On February 15, 2012, the Centers for Disease Control first announced an ongoing investigation into an outbreak of E. coli O26 infections linked to the consumption of raw clover sprouts consumed at Jimmy John's Restaurants in 11 states. Twenty-nine outbreak associated cases were identified. Seven people were hospitalized.

The FDA and the states conducted a traceback that identified two separate sprouting facilities; both used the same lot of seed to grow clover sprouts served at Jimmy John's restaurant locations. On February 10, 2012, the seed supplier initiated notification of sprouting facilities that received this lot of clover seed to stop using it. On February 17, Jimmy John's Restaurants announced that it was pulling sprouts from its restaurant menus.