- US FDA warns consumers not to eat Nestle Toll House prepackaged, refrigerated cookie dough
- Nestle Toll House Cookie Dough is widely sold at supermarkets and grocery stores
- 66 people have been reported sick with E.Coli, and 25 have been hospitalized
On Friday, June 19, 2009, Nestle USA issued a voluntary recall for all of its Toll House refrigerated cookie dough products. This came after at least 66 people were reported sick with E. Coli from eating the raw cookie dough and 25 people have been hospitalized. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)and Centers for Disease Control are conducting an investigation.
The recalled items include:
- Chocolate Chip bar
- Chocolate Chunk bar
- Walnut Chocolate Chip bar
- Jumbo Chocolate Chip bar
- Oatmeal Raisin bar
- Sugar Cookies bar
- Mini Chocolate Chip bar
- Mini Brownie Bites bar
- Fudgy Brownie with Peanut Butter Filling
- Chocolate Chip tub
- Sugar tub
- Gingerbread tub
- Peanut Butter tub
- Chocolate Chip tube
- Ultimates Peanut Butter Cups, Chips & Chocolate
- Chunks bar
- Ultimates White Chip Macadamia Nut bar
- Ultimates Chocolate Chip & Chunks with Pecans bar
- Ultimates Chocolate Chip Lovers
- Ultimates Turtles bar
- Ultimates Peanut Butter Lovers bar
- Ultimates Chocolate Chip with Caramel Filling bar
- Ultimates Chocolate Chip with Chocolate Filling bar
- Valentine Hearts Sugar Cookie Shapes
- Valentine Swirled Chocolate Chip bar
- Fudgy Brownies with Raspberry Filling
- Easter Eggs Sugar Cookie Shapes
- Easter Swirled Chocolate Chip bar
- Easter Swirled Mini Brownie Bites bar
- Red, White & Blue Swirled Choc Chip bar
- Halloween Pumpkin Pals Sugar Cookies
- Halloween Swirled Chocolate Chip bar
- Halloween Swirled Fudgy Brownies bar
- Christmas Shapes Sugar Cookies
- Christmas Swirled Chocolate Chip bar
- Christmas Swirled Fudgy Brownies bar
- Limited Edition Mint Swirled Chocolate Chip
The FDA advises you to throw away any prepackaged, refrigerated Nestle Toll House cookie dough products currently in your homes. Further, retailer and restaurants should also not sell or serve any of the products.
Do not try to cook the dough, even though eating cooked dough would be safe, because bacteria might get on your hands and counters and other cooking surfaces.
Why Is Raw Cookie Dough Harmful?
As a general matter, you should not eat any raw product that is intended to be cooked (that means licking the batter bowl!). Dough that you yourself make at home could also potentially have pathogens (infectious agents, or germs). The same is true with the pre-packaged cookie dough you buy at a store. These products contain raw eggs, which technically are pasteurized (meaning there are no pathogens), however, any other ingredient, eaten raw, may still carry bacteria and germs.
What Is E.Coli?
E. Coli is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhea, dehydration and, in the most severe cases, kidney failure.
What Are the Symptoms of E.Coli?
Watch out for:
- Severe abdominal cramping
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Bloody stool
Most healthy adults can expect complete recovery within a week. However, young children and the elderly are at a higher risk for developing severe complications, including Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), which can lead to serious kidney damage, even death. However, as of yet, no one has died from these products.
What Should You Do?
If you have recently eaten prepackaged, refrigerated Toll House cookie dough and experienced any of these symptoms, you should contact your doctor immediately. Also, any such illnesses should be reported to your state or local health authorities.
Do not eat any raw food products that are intended for cooking or baking before consumption. Be sure to use safe food-handling practices when cooking any such items. Follow the instructions and cook at the temperature required and for the duration specified. Other safety measures include washing your hands, surfaces and utensils after every contact with these types of raw products, avoid cross-contamination and be sure to refrigerate the products properly.
If you have additional questions, you can contact Nestle consumer services at 1-800-559-5025 and/or visit their Web site.
Steps to Take if You Think that You Suffered from an E.Coli Outbreak
- Keep all receipts and packaging of any Toll House cookie dough products you may have
- DO NOT eat any leftover Toll House cookie dough products
If you are currently suffering from cramping and diarrhea, and have recently eaten or have come into contact with Toll House cookie dough, go to your doctor for treatment and request a test for E. Coli O157:H7. While at the doctor, make sure you get a stool sample taken to prove you are part of this outbreak.
Do I Have a Lawsuit?
Following the recall, many attorneys and law firms have been advertising for potential E. Coli lawsuits for people who have used the products and experienced symptoms. Search for a products liability lawyer in your location if you need additional information about this type of case.
Further information on this recall can be found on the FDA Web site.
Questions for Your Attorney
- I think that the recalled cookie dough products may have caused my illness, so how should I store the leftover cookie dough? Can I put it in my freezer? Couldn't it contaminate other foods in my refrigerator or freezer?
- How severe does an illness caused by a contaminated product have to be before thinking about legal action against the manufacturer? Does it matter if it's a class action lawsuit?
- Can food manufacturers escape liability by claiming that food wasn't cooked? Everybody likes cookie dough, and I thought that the prepackaged kind was safe for my family to enjoy, unlike homemade dough made with fresh eggs
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