US FDA confirms Taylor Farms lettuce sample linked to parasitic illness affecting thousands

FDA Confirms Taylor Farms Lettuce Sample Tests Positive for Parasite Amid Multi-State Cyclosporiasis Outbreak

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said on Saturday that a sample of shredded iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms has tested positive for Cyclospora, the parasite behind an outbreak that has sickened thousands of people across the United States. The announcement came as federal officials work to contain what they describe as the largest foodborne illness outbreak in the country in recent years.

The positive sample was collected during targeted surveillance while investigating the ongoing outbreak, and the FDA has detained the contaminated lot. Taylor Farms, a California-based lettuce supplier, confirmed that the specific product is not part of its current recall, according to an FDA statement. The company is now working to determine whether any of the tested product remains in commerce or in consumers' homes.

Earlier on Friday, Taylor Farms issued a recall for potentially contaminated shredded iceberg lettuce distributed across 27 states, including lettuce shipped as recently as Thursday. The recall covers products from its Guanajuato facility in central Mexico, which the company said "has the potential to be contaminated with Cyclospora." The recall notice lists lot codes for the affected produce, but it does not specify brand names or retail locations, which could complicate efforts by stores and consumers to identify affected products.

Taylor Farms' products are carried by major retailers including Costco, Target, and Walmart, and the company also owns organic brands like Earthbound Farm.

Outbreak Impact and Federal Response

The outbreak has affected at least 34 states, according to reports. New York and Colorado are seeing higher-than-usual cyclosporiasis cases, though neither state was included on the recall list. Health officials anticipate at least another two weeks of potential cases, as infections may have occurred in recent days.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has linked Cyclospora to shredded iceberg lettuce served at Yum Brands' Taco Bell restaurants in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia. So far, the outbreak has resulted in around 100 hospitalizations and no deaths.

Taco Bell was the first restaurant chain to announce it would stop serving produce in several states in response to the outbreak. On Friday, the FDA warned consumers against eating shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico served at Taco Bell locations in the five affected states. The FDA said its investigation remains ongoing, and the warning could expand to additional states or products in the coming days.

Cyclospora is a parasite that embeds in produce, and health officials note that while Taylor Farms is only recalling shredded iceberg lettuce at this point, other products grown or processed in the same facility may also be contaminated. There are also potential risks from neighboring producers if they shared water sources that may have been contaminated.

Taylor Farms was not immediately available for comment. The FDA's advisory remains in effect as the investigation continues.