{"id":98367,"date":"2026-07-20T16:32:28","date_gmt":"2026-07-20T20:32:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/fda-stands-by-taylor-farms-as-parasite-source-despite-false-test-result\/"},"modified":"2026-07-20T16:32:28","modified_gmt":"2026-07-20T20:32:28","slug":"fda-stands-by-taylor-farms-as-parasite-source-despite-false-test-result","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/fda-stands-by-taylor-farms-as-parasite-source-despite-false-test-result\/","title":{"rendered":"FDA Stands By Taylor Farms as Parasite Source Despite False Test Result"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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WASHINGTON \u2014 Federal health officials say they are standing by their investigation into Taylor Farms lettuce as the origin of a multistate outbreak of a diarrhea-causing parasite, even after an inaccurate test result was briefly made public over the weekend.<\/p>

Officials with the Food and Drug Administration said Monday that a laboratory test wrongly showed a positive result for cyclospora on a Taylor Farms lettuce sample. The FDA posted that finding to its website Saturday, only to walk it back Sunday after determining the result was a false positive.<\/p>

Investigators had already been tracking a surge in cyclospora cases, initially connecting the outbreak in five states to lettuce served at Taco Bell restaurants. On Saturday, Taylor Farms announced a recall of 25 shredded lettuce and salad mix products sold under eight different brand codes \u2014 items used by multiple U.S. food chains and suppliers.<\/p>

“FDA’s traceback investigation and the outbreak data continue to converge on shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms’ locations in central Mexico,” said Donald Prater, the FDA’s acting food chief, speaking to reporters Monday.<\/p>

Beyond tracing the lettuce supply chain, FDA staff have also begun testing produce samples as they cross the U.S. border.<\/p>

The agency said the false positive came from a rapid screening test used to detect traces of cyclospora. The sample that triggered the initial alarm was from Taylor Farms but was not part of the company’s recall. FDA officials said they felt obligated to inform the public when the result first came in.<\/p>

A follow-up quality control review revealed the finding was a mistake, and the FDA notified Taylor Farms on Sunday. The company then promoted the corrected results on social media, claiming the FDA had apologized. Agency officials pushed back on that characterization, saying no formal apology was issued.<\/p>

Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that contaminates food when produce comes into contact with human feces \u2014 most often through irrigation or washing with tainted water. Once consumed, the parasite triggers intestinal illness characterized by what the CDC describes as “frequent and sometimes explosive bowel movements.”<\/p>

So far in 2026, cyclospora has made at least 1,645 people in the United States ill and put 141 in the hospital, according to the FDA and CDC. Investigators are currently tracking five separate illness clusters, including the one tied to Taylor Farms.<\/p>

Kyle Diamantas, the FDA’s acting commissioner, said health officials are still seeing new cases linked to the latest outbreak, with some reported as recently as last week.<\/p>

“Which means it’s imperative for us to take action to ensure that contaminated product is not making its way to the market,” Diamantas said.<\/p>

The outbreak has already had a measurable impact on restaurant traffic. As of Friday, foot traffic was down at several dining chains compared to their day-of-the-week averages from January 1 through July 6, according to the location analytics firm Placer.ai, which monitors movement patterns using cellphone data.<\/p>

Taco Bell saw the steepest drop at 18.9%, after being named in the federal investigation. Chopt experienced a 14.3% decline. Both Chipotle and Panera Bread saw traffic fall by roughly 7%, while Cava’s decrease was smaller at 4.2%.<\/p>

Food safety investigators frequently struggle to establish a direct biological link between recalled produce and foodborne illness outbreaks. Many standard tests are not designed to detect cyclospora, and because the parasite cannot be cultivated in a laboratory setting, gathering hard evidence from contaminated food is especially difficult.<\/p>

As a result, investigators typically piece together conclusions using reports of what sick individuals ate, the geographic and timing patterns of cases, and other circumstantial evidence.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Federal health officials say they are still pointing to Taylor Farms lettuce as the source of a multistate cyclospora outbreak, even after a flawed test result was briefly posted online over the weekend. The FDA acknowledged a rapid screening test incorrectly flagged a Taylor Farms sample as positive for the parasite before a quality control review revealed the error. The outbreak has sickened at least 1,645 people nationwide in 2026, with investigations continuing across five separate illness clusters.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":98366,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[837],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-98367","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1784579548435.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pbtNqq-pAz","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":97558,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/fda-finds-cyclospora-in-taylor-farms-shredded-iceberg-lettuce-sample\/","url_meta":{"origin":98367,"position":0},"title":"FDA Finds Cyclospora in Taylor Farms Shredded Iceberg Lettuce Sample","author":"Admin","date":"July 18, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Federal health regulators have detected the parasite cyclospora in a shredded iceberg lettuce sample traced to Taylor Farms. The company says the affected product is not part of its existing recall. Officials are working to contain what they describe as the largest foodborne illness outbreak the U.S. has seen in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Health"","block_context":{"text":"Health","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/health\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1784416613585.jpg?fit=450%2C300&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":98502,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/fda-maintains-taylor-farms-lettuce-link-in-cyclospora-outbreak-despite-test-retraction\/","url_meta":{"origin":98367,"position":1},"title":"FDA Maintains Taylor Farms Lettuce Link in Cyclospora Outbreak Despite Test Retraction","author":"Admin","date":"July 20, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Federal health officials say lettuce distributed by Taylor Fresh Foods and Taylor Farms de Mexico remains connected to a multistate outbreak of cyclosporiasis. The outbreak has sickened more than 1,600 people this summer, though pinpointing a definitive source has proven challenging.","rel":"","context":"In "Health"","block_context":{"text":"Health","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/health\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":97560,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/taylor-farms-recalls-iceberg-lettuce-in-27-states-due-to-parasite-concern\/","url_meta":{"origin":98367,"position":2},"title":"Taylor Farms Recalls Iceberg Lettuce in 27 States Due to Parasite Concern","author":"Admin","date":"July 18, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Taylor Farms has broadened a voluntary recall of iceberg lettuce products tied to a multistate cyclospora outbreak that has affected people across the country. The products, sourced from central Mexico, were shipped to 27 states and may be contaminated with a parasite that causes severe intestinal illness. Consumers are urged\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Health"","block_context":{"text":"Health","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/health\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1784417497773.jpg?fit=1000%2C1000&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1784417497773.jpg?fit=1000%2C1000&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1784417497773.jpg?fit=1000%2C1000&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1784417497773.jpg?fit=1000%2C1000&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":97411,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/iceberg-lettuce-recalled-over-cyclospora-contamination-risk\/","url_meta":{"origin":98367,"position":3},"title":"Iceberg Lettuce Recalled Over Cyclospora Contamination Risk","author":"Admin","date":"July 18, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"A Mexican produce company is pulling all iceberg lettuce grown in central Mexico off U.S. store shelves due to potential Cyclospora contamination. The parasite can cause serious digestive illness in those who consume it. Shoppers are urged to check any iceberg lettuce they may have recently purchased.","rel":"","context":"In "Health"","block_context":{"text":"Health","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/health\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1784378793658.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1784378793658.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1784378793658.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1784378793658.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1784378793658.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":97464,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/mexico-probes-cyclospora-outbreak-tied-to-lettuce-served-at-taco-bell\/","url_meta":{"origin":98367,"position":4},"title":"Mexico Probes Cyclospora Outbreak Tied to Lettuce Served at Taco Bell","author":"Admin","date":"July 18, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Mexican health and agricultural authorities have launched an investigation into a U.S. foodborne illness outbreak connected to iceberg lettuce grown in Mexico and served at Taco Bell locations. The CDC has recorded roughly 100 hospitalizations from the parasitic infection cyclosporiasis across five states. A major lettuce supplier and food distributor\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Health"","block_context":{"text":"Health","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/health\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1784394964194.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1784394964194.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1784394964194.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1784394964194.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1784394964194.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":97121,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/michigan-cyclosporiasis-cases-top-5000-amid-taco-bell-lettuce-investigation\/","url_meta":{"origin":98367,"position":5},"title":"Michigan Cyclosporiasis Cases Top 5,000 Amid Taco Bell Lettuce Investigation","author":"Admin","date":"July 17, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Michigan health officials have recorded more than 5,000 cases of a parasitic intestinal illness, with investigators working to pinpoint the outbreak's source. The outbreak has been linked to shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell locations across five states. A California-based lettuce supplier has announced a recall of products connected\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Health"","block_context":{"text":"Health","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/health\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1784306781650.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1784306781650.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1784306781650.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1784306781650.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1784306781650.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98367","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=98367"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98367\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/98366"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=98367"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=98367"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=98367"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}