Cookie Dough Linked To E. Coli

A recall on cookie dough couldn't come at a worse time.  While it's never good to eat raw cookie dough or lots of it, that's always been due to the possibility of salmonella.  However, researchers aren't entirely sure where the E. Coli is coming from.  They think it might be from the raw flour, but feel it is unlikely.  But how are you to be sure all those Christmas cookies you have been baking aren't going to give the recipients of your gift, sick?

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Well, fortunately, cooking the flour or whatever ingredient contains the E. Coli will potentially kill off any lingering bacteria.  But what you should be careful of is that your kitchen, hands or utensils aren't contaminated.  Be sure to wash your hands after handing raw cookie dough and also be sure to clean all rolling pins, cookie cutters and cutting boards thoroughly. 

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The research was published in the journal Clinical Infectious Disease.  It found the culprit of a 2009 outbreak of E. coli across mulitple states was from ready-to-bake prepackaged cookie dough.  So if you're making cookies from scratch (unlike yours truly) you're probably safe.  However, if you buy or eat raw cookie dough bought from the store, you  might want to think twice.  77 people from 30 states became ill from bad batter in '09.  About half of those people had to be hospitalized because they were so sick.