FDA cyclospora test on Taylor Farms’ lettuce showed false positive, adding new twist to outbreak

A growing Cyclospora outbreak linked to contaminated iceberg lettuce has prompted widespread product removals and recalls across the U.S., with major retailers and restaurant chains taking action as federal investigators work to identify the source of contamination.

The false positive was discovered when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration re-reviewed the results of a sample from Taylor Farms de Mexico that as reported positive Saturday.

As of Saturday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported more than 1,644 cases of cyclosporiasis across the country, with 94 hospitalizations and no deaths.

The American fast-food chain Taco Bell is removing lettuce from its menu at many locations following reports of explosive diarrhoea linked to a multistate outbreak.