FDA Backpedals on Cyclospora Investigation With False Postive Announcement and Apologizes to Taylor Farms
On July 19, 2026, FDA provided an update on the Cyclospora investigation regarding the sample of lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms de Mexico which was reported positive on July 18. “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.”
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. As of July 19, 2026, there are no confirmed positive sample results for product testing for Cyclospora.
On July 19, 2026, Taylor Farms posted on the company’s website that “today, FDA apologized to us. Yesterday, FDA informed Taylor Fresh Foods that one of its iceberg lettuce products from central Mexico tested positive for cyclospora. Today, we were informed that FDA made a mistake, and this was a false positive. To be clear, at this moment, FDA has not identified a single positive product test result for Cyclospora.
Based on initial information provided by health officials, in an abundance of caution, we completed a voluntary recall of iceberg lettuce from central Mexico. Recalled product was limited to iceberg lettuce grown and processed in central Mexico.”
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