E. coli in Flour and Cookie Dough Addressed at Food Protection Conference
At this year’s annual meeting of the International Association for Food Protection (IAFP) in Anaheim, California, several presentations address the issue of E. coli contamination in refrigerated cookie dough and the flour used to make it.
One presentation, “Flour Food Safety: The Changing Landscape — Escherichia coli O157:H7,” was given by representatives from Cargill, Nestle and ConAgra and outlined how the industry is reexamining flour as a potential source for E. coli contamination in food. The importance of this issue is highlighted by last year’s E. coli outbreak associated with Nestle Tollhouse raw cookie dough that sickened roughly 75 people in multiple states. According to and IAFP summary of the presentation:
“Flour has been viewed as a raw agricultural product for years; but with a recent outbreak involving consumption of an uncooked product containing flour, regulators and industry are re-examining whether flour should be treated as a RTE ingredient in some foods that may be consumed uncooked by the consumer. This mini-symposium will examine the history of flour and what industry knows about the microbiology of this product during production, harvesting and milling; the regulatory perceptions of flour as a potential vehicle of pathogens; the transformation of microbiological criteria associated with flour and the verification testing required to gauge compliance with the new criteria; and one solution available to deliver RTE flour as an ingredient.”
Another piece of research included at the conference comes from researchers at the Silliker, Inc., Food Science Center in South Holland, Illinois, and focuses on validating testing methodologies for raw cookie dough and its ingredients.
Important Information about the Nestlé® TOLL HOUSE® Refrigerated Cookie Dough Products Recall From PritzkerOlsen, P.A., One of America’s Most Experienced Food Safety Law Firms
By Pritzker Olsen
We are receiving hundreds of calls and emails from people concerned about E. coli O157:H7 exposure from Nestlé® TOLL HOUSE® refrigerated cookie dough products. Here are some important facts to keep in mind:
1) The symptoms of E. coli O157:H7 infections vary for each person but often include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea (often bloody), and vomiting. If there is fever, it usually is not very high (less than 101˚F/less than 38.5˚C).
2) These symptoms may represent a life threatening infection. If you have symptoms, especially bloody diarrhea, you should get immediate medical attention.
3) The only practical way to diagnose E. coli O157:H7 is by stool sample. Without a stool sample confirming the presence of E. coli O157:H7, it is difficult to prove you are part of this outbreak. Therefore, if you believe you have symptoms related to E. coli O157:H7, you need to receive medical attention and get a stool test.
4) You need to get a stool test as soon as possible after your symptoms commence. If you wait too long, the E. coli O157:H7 bacteria may be shed from your body and the test will be negative even though you had an E. coli O157:H7 infection. Also, if you are prescribed antibiotics, the medication may kill off the E. coli O157:H7 in which case your test will be negative.
5) This is important: Non-specific supportive therapy, including hydration, is important. Antibiotics should not be used to treat this infection. There is no evidence that treatment with antibiotics is helpful, and taking antibiotics may increase the risk of HUS. Antidiarrheal agents like Imodium® may also increase that risk. Thus, if you receive antibiotics, it may cause you harm and make it impossible to detect the E. coli O157:H7.
6) If you have remaining Nestlé® TOLL HOUSE® refrigerated cookie dough products that have been recalled in this outbreak, do not throw them out or return them to the grocery store. Here’s why: lab testing of the product may confirm the presence of E. coli O157:H7. Thus, if your stool is not tested or if the test is negative, it still may be possible to link your symptoms to the outbreak if the product tests positive for E. coli O157:H7. Therefore, seal the unused Nestlé® TOLL HOUSE® refrigerated cookie dough products in a plastic bag, mark the bag so it is not used or consumed accidentally, and continue to store it in your refrigerator until it is tested.
7) Call us right away if you have E. coli O157:H7 symptoms and you test positive for E. coli O157:H7 or if you have strong reason to believe a negative test does not rule out E. coli O157:H7 (i.e. you were put on antibiotics before stool testing was done)
PritzkerOlsen, P.A. is one of the most experienced and trusted food safety law firms in the United States and has represented foodborne illness survivors in virtually every major E. coli O157:H7 outbreak.
Cookie Dough Recall Annouced by Nestle Toll House
By Brendan Flaherty
A sweeping Nestle Toll House cookie dough recall was announced today by the Nestle company in a news release that said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are investigating an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 “that may be related to consumption of raw cookie dough.”
A number of people who have been infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli have reported eating Nestle Toll House cookie dough, uncooked. The recall includes ALL varieties of Toll House refrigerated cookie dough products. It does not pertain to Toll House chocolate chips or other Nestle Toll House products, including cookies already baked and purchased outside the home.
To see the complete recall list, click here. The products involved in the recall include all varieties of Nestle Toll House refrigerated Cookie Bar Dough, Cookie Dough Tub; Cookie Dough Tube; Limited Edition Cookie Dough items; Seasonal Cookie Dough and Ultimates Cookie Bar Dough.
The first official word of the investigation came from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, which has been working with the FDA, CDC, Minnesota Department of Health and other state health agencies to investigate the outbreak. Colorado officials said there are at least 66 confirmed cases of the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7 in 28 states. Of the five confirmed cases in Colorado, two people were hospitalized and one has suffered severe complications.
If you believe you or someone you know has become ill from eating raw cookie dough covered by the Nestle Toll House recall, contact an E. coli lawyer at Pritzker Olsen Attorneys, 1-888-377-8900. The firm is accepting additional cases from all states involved in the outbreak.
Pritzker Olsen has begun its own investigation into the Toll House E. coli outbreak and more information will be forthcoming. If you have purchased Nestle cookie dough, do not consume the product.
Toll House E. coli Outbreak: FDA Warns Consumers Not to Eat Toll House Cookie Dough
By Kathy Will
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are warning consumers not to eat any varieties of prepackaged Nestle Toll House refrigerated cookie dough due to the risk of contamination with E. coli O157:H7.
Nestle USA’s Baking Division has initiated a recall of all Nestle Toll House refrigerated cookie dough products. The outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 is reported to include at least 66 people from all across America, 7 of which developed a life threatening complication called hemolytic uremic syndrome.
E. coli O157:H7 is bacteria that can cause serious permanent injury and death, especially in young children, the elderly and people with compromised immune systems. People sickened in this Toll House E. coli outbreak have become seriously ill.(HUS).
If you think you or a family member has contracted E. coli O157:H7 from eating Toll House refrigerated cookie dough, contact PritzkerOlsen Attorneys at 1-888-377-8900 (toll free).
