WASHINGTON — Taylor Farms said it is voluntarily recalling iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico after federal investigators linked the products to a multistate outbreak of cyclosporiasis, although U.S. regulators said on Monday that an earlier laboratory result suggesting the parasite had been detected in one lettuce sample was a false positive.
The California-based produce company initiated the recall on July 17, covering retail and food-service products distributed between late June and mid-July across more than two dozen U.S. states. The recall includes certain Marketside-branded iceberg salad and shredded lettuce products sold through Walmart, along with numerous food-service items supplied to restaurants.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said its traceback investigation had identified Taylor Farms de Mexico as the common supplier of shredded iceberg lettuce served at locations where people later became ill. The agency continues to advise consumers not to eat the recalled products while the investigation remains active.
On Monday, however, the FDA said a previously reported positive laboratory finding for Cyclospora in a lettuce sample had been re-evaluated and determined to be a false positive. The agency said there are currently no confirmed positive product samples for the parasite but added that the recall remains in place while investigators continue collecting and analyzing evidence.
Taylor Farms said it was informed of the testing error by the FDA and reiterated that no confirmed positive product sample had been identified. The company said it halted shipments from the implicated source, suspended distribution of iceberg lettuce from central Mexico, notified customers and is cooperating with the FDA, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and state health authorities.
According to federal health officials, Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that can cause prolonged diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, fatigue and other gastrointestinal symptoms. Some infections can require hospitalization, particularly if dehydration develops.
The FDA said consumers should discard recalled products or return them to the place of purchase for a refund. The agency also advised restaurants and retailers not to serve or sell affected lettuce and to sanitize surfaces that may have come into contact with the recalled products.
Federal officials said the outbreak investigation is continuing, and additional information will be released as more evidence becomes available.
