Key facts
- The FDA confirmed a positive Cyclospora test result for Taylor Farms lettuce was a false positive.
- Federal health officials continue to focus on Taylor Farms lettuce from central Mexico as the source of a multistate outbreak.
- Taylor Farms recalled 25 products due to the outbreak, which has sickened at least 1,645 people in the U.S. and hospitalized 141.
- The FDA has begun testing produce samples crossing the U.S. border as part of the investigation.
- Dining chain foot traffic declined following the outbreak investigation, with Taco Bell experiencing the largest drop.
Federal health officials are continuing to investigate Taylor Farms lettuce as the source of a multistate outbreak of Cyclospora, a parasite causing intestinal illness, despite a recent false positive test result. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) initially publicized a positive test for Cyclospora on a Taylor Farms lettuce sample over the weekend but later corrected it to a false positive, issuing an apology to the company.
Despite the erroneous test, FDA officials stated that their traceback investigation and outbreak data continue to point to shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms' locations in central Mexico. The agency has also begun testing produce samples crossing the U.S. border. Cyclospora is difficult to trace due to its long incubation period and inability to be cultured in labs, leading investigators to rely on dietary accounts and outbreak patterns.
The outbreak has led to at least 1,645 illnesses and 141 hospitalizations in the U.S. in 2026, with Michigan alone reporting 6,148 cases. Taylor Farms issued a voluntary recall of 25 shredded lettuce and salad mix products. The investigation has also impacted dining chains, with Taco Bell experiencing an 18.9% decline in foot traffic following its naming in the investigation.