The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Sunday that a lettuce sample from Taylor Farms de Mexico was falsely identified as a possible source of the cyclospora outbreak that has sickened people across the United States. Citing the “complexity” of cyclospora detection, the agency said its laboratory experts re-reviewed earlier sample results and determined its earlier finding was a false positive.

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Sunday that a lettuce sample from Taylor Farms de Mexico was falsely identified as a possible source of the cyclospora outbreak that has sickened people across the United States

Citing the “complexity” of cyclospora detection, the agency said its laboratory experts re-reviewed earlier sample results and determined its earlier finding was a false positive

Last week, U.S. health officials identified lettuce from a supplier in Mexico as a source of cyclospora contamination in food served at Taco Bell restaurants in five Midwestern states

On Friday, Taylor Farms de Mexico of Guanajuato, Mexico, voluntarily recalled products with the potential to be contaminated with the diarrhea-causing parasite, listing 25 shredded lettuce and salad mix products sold under eight different brand codes as part of its recall announcement

“FDA has notified Taylor Farms and continues working with the firm to ensure product implicated in this outbreak has been removed from the market,” the agency said in a statement Sunday in which it said there are no confirmed positive sample results for cyclospora in its product testing. “FDA and state partners continue to collect and analyze product samples.”

Last week, U.S. health officials identified lettuce from a supplier in Mexico as a source of cyclospora contamination in food served at Taco Bell restaurants in Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia and Kentucky

On Friday, Taylor Farms de Mexico of Guanajuato, Mexico, voluntarily recalled products with the potential to be contaminated with the diarrhea-causing parasite, listing more than two dozen shredded lettuce and salad mix products sold under various brand codes as part of its recall announcement.

The recalled product was limited to iceberg lettuce grown and processed in central Mexico, according to Taylor Farms. The products had been shipped to 27 states, including Florida, Illinois, Pennsylvania and Texas.

“To be clear, at this moment, FDA has not identified a single positive product test result for Cyclospora,” Taylor Farms said in a statement Sunday.  

The California-based company is one of the world’s largest lettuce-exporting companies, according to the global trade intelligence company Tendata.

“Our thoughts remain with everyone who has fallen ill in this outbreak,” the Taylor Farms statement said. “We are committed to working with public health authorities as the ongoing outbreak investigation continues.”  

Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that infects food that has come into contact with human feces, most commonly when produce is irrigated or washed with contaminated water. When ingested, the parasite causes intestinal illness marked by “frequent and sometimes explosive bowel movements,” according to the CDC.

On Friday, the CDC said cyclospora has sickened at least 1,644 people in the United States and hospitalized 94, with illnesses starting between May 13 and July 13. The agency said the number of people sick with cyclospora “is likely higher than the number reported, and the outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.