FSIS told USA TODAY Trader Joe’s wraps were a common E. coli exposure

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service told USA TODAY that ready-to-eat, multi-ingredient chicken wraps from certain Trader Joe’s stores were a common exposure among people sickened in an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak, the newspaper reported Oct. 23. USA TODAY identified the item as Trader Joe’s Tarragon Chicken Salad Wraps, citing a lawsuit and state investigation records.

That account is more specific than the FDA’s public listing. As of Oct. 26, FDA entry 1421, cross-referenced to FSIS investigation 2026-04, described a suspected multi-ingredient wrap with chicken, listed 50 cases and marked the investigation active and ongoing. It did not name Trader Joe’s or the specific product.

Trader Joe’s told USA TODAY it removed the wraps from shelves in Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, Rhode Island, New York, Maryland, Maine and Virginia after FDA notified the company of a possible issue in September. USA TODAY also reported that FSIS said extensive product testing had been negative and the ingredient source remained under investigation.

A common exposure is an investigative lead, not proof that the wraps caused every case. The reported testing did not establish that the wraps were contaminated, and the ingredient responsible had not been identified.