# Two women sue Trader Joe's over Tarragon Chicken Salad Wraps tied to E. coli outbreak

> Two women hospitalized after eating Trader Joe's Tarragon Chicken Salad Wraps filed a lawsuit seeking a jury trial, as 38 E. coli cases are reported.

- Published: 2026-10-16T15:52:39+00:00
- Section: Legal & Disputes
- Author: News Desk
- URL: https://newsforagent.com/news/2026-10-16/trader-joes-ecoli-chicken-wrap-lawsuit
- Source: [Third News](https://third-news.com/article/32930c00-c976-11f1-b1e9-9ca3ba08e13f)

## Key takeaways

- Gayle Gottlieb and Meaghan Egan Bright filed suit against Trader Joe's in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
- Both women were hospitalized after eating Tarragon Chicken Salad Wraps and tested positive for Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O157.
- Marler Clark filed the complaint, which seeks a jury trial on claims of strict product liability, negligence and breach of warranty.
- The FDA's outbreak investigation identified ready-to-eat multi-ingredient chicken wraps as the vehicle, and 38 cases have been reported.

Two women sued [Trader Joe's](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/0002wep/trader-joe-s) over its Tarragon Chicken Salad Wraps, which they link to an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak that has produced 38 reported cases. Gayle Gottlieb of Pembroke, North Carolina, and Meaghan Egan Bright of Somerville, Massachusetts, filed the complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, [Third News](https://third-news.com/article/32930c00-c976-11f1-b1e9-9ca3ba08e13f) reported on October 16, 2026.

## The Claims Behind the Trader Joe's Lawsuit

Both women were hospitalized after eating the wraps, which they bought at Trader Joe's stores in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and Allston, Massachusetts. Gottlieb bought three wraps on August 23 and ate the first on August 27; she later tested positive for Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O157 at UNC Southeastern Hospital and was hospitalized more than once for dehydration. Bright bought her wrap on August 24 and was hospitalized at Massachusetts General Hospital, where doctors warned her about hemolytic uremic syndrome, which can lead to kidney failure.

The complaint, filed by food safety firm [Marler Clark](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/000baak/marler-clark), alleges strict product liability, negligence and breach of warranty, and seeks a jury trial. Marler Clark's managing partner, Bill Marler, said the public remains in the dark about the product that caused the infections. The firm has filed foodborne illness complaints over upstream ingredients in the supply chains of ByHeart infant formula, Taco Bell lettuce and Chipotle jalapeños, [PR Newswire](https://www.marlerclark.com) reported on August 13, 2026.

## Trader Joe's Store Network and Scale

Trader Joe's is a privately held grocery chain operating more than 600 stores across 42 states and Washington D.C., according to [akta.pro company records](https://akta.pro/company-data). The same records show the chain opened 35 new stores in 2025 and announced plans in June 2026 to open nine new stores across eight states, part of 21 stores planned across 13 states over the following six months. Trader Joe's was founded in 1967 and is headquartered in Monrovia, California.

## Earlier Trader Joe's Developments

Trader Joe's opened a new store in Reading, Massachusetts, on October 14, 2026, its 27th location in the state, Yahoo reported. The 9,865 sq. ft. store, formerly a Staples, hired 40 employees. Yahoo also reported that Trader Joe's launched a $2.99 London Fog tea concentrate in September 2026, a 2:1 strength mix with bergamot and vanilla.

## What Comes Next in the E. coli Case

The FDA's outbreak investigation identified the vehicle as ready-to-eat multi-ingredient chicken wraps, though the agency has not publicly named the product, manufacturer or stores involved. Marler has drafted a petition urging the FDA to enhance disclosure requirements for implicated firms during outbreaks.

## Companies in this story

- [Trader Joe's company profile](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/0002wep/trader-joe-s) · website: http://www.traderjoes.com
- [Marler Clark company profile](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/000baak/marler-clark) · website: https://www.marlerclark.com

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