Avoid Eating Raw Cookie Dough or Batters

Eating uncooked flour or raw eggs can make you sick. Flour that has not been cooked may contain bacteria such as Escherichia coli. (E.Coli). E.Coli can contaminate grains while it’s still in the field or during other steps of the milling process. Even though grains are bleached it does not kill bacteria like E. Coli.  Raw or undercooked eggs in batter or dough can also cause food poisoning.  Raw eggs or under cooked eggs can contain Salmonella, a bacteria found in eggs. Eggs and flour mixtures are saw to eat when properly handled and baked.  The cooking process kills the bacteria that can make you sick.

To avoid getting sick when you are baking and cooking with flour and eggs always practice safe food handling procedures.  Never taste or eat any raw dough or batter, containing raw flour and eggs. This may include tortillas, pizza dough, biscuit dough, pancake mix, milk shakes or crafts made from raw flour or eggs.  Crafts for holiday ornaments or play dough should not be consumed if they contain raw flour or eggs. Children should not play with or eat raw dough.  Read recipes and follow the directions carefully to ensure the proper final cooking temperature is achieved.  Keep ready to eat foods away from raw flour and raw eggs.  Ready to eat foods are foods that do not require cooking.  If raw flour and raw eggs touch the ready to eat foods, the foods can become contaminated and make you ill. Refrigerate raw dough and eggs until they are cooked. Clean and sanitize cooking equipment and food contact surfaces after using them to avoid cross contaminating. Wash hands after handling flour, raw eggs or any surfaces they have touched.

Symptoms of E.coli can vary.  Common symptoms include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea (often bloody), and vomiting. The symptoms usually appear 3 to 4 days after consumption of the bacteria. Most people recover within a week by some people develop a more serious complication called hemolytic uremic syndrome. (HUS). HUS can cause kidney failure, stroke, and even death.

Symptoms of Salmonella usually appear 6 hour to 6 days after exposure to the bacteria. Symptoms usually include diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps. The duration us is commonly 4 to 7 days and people recover without the use of antibiotics.  Adults 65 and older, infants and people who have compromised health conditions are at greater risk for developing serious complications.

Always see your medical doctor if you think you may become ill from E.coli or Salmonella.

Source: CDC.org