FDA: Our Cyclospora Finding Was a False Positive

Federal food regulators just took a key claim off the table in a parasite outbreak that has sickened thousands. The FDA said Sunday that it was reversing its conclusion that cyclospora had been found on samples of lettuce from national supplier Taylor Farms, reports NBC News. In a statement, the agency said lab experts reevaluated the tests and concluded that the earlier detection was a "false positive." As of Monday morning, the FDA has not identified a "single positive product test result" for cyclospora," according to the statement.

Taylor Farms, a major supplier to national retailers and chains including Taco Bell, said the FDA had apologized to the company, per the Wall Street Journal. In a sign of how confusing all this might be for consumers, Taylor Farms is keeping in place a voluntary recall of lettuce grown and processed in central Mexico. The FDA and state partners are still testing samples and tracing the source of the cyclospora outbreak, which causes cyclosporiasis, an infection known for sometimes prolonged bouts of severe diarrhea.