How the Cookie Crumbles Reminding You Not to Eat Raw Cookie Dough

http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=152472

Raw cookie dough is not made to be eaten, but to be baked in the oven. Whether home-made or store bought, it can give you E. Coli. In 2009 Nestle Tollhouse cookie dough had an out break of E. Coli. In the out break 77 people out of 30 states became ill and 35 of those people had to be hospitalized. 3.6 million packages of cookie dough had to be recalled, and Nestle had to change the way they made their dough.  CDC's Karen Neil says that "You shouldn't eat raw cookie dough, regardless of who makes it". She also said "Raw cookie dough is not ready to eat, it is ready to bake." This also goes for anyother products ready to bake such as cake batter and biscut batter. Cookie dough icecream is said to be okay since it most likely is made especially to eat. The suspect is flour, since it doesn't go through a process to kill pathogens. Now most companys switch to heat treated flour. In the past raw eggs have contained and contaminated foods with salmonella, reasearchers say that eggs were mot the culprit. Other foods that can contain E. Coli are leafy greens, vegtables, sprouts, melons, and ground beef. So before you eat cookie dough think twice. And before you eat any veggies or fruit, wash them off well.

I believe this could effect anyone so easily. Maybe someone forgot to was off a tomato or even an apple. Or they took a finger of cookie dough while baking. This could all potentally give you E. Coli. and could make you sick and hospitalize you. This is why you must be careful. Who knew something so good could make you so sick?

This has a big impact on me because I have eaten salad that was said to contain E. Coli. or could have contained it. Luckily me nor my family got sick. I eat fruits often and do eat cookie dough every once and a while, so now I'll have to be careful. I often avoid anything with eggs since I'm allergic, so I can be safe from batter with raw eggs.