The Real Reason You Shouldn't Eat Raw Cookie Dough (2024)

FAQs

The Real Reason You Shouldn't Eat Raw Cookie Dough? ›

Raw cookie dough is unsafe to eat because raw eggs could potentially be contaminated with pathogenic bacteria like E. coli and because flour is raw and unpasteurized. What many consumers don't know is that E. coli and Salmonella could also be present in their flour.

It's not easy to resist the temptation to taste that raw cookie dough. But that's not a safe thing to do. Raw cookie dough contains uncooked flour and eggs. These have the potential to cause food poisoning and bacterial infections like salmonella.

Eating cookie dough with raw eggs mixed in is unsafe, and raw flour isn't safe to eat either. Raw flour is one of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) top-listed items associated with foodborne illness and food poisoning, along with raw meat, eggs, and seafood.

With refrigerated cookie dough from Pillsbury, you can have warm, just-baked cookies in minutes! Pillsbury Cookie Dough products are now safe to eat raw! It's the same cookie dough you've always loved, but now we've refined our process and ingredients so it's safe to eat the dough before baking.

Most doughs and batters contain raw eggs, which can be contaminated with an illness-causing germ called Salmonella. It's a common cause of food poisoning in the U.S. The symptoms of Salmonella infection include: Diarrhea.

Yes and no. The FDA specifically says that homemade cookie dough ice cream is a no go, but assures that commercially made products should be safe to eat – if manufacturers use only treated flour and pasteurized eggs, that is.

You might think that because vegan cookie dough doesn't contain eggs, you're not at risk of contracting a foodborne illness. But this isn't entirely true. According to the Centers for Disease Control, consuming raw flour is also a salmonella risk. “Flour doesn't look like a raw food, but most flour is raw,” it notes.

Cookie dough contains raw eggs

Eggs are commonly contaminated with Salmonella bacteria ( 1 ). Salmonella infection is characterized by fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal cramping beginning about 12 hours after consuming the contaminated food, and typically lasts up to 7 days ( 1 ).

Although the risks are generally low, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises to resist the temptation of eating raw cookie dough to prevent illness. This year, 26 people fell ill due to a salmonella outbreak that left four hospitalized.

Nestlé Toll House has rolled out a line of edible cookie dough made without raw eggs so it's safe to eat straight from the pint. A representative for Nestlé told INSIDER that the brand's new "Edible Cookie Dough" is available in two flavors: "Chocolate Chip" and "Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Monster."

How to tell if cookie dough is bad? ›

How to Tell if Cookie Dough Is 'Bad' Like many food products, deciphering if your cookie dough has kicked the bucket is a matter of using your senses. If it has any visible mold, smells off (pungent/sour), or has developed hard or discolored edges, you've missed your fresh-baked opportunity.

Pillsbury Cookie Dough

You can safely get about two weeks of fridge life out of this type of dough, even after the “best by” date. This kind of dough is not our favorite for freezing and lasts about 6 to 9 months in the freezer.

Eating raw eggs can be potentially dangerous if they contain Salmonella. About one in 20,000 eggs does. Salmonella is a bacteria commonly found in food that causes diarrhea, fever, cramps, and vomiting.

While heat kills the bacteria, eating raw cookie dough (and similar mixtures, like cake batter) poses risks of food poisoning. E. coli and Salmonella can cause food poisoning symptoms like nausea, vomiting, cramps, and diarrhea. These unpleasant symptoms can last from several hours to days.

Uncooked flour and raw eggs can contain germs that can make you sick. Tasting or eating raw (unbaked) dough or batter can put you at risk for food poisoning. Follow the recipe or package directions for cooking or baking. Wash your hands, bowls, utensils, and countertops after handling raw flour, eggs, or dough.

Can I eat any of your products – like your Cookie Dough – raw? Our Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough is now Ready-to-Eat and can be enjoyed baked or raw, although we recommend our guests bake our cookies to truly have the Take 'n' Bake experience!

Tasting or eating raw (unbaked) dough or batter can put you at risk for food poisoning. Follow the recipe or package directions for cooking or baking.

Symptoms to watch for if you have consumed raw dough products include stomach cramps, fever, vomiting or diarrhea. If you or a family member experiences any of these symptoms, contact a doctor immediately.

For example, cookies containing eggs or other ingredients that can be harmful if not fully cooked should be avoided. Raw or undercooked eggs can contain salmonella, bacteria that can cause food poisoning. Another ingredient to be careful with is flour, which can harbor harmful bacteria like E.

A. Our cookie dough is designed to be baked. We do not recommend eating cookie dough raw.