FDA tries to walk back lettuce as source of ‘explosive diarrhea’ outbreak

The Food and Drug Administration reversed course on its earlier claim linking a nationwide cyclosporiasis outbreak to lettuce produced by Taylor Farms, deepening confusion around a gastrointestinal illness that has sickened thousands.On Saturday, the FDA informed Taylor Farms that the agency had detected cyclospora — a microscopic parasite that causes cyclosporiasis when ingested — on its iceberg lettuce from Mexico. Acting out of an “abundance of caution,” the California-headquartered company issued a voluntary recall of all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico.But by Sunday, the FDA had changed its assessment. In an updated statement, the federal health agency said its initial detection of cyclospora was a “false positive,” and Taylor Farms said the FDA had “apologized.”“FDA and state partners continue to collect and analyze product samples,” the agency said. “As of July 19, 2026, there are no confirmed positive sample results for product testing for Cyclospora.”The reversal comes weeks after cases of cyclosporiasis — which can cause “explosive” bowel movements — began rising sharply across the country, with health officials still unable to identify a definitive source. Federal officials had previously said Taco Bell — which stopped serving lettuce at some Michigan locations — was under investigation. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also said Saturday that the outbreak had been linked to iceberg lettuce in five states.Taylor Farms said that the FDA apologized after the health agency walked back a statement linking the Cyclospora parasite to a lettuce sample. The FDA blamed it on a 'false positive.' (Getty Images)The CDC is investigating nearly 7,000 confirmed and suspected cases nationwide as of July 13. State data. however, points to a broader outbreak, with Michigan alone reporting more than 5,000 cases, alongside over 500 in New York and more than 300 in Illinois.This is a breaking story...