Produce Recall Issued In Parasite Outbreak Hitting RI

A recall on a popular brand of lettuce has been issued as the outbreak of the parasite cyclosporiasis continues in Rhode Island and across the country. It comes the same week as investigators found a potential link to Taco Bell.

Taylor Fresh Foods is voluntarily removing all of its iceberg lettuce from the United States and Mexico.

While the recall remains in effect, the Food and Drug Administration said a test on a lettuce sample produced a false positive Saturday.

"Due to the complexity in detection of Cyclospora, FDA laboratory experts re-reviewed the sample results and have concluded that the finding does not represent true amplification and should be considered a false positive," the FDA said.

The FDA said that customers should also avoid eating any shredded lettuce from Taco Bell locations in five states: Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, and West Virginia.

"Additional states may be added to this advisory as more information becomes available," the FDA said in a statement Friday. "Taco Bell is working to stop use of all lettuce implicated by this investigation."

They added that not all Taco Bell locations in the impacted states received the product, but the warning applies to all locations.

Rhode Island has not been hit particularly hard as the outbreak has now grown to 31 states. The state has six confirmed cases.

There are 12 Taco Bell locations spread across the Ocean State.

A number of Taco Bell locations have posted signs announcing they are "currently unable to sell Lettuce, Cilantro Onion, Pico de Gallo, and Guacamole due to a nationwide recall," according to Detroit-area news radio outlet WWJ.

Related:

• State Warns Rhode Island Residents Away From Potential Diarrhea Parasite Source
• Cyclosporiasis Diarrhea Parasite May Be Tied To Fast Food Empire With 12 RI Locations
• Diarrhea Parasite Outbreak: 7 Things To Know And What To Do In Rhode Island
• Parasite Outbreak Sickens People In 17 States, Including Massachusetts