The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced Sunday that a previous positive cyclospora test on a Taylor Farms lettuce sample was a false positive.
Laboratory experts re-checked the results and found no confirmed positive samples as of Sunday, reversing a Saturday statement that a shredded iceberg lettuce sample had tested positive.
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A spokesperson for Taylor Fresh Foods told Reuters that the company was informed of the error.
"To be clear, at this moment, FDA has not identified a single positive product test result for cyclospora," the company said.
Taylor Fresh Foods had already completed a voluntary recall of iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico out of an abundance of caution based on the initial information.
The FDA updated its guidance to reflect the new lab findings while maintaining communication with the supplier.
The agency said it "notified Taylor Farms and continues working with the firm to ensure the product implicated in this outbreak has been removed from the market."
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According to the firm, federal officials apologized for the error, and the company had earlier confirmed that the product was not part of its current recall.
Cyclosporiasis Outbreak Linked to Taco Bell
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that the cyclosporiasis outbreak has been linked to shredded iceberg lettuce served at Yum Brands Taco Bell restaurants in five states: Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia.
The outbreak has resulted in around 100 hospitalizations and no deaths.
Cyclosporiasis is caused by the single-cell protozoa Cyclospora, typically transmitted through feces-contaminated water or food, and is most common from May to August.
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Health officials note that tracking cyclosporiasis remains difficult because symptoms can take days or weeks to develop, and diagnosis and reporting take several additional weeks.
