FDA reclassifies Taylor Farms cyclospora test as false positive

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said laboratory experts rereviewed sample results in the Taylor Farms cyclospora investigation and determined the finding should be treated as a false positive. The agency said there are now no confirmed positive sample results for cyclospora. It had previously said on Saturday that shredded iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms tested positive for the parasite linked to a large outbreak in the United States. Taylor Fresh Foods said it was told the FDA had made a mistake and said there was no confirmed positive product test result at this time. The company also said it had already completed a voluntary recall of iceberg lettuce from central Mexico out of caution after the initial information. The FDA said it has notified Taylor Farms and is continuing to work with the company to remove any implicated product from the market. Cyclospora infections have sickened more than 1,000 people in the U.S., with dozens hospitalized and no deaths reported.