmed cases of the diarrhea-causing parasite, the Department of Health says. Fourteen of those cases are in southeastern Pennsylvania, 2 are in the northeast, 1 in the northwest, and 11 are in Allegheny County.

"Case counts are expected to increase in the coming days and weeks," the Department of Health said last week.

Nationwide, the CDC has reported thousands of cases, while state health departments have confirmed more than 7,000 cases of cyclosporiasis since May 1 of this year. Hundreds have been hospitalized.