FDA says Taylor Farms had false positive after test pinned ‘explosive diarrhea’ parasite on Taco Bell lettuce supplier

The US Food and Drug Administration said on Sunday that ​laboratory experts re-checked lettuce sample results from Taylor ‌Farms in an investigation into an outbreak of the cyclospora parasite and concluded the finding should be considered a false positive.

As ​of Sunday, there were no confirmed positive sample ​results for cyclospora, the FDA added.

The FDA on ⁠Saturday had said that a sample of shredded iceberg ​lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms tested positive for the parasitic ​illness that has sickened thousands of people in the US.

The FDA, in its latest update, said it has “notified Taylor Farms and continues ​working with the firm to ensure product implicated ​in this outbreak has been removed from the market”.

Taylor Farms had earlier ‌confirmed ⁠that the product was not part of its current recall, according to the FDA.

Taylor Farms was not immediately available for comment.

Cyclosporiasis, which has been linked to shredded iceberg ​lettuce served at ​Yum Brands⁠Taco Bell restaurants in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia has so far ​resulted in around 100 hospitalizations and no ​deaths, ⁠according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The lettuce, which the FDA said late on Thursday came from ⁠Mexico, was ​produced as 5-pound bags at ​Taylor Farms’ facility in Guanajuato, Mexico, a source told Reuters.