A lettuce sample supplied by Taylor Farms de Mexico that initially tested positive for cyclospora, the parasite linked to a growing outbreak of cyclosporiasis, was later determined to be a false positive, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said in a statement on Sunday.

Investigation Continues

The FDA said laboratory experts reviewed again the test results and concluded the finding “does not represent true amplification and should be considered a false positive.” The agency removed information about the sample from a previous outbreak update and said there are currently no confirmed positive product samples for cyclospora, the parasite that causes cyclosporiasis.

Taylor Fresh Foods, the parent company, said the FDA notified them Saturday that one of its iceberg lettuce products from central Mexico had tested positive before later correcting the result.

The development comes days after Taylor Fresh Foods announced a voluntary recall of iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico following an FDA traceback investigation that identified Taylor Farms de Mexico as a common supplier linked to illnesses.

Nearly 7,000 people may have been sickened nationwide in the broader cyclosporiasis outbreak, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As of Friday, the CDC had confirmed 1,644 cases and was investigating more than 5,100 additional illnesses. No deaths have been reported.

Original reporting: Dallas TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.