E. Coli Confirmed in Nestle Cookie Dough
FDA Says Sample Of Raw Dough Tested Positive For Bacteria; Nestle Already Recalled Product
-
A package of Nestle Toll House Fudgy Brownies refrigerated cookie dough is seen in Springfield, Ill., June 18, 2009. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman)
-
Fast Facts E. coli Learn more about a dangerous strain of a common bacteria.
Nestle voluntarily recalled all Toll House refrigerated cookie dough products made at the Danville, Va., factory earlier this month after the FDA told Nestle it suspected consumers may have been exposed to E. coli bacteria after eating the dough raw.
The FDA and the federal Centers for Disease Control have been investigating whether the cookie dough was the source of the E. coli outbreak which has sickened 69 people in 29 states, according to the latest CDC data. E. coli is a potentially deadly germ that can cause bloody diarrhea, dehydration and, in the most severe cases, kidney failure.
The FDA says the sample of Toll House refrigerated prepackaged dough was manufactured at the plant on Feb. 10.
In a statement, Nestle said the sample that tested positive came from a 16-ounce Toll House refrigerated chocolate chip cookie dough bar. The product had a "best before June 10 2009" label.
"We are very concerned about those who have become ill ... and deeply regret that this has occurred," the company said in the statement.
The company also reiterated that consumers can return the recalled products to their local grocer for a full refund.
FDA spokeswoman Stephanie Kwisnek says the FDA is working with the Glendale, Calif.-based unit of Switzerland-based Nestle SA to find the source of the contamination. Nestle said it will continue to work "closely and in full cooperation" with the investigation.
Besides the Toll House products, Nestle also makes a variety of refrigerated pastas and pasta sauces at the plant.
The company shut down production in the cookie dough section of the plant when it issued the recall. That section remains closed, but the company is still manufacturing the pasta and pasta sauces in a separate section of the plant.
© MMIX The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Michelle Obama tells how her role as the First Lady has changed her perspective.





Some people like raw cookie dough. Nothing wrong with preferring cookie dough raw. Ever heard of "Raw Cookie Dough" ice cream?
Ever heard of worms? : )
To credibility 2 - You do not get e-coli from eating raw cookie dough - salmonella is possible because of raw eggs, but e-coli is related to fecal matter.
Sad to say I would wager that the workers are typically what you see in every other warehouse or factory, immigrant workers (legal and illegal) chugging away for minimum wage and they are no given instruction or training on hygiene and safe food handling. Look at where all the e-coli came from in produce last year!
Some people like raw cookie dough. Nothing wrong with preferring cookie dough raw. Ever heard of "Raw Cookie Dough" ice cream? If it weren't popular they wouldn't continue to produce it, would they?
- by zonkzilla June 30, 2009 7:17 AM EDT
- Nestle is a very responsible and good company.
- Reply to this comment
-
- by docpeter1953 June 30, 2009 8:21 AM EDT
- try this scenario for how E. coli got into the dough:
-
-
See all 12 CommentsI remember not too long ago Nestle found the tainted peanut butter through internal testing of their products long before the FDA ordered a recall from that third party processing plant and quit buying products from that company because Nestle inspectors said "it was nasty".
I still think these food contamination things are intentional acts of sabotage or terrorist acts.
I will be curious to see how the E-coli got into cookie dough since no animal products are used.
infected employee goes to take a poop and doesn't wash his/her hands afterward, just goes straight back to work mixing dough ingredients.