It’s Official – No More Eating Raw Cookie Dough or Batter… EVER

This just in: Everything fun causes death.

Every time I'd hear someone (mostly my parents growing up) tell me that it's not safe to eat raw cookie dough, my first thought was always "don't tell me how to live my life", and proceed to consume massive amounts of it before it could hit the oven.  Because let's be honest here: That's the best part about making cookies in the first place, am I right?

Well the FDA, aka, the Fun Police, has said it's no longer safe to eat raw cookie dough in any form.  Not homemade "play dough," not licking the spoon or beaters of brownie batter.  Even if you're using one of those Pinterest recipes that doesn't use raw eggs.

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.

General Mills conducted a voluntary recall of 10 million pounds of flour sold under three brand names: Gold Medal, Signature Kitchen’s, and Gold Medal Wondra.  The varieties include unbleached, all-purpose, and self-rising flours.  Flour has a long shelf life, and many people store bags of flour for a long time.  If you have any of these recalled items in your home, you should throw them away immediately.

How can you avoid the bacteria?  Cook all dough, including cookie dough, cake mix and batter, thoroughly.  Wash your hands, and DO NOT give kids raw dough to play with.

So if you'd like, you can take a moment and weep for a tiny sliver of happiness that has evaporated in the name of adulthood and safety.  OR, you can continue to be the rebel that you are and continue eating whatever you want.

Because hey, it's your life - You do You!