Victory for Kids (and Their Moms!): Raw Cookie Dough Products From Pillsbury are Now Safe to Eat
Rejoice, cookie dough lovers!
Pillsbury has announced that some of their refrigerated cookie dough products are now safe to eat. Typically, raw cookie dough is unsafe to eat due to the raw flour and raw eggs, which can cause food poisoning. However, Pillsbury has modified their recipe for some cookie dough and brownie products so that they are safe to eat raw. They are now using pasteurized eggs and heat-treated flour to eliminate the risk of food poisoning. Raw cookie dough that is edible from Pillsbury will contain the slogan “Safe to Eat Raw” and “Eat or Bake” on the package. Pillsbury is anticipating that all of their refrigerated cookie dough products will be edible by the end of summer. Currently, the majority of edible cookie dough from Pillsbury is in the form of a roll or pre-sliced in squares, whereas most of the inedible cookie dough is in the form of circles with designs on them, the majority of flavors being seasonal. The best way to determine whether the cookie dough is edible or raw is to check whether the product has the sticker saying “Safe to Eat”. The full list can also be found here.
According to the CDC, consuming raw flour may result in an E. Coli infection, while ingesting raw eggs may result in a Salmonella infection; thus, eating raw cookie dough with raw flour and raw eggs exponentially increases the likelihood for food poisoning. The CDC reports that Shiga toxin-producing E. Coli (STEC) infections symptoms typically begin 3 to 4 days after exposure to the bacteria, though some report symptoms between 1 to 10 days after exposure. Symptoms of a STEC infection include classic food poisoning symptoms, such as vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramps, as well as a low grade fever. STEC infections typically resolve without treatment within 5 to 7 days, though a healthcare provider should be contacted in cases with a high fever or severe diarrhea or vomiting. The CDC maintains that symptoms of a Salmonella infection typically begin 1 to 3 days after ingesting the bacteria, though some report symptoms as early as 6 hours and as late as 6 days after ingestion. In healthy people, Salmonella poisoning often results in common food poisoning symptoms, such as abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. For those more at risk for infection, such as children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems, Salmonella poisoning can be deadly, leading to a serious infection.
