Eating cookie dough? Raw flour linked to Salmonella outbreak

Raw cookie dough is consumed by many due to its sweet and chewy texture, and it's quite enjoyable to have before it's baked. However, a recent CDC advisory warned against the consumption of raw cookie dough due to the recent Salmonella outbreak in many states in the United States.

Eleven states have reported Salmonella-related illnesses and hospitalizations, and the CDC is investigating to identify the flour brand that might be linked to this outbreak.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) wrote:

"Flour doesn’t look like raw food, but most flour is raw. This means that it hasn’t been treated to kill germs that cause food poisoning. Any raw (unbaked) flour used to make dough or batter can be contaminated with germs like Salmonella, but Salmonella germs are killed when flour is cooked or baked."

In most of these cases, raw cookie dough was commonly consumed, which made the CDC assume the source of the infection. Food poisoning can be caused by various bacteria and other microbes.

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What is Salmonella infection?

Bacterial infections can be caused by raw and undercooked food. (Image via Unsplash/CDC)

Salmonella infection (also known as salmonellosis) is a common bacterial disease that affects the gut. Salmonella bacteria live in the animal and human intestines and are found in stools (faeces). Infections mostly occur through contaminated water or food. In this case, contaminated flour was used to make the cookie dough.

Salmonella infection can be asymptomatic at times. Infected people develop diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps within 8 to 72 hours of being infected. Most people recover without treatment within a few days to a week. Immuno-compromised people can be at higher risk.

Salmonella infection and foodborne illnesses are usually caused by eating raw or undercooked meat, poultry, eggs or unpasteurized milk. Raw flour cookie dough can also harbor Salmonella and must be baked properly.

Common signs and symptoms of Salmonella infection include:

• Diarrhea
• Abdominal cramps
• Fever
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Chills
• Headache
• Blood in the stool

Early detection of these symptoms can help with proper diagnosis and reduce fatalities. Untreated infections can lead to serious illnesses and might require hospitalization. Raw flour has also been linked to the E. coli outbreak in 2016, 2019 and 2021.

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Can I eat raw cookie dough?

Raw cookie dough must not be consumed without baking. (Image via Unsplash/Ben Stein)

Although it's not yet known which brand of flour caused the initial outbreak, it's still advisable not to consume raw cookie dough, as raw flour often harbors microbes. Bake the dough properly into cookies, and enjoy them without any risk. High heat kills almost all potentially harmful bacteria, viruses and fungi. A raw food diet can be harmful due to risk of infections.

Cooking food properly is essential, and nearly all raw foods can become a safe haven for microbes if not properly stored. Clean your kitchen and cooking equipment regularly and properly to reduce such infections.

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Indranil Biswas is a nutritionist and personal trainer with a diploma in dietetics and personal training with a specialization in sports nutrition and strength training.

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