Bad news for fans of cookie dough: the FDA just released a statement on their website that advises people against eating raw dough, including dough of the cookie variety. Unlike previous warnings against eating the delicious dough because of possibly contracting salmonella from raw eggs, the FDA has now warned against its consumption because of a recent E. coli outbreak from contaminated flour that led General Mills to recall 10 million pounds of flour.
The FDA post explains:
Flour, regardless of the brand, can contain bacteria that cause disease. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state and local officials, is investigating an outbreak of infections that illustrates the dangers of eating raw dough. Dozens of people across the country have been sickened by a strain of bacteria called Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O121.
Symptoms of eating E. coli-contaminated flour include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea (often bloody) and vomiting. Luckily, most people recover within a week, but in some cases, it can lead to kidney failure, especially in children under five, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems. We’ll take the safe route and stick with new Oreo flavors and cookie dough beer.