Eating Raw Cookie Dough... Salmonella Infections Continue in the US

At Least 18 Infected... 2 Hospitalized for Treatment
Contamination of Flour and Eggs in Dough Identified as Cause

In the United States, there have been consecutive cases of Salmonella infection caused by eating raw cookie dough, prompting health authorities to issue warnings.

On the 25th (local time), the American daily Washington Post (WP) reported that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently recommended stopping the consumption of raw cookie dough. According to the CDC, at least 18 people who ate cookie dough in six U.S. states showed symptoms of Salmonella infection, and among them, two were hospitalized.

Among these, nine were reported to have eaten cookie dough sold by the famous American pizza chain 'Papa Murphy's.' Papa Murphy's sells pizza and cookie dough that customers can select ingredients for themselves, take home, and bake. It was revealed that nine consumers who purchased cookie dough from this place were infected with Salmonella.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently recommended discarding the chocolate chip cookie dough packaging from 'Papa Murphy's' due to Salmonella infection risk.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

In response, Papa Murphy's suspended sales of products suspected to be related to Salmonella infection, such as chocolate chip cookie dough and s'mores bar dough. The CDC stated during the investigation, "Customers who purchased these products should dispose of them."

Unbaked cookie dough is considered a 'nostalgic snack' in the U.S. WP noted, "People seek cookie dough for various reasons, including its soft and chewy texture different from baked cookies and childhood snacking memories," but pointed out, "However, the flour and unpasteurized eggs in the dough may be contaminated with E. coli and Salmonella."

The CDC also warned, "You may be tempted to taste raw dough before baking cookies, cakes, or bread, but eating raw dough can make you sick," advising that when cooking with raw eggs and flour, hands should be washed thoroughly with soap, and countertops and utensils should be kept clean.

Salmonella is a major cause of food poisoning widely found in the intestines of poultry such as chickens and ducks, as well as pigs and other animals. Salmonella is mostly killed during cooking, but it can survive relatively long in soil or water, and consuming food contaminated with such surviving bacteria can cause symptoms such as diarrhea, high fever, stomach cramps, and vomiting within a few days.

In South Korea as well, eggs are the main culprit of Salmonella food poisoning during summer, with food poisoning often occurring every year due to eggs used in cold noodles restaurants and egg sheets in gimbap shops.

Meanwhile, on the 26th, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety urged thorough adherence to food poisoning prevention rules at homes and restaurants as bacterial food poisoning cases are increasing due to rising temperatures. According to the ministry, 198 suspected food poisoning reports have been received so far this year, showing a trend of increasing reports caused by bacterial food poisoning compared to the same period over the past five years.

The ministry advised, "To prevent Salmonella food poisoning, always wash hands with soap or detergent after handling eggs, chicken, and other poultry, and cook food by heating it to a core temperature of 75℃ for at least one minute before consumption."