FDA walks back claim that Taco Bell lettuce supplier Taylor Farms was source of ‘explosive diarrhea’ parasite: "False positive"
The FDA is walking back its initial claims that a Taco Bell lettuce supplier is responsible for sickening hundreds of Americans with explosive diarrhea, saying the original test results were a “false positive.”
The stunning reversal comes after the agency double-checked a lettuce sample, which found that the leafy green supplied by Taylor Farms de Mexico did not have traces of Cyclospora – the parasite that causes the crappy condition.
“FDA laboratory experts re-reviewed the sample results and have concluded that the finding does not represent true amplification and should be considered a false positive,” the agency said on its website Sunday.
FDA Update: July 19. 2026
FDA is providing an update regarding the sample of lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms de Mexico which was reported positive on July 18, 2026. Due to the complexity in detection of Cyclospora, FDA laboratory experts re-reviewed the sample results and have concluded that the finding does not represent true amplification and should be considered a false positive. Information about the sample has been removed from the July 18, 2026, update below. FDA has notified Taylor Farms and continues working with the firm to ensure product implicated in this outbreak has been removed from the market. FDA and state partners continue to collect and analyze product samples. As of July 19, 2026, there are no confirmed positive sample results for product testing for Cyclospora.
https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/investigation-5-state-outbreak-cyclospora-illnesses-iceberg-lettuce-july-2026
https://nypost.com/2026/07/19/business/fda-taylor-farms-had-false-positive-after-test-pinned-explosive-diarrhea-parasite-on-taco-bell-lettuce-supplier/