In December 2019, 22 Iowans became ill with E. coli O1013 after consuming clover sprouts produced by Sprouts Unlimited Wholesale Foods, Inc. and sold on sandwiches at Jimmy John's restaurants. Dates of illness onset ranged from November 20, 2019 to December 14, 2019. One person was hospitalized. There were no deaths.

Samples of spent irrigation water, samples from bean tanks and sprouts racks, and clover sprouts were collected on December 22, 2019 and submitted to the Iowa State Health Laboratory for testing. One sample of the irrigation water and one sample of sprouts were positive for E. coli O103 and highly related by WGS to clinical isolates.

On December 27, 2019 a joint recall was issued by FDA and Sprouts Unlimited.

From December 31, 2019 through January 9, 2020, an Iowa Department of Inspection and Appeals inspector and FDA conducted a joint inspection at Sprouts Unlimited reviewing planting and packaging procedures. Violations observed during this inspection resulted in an FDA warning letter to Sprouts Unlimited for supplying clover sprouts to Jimmy John's resulting in this outbreak.

On February 21, 2020 the FDA issued a warning letter to Jimmy John's with evidence that demonstrated Jimmy John's engaged in a pattern of receiving and offering for sale adulterated fresh produce, specifically clover sprouts and cucumbers.