The FDA announces that the result of Taylor Farms Cyclospora lettuce is positive
The FDA and CDC are investigating Taco Bell's lettuce supplier as consumers in four states are urged to avoid cut lettuce.
The Food and Drug Administration said Sunday that a sample of Taylor Farms lettuce initially reported as positive for Cyclospora should be ruled out after further lab review.
“Due to the difficulty in detecting Cyclospora, FDA laboratory experts re-reviewed the sample results and concluded that the findings do not represent true amplification and should be considered false positives,” the agency said.
The FDA said no product samples had produced a confirmed result for Cyclospora as of Sunday.
TAYLOR FARSS LETTUCE TESTS WITH CYCLOSPORA CAUSE AS RECALL FADES
The FDA said the initial findings should be considered false positives. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images/Getty Images)
Taylor Fresh Foods said the FDA notified the company that the initial result was incorrect.
“To be clear, at this time, the FDA has not identified a single positive product test result for Cyclospora,” the company said in a statement.
TAYLOR FARMES PREPARING FOR RECALL, DENIES ALLEGED REMAINS CONTINUE
There are no confirmed results of the Cyclospora sample as of Sunday. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images/Getty Images)
Taylor Fresh Foods also said the FDA apologized to the company for the erroneous result. The FDA did not include an apology for the agency's language provided in the story.
The FDA said it has informed Taylor Farms of the updated findings and continues to work with the company and its Taylor Farms de Mexico operation to ensure that the products affected by the investigation are removed from the market. The agency and federal partners continue to collect and analyze product samples.
Taylor Farms began a voluntary recall of iceberg lettuce found in central Mexico on July 17 after federal investigators found lettuce used in some Taco Bell restaurants at Taylor Farms de Mexico. The recall includes iceberg lettuce distributed to stores, restaurants and other food service customers.
“Based on initial information provided by health officials, out of an abundance of caution, we have completed a voluntary recall of iceberg lettuce from central Mexico,” the statement continued. “The recalled product was limited to iceberg lettuce grown and processed in central Mexico. All other Taylor Farms products, including all Taylor Farms products available for purchase, are not included in the recall.”
Taylor Fresh Foods said it was notified that the FDA had made a mistake. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images/Getty Images)
This comes after the FDA said on Saturday that samples of cooked lettuce provided by Taylor Farms tested positive for Cyclospora, which has sickened thousands of people across the US.
GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE
Cyclosporiasis has been linked to iceberg lettuce released at Taco Bell restaurants in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia, leading to about 100 hospitalizations so far, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. No deaths were reported.
