Support NeoGAF

[Dalek]

It's official: Raw cookie dough is a no-no

NDIANAPOLIS — Put down the spoon or spatula from the mixing bowl.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced it is no longer safe to eat raw cookie dough or batter — even if you're using a recipe that doesn't use raw eggs.

In fact, the administration said in a new consumer update posted Tuesday, it's not safe to eat raw flour in any form. Not homemade "play dough," not licking the spoon of brownie batter. Nothing.

Here's the deal: You know that raw eggs can carry salmonella, which is no good, but it turns out flour can harbor E. Coli, which also is nasty. The FDA says dozens have been sickened by the Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O121 after they ate raw flour. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 38 people were infected in 20 states with illnesses starting in December.

According to the FDA, their investigation found that the raw dough that sickened patients had been made with General Mills flour made in a Kansas City, Mo., plant. Tests conducted by the FDA tied bacteria in a sample of flour to bacteria from people who had been sickened.

General Mills recalled flour products made between Nov. 14, 2015, and Dec. 4, 2015, under three brand names: Gold Medal, Signature Kitchens and Gold Medal Wondra. They included varieties of all-purpose, self-rising and unbleached flours.

Symptoms of this strain of E. coli include bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps. While most people will bounce back within a week, it can even lead to kidney failure, especially among the elderly and children under 5.

It's true flour is not an ingredient most associate with a contamination risk.

"Flour is derived from a grain that comes directly from the field and typically is not treated to kill bacteria," said Leslie Smoot, a senior adviser in the FDA's Office of Food Safety, in a statement.

The FDA said an animal's waste could contaminate grain which is then made into flour. Any bacteria is killed, the agency said, through baking, boiling, roasting and frying. That step doesn't happen with raw dough, the agency said.

 

[HUELEN10]

I will take the risk.

 

[Pops Maellard]

Is eating raw cookie dough the new smoking?

 

[Pinewood]

But is it ok if Im not in America?

 

[BronsonLee]

Fuck you FDA, I'll double barrel cookie dough if I wanna

 

[Orbis Tabula]

No-no is a double negative.
Nice try FDA.
Imma eat some cookie dough.

 

[Stabby McSter]

you only yolo once

 

[Raxus]

Screw you science, I'll do what I want.

 

[Laevateinn]

Go to hell FDA. I'll eat it until I die.

 

[iMax]

Try and stop me.

 

[Alexlf]

...
...
Worth the risk.

 

[FeenixRising]

yolo

 

[LongDongJunon]

If I put raw cookie dough in my coffee will it kill the cancer particles?

 

[shinobi602]

I thought this was known for a while now?

I'll still eat it.

 

[Megalosaro]

Fuck this. I'd still eat batter

 

[BitStyle]

Boo! I will lick spoons of brownie batter for the rest of my days

 

[Zackat]

I agree with you on a lot of things FDA. But no.

 

[Dalek]

I thought this was known for a while now?

I'll still eat it.

I was "known" I guess-but this is the official "warning".

 

[Geist-]

I don't know if I can make this sacrifice. I think I know how smokers feel now.

 

[aspiegamer]

Good luck trying to enforce it! Buahahaha!

 

[axisofweevils]

What does this mean for Ben and Jerry?

 

[DJ_Lae]

Fuck that.

Almost every kind of product has been contaminated with various bacteria, from cooked deli meats to prepackaged salads and pretty much every other kind of meat or produce you can think of, no matter what its state of processing.

 

[natjjohn]

Can I get cookie dough topping in frozen yogurt? Is it exempt from this in someway as its not actually cookie dough?

 

[bananas]

The feds trying to take away our god-given right to eat raw flour!!

 

[Ballistik]

Nooo don't take this away from me!

 

[SatoAilDarko]

I don't get why people do this anyway but carry on.

 

[SliceSabre]

Science loves stealing the little joys out of life.

 

[JBuccCP]

No big deal, i'll just cook my raw dough before I eat it.

 

[NOLA_Gaffer]

If you want to eat cookie dough that bad there are companies that cater specifically to you:

 

[cDNA]

What about all cookie dough pieces and cookie batter they sell in the ice cream stores? Don't tell me they are not real cookie dough :0

 

[studyguy]

Raw cookie dough is gross anyway.
Raw brownie batter is where it's at.

 

[Chris R]

Gimmie that pasteurized flour.

 

[shinobi602]

I don't get why people do this anyway but carry on.

It's delicious to us?

 

[The Silver]

Does it also give you cancer?

 

[Abilidebob]

Sounds like a lie my brother would say to eat all the dough.
I'm onto you, FDA.

 

[dc89]

What about eating cup cake mixture? Cause that's the GOAT.

 

[LycanXIII]

Thanks for the fuck up, General Mills.

 

[Dishwalla]

 

[ViewtifulJC]

suck my raw dick FDA, this is AMERICA and I will continue to eat cookie dough in Ice Cream

 

[Smokey_Run]

Still gonna eat it. I'll take the risk.

 

[bananafactory]

Is anyone surprised by this?

I've never tried it myself as it sounds disgusting. Just cook that dough yo

 

[mechashiva]

Give me cookie dough or give me death.

 

[bananas]

Does it also give you cancer?

Does it exist?

 

[nilbog21]

who would eat raw cookie dough though

 

[DOWN]

It's worth the risk. I've had many gallons of raw cookie dough and I will not stop.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

38 people were infected, 0 died, out of how many millions who eat cookie dough? That's a pretty minor risk.

 

[dsp]

What about eating cup cake mixture? Cause that's the GOAT.

YES

 

[Big-E]

Thought it was going to be about stomach cancer or poisoning due to some dangerous chemicals. E. coli aint worth stopping over. Sensationalist just like people being scared of a runny yolk. Get fucked with the fear mongering.

 

[DOWN]

What does this mean for Ben and Jerry?

Nothing. Ice cream is made with imitation dough.

 

[uncelestial]

Don't care. Eating it anyway. See you in hell, science.