For many of us, the smell of freshly baked cookies is enough to make our mouths water. And while it’s tempting to sneak a taste of the raw cookie dough, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns against it.
Raw cookie dough contains raw eggs, which can carry salmonella bacteria. In addition, raw flour can also contain harmful bacteria such as E. coli. Eating raw cookie dough can lead to foodborne illness, which can cause symptoms such as diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps.
The CDC’s warning against raw cookie dough is not new. In fact, it has been warning against it for years. However, the warning has gained renewed attention in recent years due to several outbreaks of foodborne illness linked to raw cookie dough.
In 2016, an outbreak of E. coli infections linked to raw flour sickened 63 people across 24 states. The outbreak led to a recall of 10 million pounds of flour. In 2019, another outbreak of E. coli infections linked to raw flour sickened 21 people across 9 states.
In addition to the risk of foodborne illness, eating raw cookie dough can also be harmful to pregnant women. Raw eggs can carry the bacteria Listeria, which can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, or premature delivery.
Despite the risks, many people continue to eat raw cookie dough. In a survey conducted by the FDA in 2019, 25% of respondents reported eating raw cookie dough. Of those who ate raw cookie dough, 40% said they did so because they enjoyed the taste, while 36% said they did so because it was a childhood tradition.
So, what can you do if you’re craving the taste of raw cookie dough? The CDC recommends using pasteurized eggs and heat-treated flour in recipes that call for raw eggs or flour. Pasteurized eggs have been heated to a temperature that kills bacteria, while heat-treated flour has been treated to kill harmful bacteria.
If you don’t have access to pasteurized eggs or heat-treated flour, the CDC recommends avoiding raw cookie dough altogether. Instead, try making cookie dough without raw eggs or flour. There are many recipes available online that use substitutes such as applesauce or yogurt in place of eggs, and cooked flour in place of raw flour.
In addition to following these recommendations, it’s important to practice good food safety habits when handling raw cookie dough. Wash your hands and any surfaces that come into contact with raw dough with soap and water. Use separate utensils for raw dough and cooked dough to avoid cross-contamination.
In conclusion, while the temptation to eat raw cookie dough may be strong, it’s important to resist. The risks of foodborne illness and harm to pregnant women are too great. By using pasteurized eggs and heat-treated flour, or by making cookie dough without raw eggs or flour, you can still enjoy the taste of cookie dough without putting your health at risk.
