Taylor Farms Recalls Lettuce in Cyclospora Outbreak

A multistate outbreak of cyclosporiasis linked to shredded iceberg lettuce has led to a major voluntary recall by produce giant Taylor Farms and sparked a contentious public dispute between the company and federal health regulators. The outbreak, which began in May, has resulted in at least 1,645 confirmed illnesses across multiple states, with 141 hospitalizations reported as of July 21, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The investigation took a dramatic turn on July 20 when Taylor Farms claimed on social media that the Food and Drug Administration had apologized for a false positive test result on a sample of its lettuce. The FDA quickly denied issuing any apology. In a subsequent statement, the Department of Health and Human Services clarified that the retraction of a single lab finding did not alter the basis of the ongoing investigation or the epidemiological data supporting the recall. The agency emphasized that traceback analysis from cases in five states converged on shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms locations in central Mexico.

In response, Taylor Farms initiated a voluntary recall on July 17 of all shredded iceberg lettuce grown and...