FDA Retracts Cyclospora Finding in Lettuce

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on Sunday that a previous test identifying Cyclospora, the parasite responsible for a multistate diarrhea outbreak, in shredded iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms de Mexico was actually a false positive. The agency reviewed the sample results again and concluded that the finding did not represent true amplification of the parasite.

The FDA stressed that despite this testing error, its investigation and data continue to implicate shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms locations in central Mexico as a potential source of the outbreak. As of Tuesday, there have been 408 confirmed and probable cases of cyclosporiasis in Illinois alone, with more than 7,100 cases reported in neighboring Michigan.

The outbreak has spread to nine states, sickening at least 1,644 people according to the CDC. The four newly linked states — Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania – join Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia and hard-hit Michigan. Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that typically infects people through contaminated food or water and causes cyclosporiasis, a gastrointestinal illness that can result in symptoms including severe diarrhea.

Taylor Farms has voluntarily recalled its iceberg lettuce grown and processed in central Mexico out of an abundance of caution. The company also stated that it had completed a voluntary recall of all iceberg lettuce from the region indefinitely. Taco Bell and Walmart have also removed affected products from their stores.

Experts advise thorough washing of produce and cooking to reduce the risk of cyclosporiasis. The CDC recommends cutting away any damaged or bruised areas on fruits or vegetables before preparing and eating, and refrigerating cut, peeled, or cooked fruits and vegetables as soon as possible. Despite the outbreak, some food-safety experts say it is probably OK to eat salads daily.