Home / Health / Parasite Scare: False Alarm on Lettuce
Parasite Scare: False Alarm on Lettuce
21 Jul
Summary
- FDA identified a false positive for parasite cyclospora in lettuce.
- Taylor Farms lettuce is still under investigation for a parasite outbreak.
- Cyclospora causes intestinal illness with frequent bowel movements.
Federal health officials have stated that a recent laboratory test incorrectly identified a positive result for cyclospora in a lettuce sample from Taylor Farms. This false positive was briefly publicized before being corrected. The investigation into a multistate outbreak of the parasite, which causes intestinal illness, remains ongoing.
Authorities are still focused on shredded iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms' operations in central Mexico as the likely source of the outbreak. This has led to a recall of various shredded lettuce and salad mix products. Despite the initial testing error, health officials continue to see new cases, emphasizing the urgency to remove contaminated products from circulation.
