CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A food safety alert involving lettuce sold at stores in North and South Carolina has taken a new turn after federal officials said an initial test indicating possible Cyclospora contamination was a false positive.
Taylor Farms had pulled affected lettuce products from store shelves following concerns that they could contain Cyclospora, a microscopic parasite that can cause an intestinal illness. The initial alert raised concerns for shoppers across the Carolinas and other areas where the products were distributed.
However, the FDA has since retracted its earlier contamination finding, saying additional testing determined the original Cyclospora result was a false positive. The development has also caused some confusion among consumers who had already heard about the lettuce being removed from stores.
The situation highlights how quickly food safety alerts can change as additional laboratory testing becomes available. Consumers who purchased lettuce involved in the initial action should check the latest guidance from the retailer and federal food safety officials for the most current information.
While the updated testing provides reassurance that the initial contamination finding was incorrect, shoppers are still encouraged to pay attention to official food recalls and safety notices when purchasing packaged produce.
(Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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