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Common Ground News

Why should you not eat raw cookie dough?

Author

James Craig

Updated on February 26, 2026

Why should you not eat raw cookie dough?

Don't eat raw cookie dough or cake mixes, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is warning people this holiday season. Homemade dough often contains raw flour and eggs that can cause life-threatening diseases. Flour isn't treated to kill E. coli and other germs that can make people sick.

Considering this, why should you never eat raw cookie dough?

Bacteria are killed only when food made with flour is cooked. This is why you should never taste or eat raw dough or batter—whether made from recalled flour or any other flour.

One may also ask, can you eat raw cookie dough Nestle? They're made safe to eat raw by using pasteurized eggs and heat-treated flour, the company said. Dough comes in three flavors: Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough; Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough and Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough.

In respect to this, what are the side effects of eating raw cookie dough?

Nothing you want: fever, diarrhea, abdominal cramps and headache that can last 4 – 7 days. Since most store-bought dough tends to be pasteurized, the risk for salmonella is greatly decreased, though the risk for foodborne illness isn't.

Can raw cookie dough kill you?

Don't eat raw cookie dough or cake mixes, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is warning people this holiday season. Homemade dough often contains raw flour and eggs that can cause life-threatening diseases. Flour isn't treated to kill E. coli and other germs that can make people sick.

Can u die from salmonella?

D. Salmonella is a type of bacteria that causes an infection of your gastrointestinal (GI) tract. In some cases, it can spread to other areas of your body and cause serious illness. Although most people recover from a Salmonella infection without treatment, it's possible to become very ill or even die from it.
Raw cookie dough is not safe to eat because it contains uncooked eggs and flour, which can cause food poisoning if they are contaminated with harmful bacteria. Pregnant women, children, older adults, and people with compromised immune systems should not eat raw cookie dough because of these risks.

Why is raw dough bad for you?

Raw eggs are another ingredient in uncooked batter and dough that can make you sick. Raw or lightly cooked eggs can contain Salmonella, a germ that causes food poisoning. Read the label carefully to make sure the dough is meant to be eaten without baking or cooking. Eating uncooked flour or raw eggs can make you sick.
There are two reasons raw cookie dough can make you sick, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But even egg-free dough isn't safe if it contains raw flour, the CDC notes. Uncooked flour can carry a variety of disease-causing germs, including E. coli.

Can raw flour kill you?

Bacteria are killed only when food made with flour is cooked. This is why you should never taste or eat raw dough or batter—whether made from recalled flour or any other flour. In recent years (2016 and 2019), two outbreaks of E. Eating uncooked flour or raw eggs can make you sick.
Pillsbury now makes cookie dough that is safe to eat raw! The new formulation uses heat treated flour and pasteurized eggs to kill off possible food borne pathogens (mainly Salmonella) prior to baking the cookies. Not only that, but also all of its refrigerated brownie dough will be safe to eat raw or baked too!
Raw eggs can be contaminated with salmonella bacteria, and washing the outside won't alleviate the risk. Since most store-bought dough tends to be pasteurized, the risk for salmonella is greatly decreased, though the risk for foodborne illness isn't. Pro Tip: You can buy special safe-to-eat cookie dough at the store.
Because eating raw cookie dough really can make you sick, and not just because it contains raw eggs. In 2009, over 77 people across 30 states got food poisoning after eating prepackaged raw cookie dough. Many experienced vomiting and bloody diarrhea, and some had severe kidney damage.
And what can happen with salmonella? Nothing you want: fever, diarrhea, abdominal cramps and headache that can last 4 – 7 days. Since most store-bought dough tends to be pasteurized, the risk for salmonella is greatly decreased, though the risk for foodborne illness isn't.

How long can salmonella last?

Symptoms include diarrhoea, stomach cramps and sometimes vomiting and fever. On average, it takes from 12 to 72 hours for the symptoms to develop after swallowing an infectious dose of salmonella. Symptoms usually last for four to seven days and most people recover without treatment.
The symptoms of Salmonella infections typically appear 6 hours to 6 days after eating a contaminated food. Symptoms typically include diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps. In most cases, illness lasts 4 to 7 days and people recover without antibiotics.
Edible Cookie Dough. If you love cookie dough then you need to try this edible cookie dough. It's made without eggs and no raw flour, so it's completely safe to eat.

What happens if you eat undercooked dough?

The short answer is no. Eating raw dough made with flour or eggs can make you sick. Raw eggs may contain Salmonella bacteria, and should never be consumed raw or undercooked. Breads, cookies, cakes, biscuits, and any other baked good should always be fully cooked before it is eaten.

Is raw flour dangerous?

Raw flour is never safe to consume. You could be exposing yourself to bacteria, animal droppings, or other contaminants. Make sure that foods that contain raw flour are completely cooked before eating them - it could make all the difference for your health.
The most commonly cited reason to not eat raw cookie dough is the risk of salmonella from raw eggs. However, according to Dr. Adrienne Kassis, a primary care provider at One Medical group, only about 1 in every 20,000 eggs is contaminated, and that number decreases every year.
Pillsbury Cookie Dough Is Now Safe To Eat Raw Or Baked
We first spotted this news on the Instagram @Candyhunting, who posted a photo of some new packaging that boasted Pillsbury Chocolate Chunk & Chip cookie dough was safe to eat raw or baked. Pillsbury now makes cookie dough that is safe to eat raw!
Some companies and stores offer edible cookie dough that uses heat-treated flour and pasteurized eggs or no eggs. Read the label carefully to make sure the dough is meant to be eaten without baking or cooking. Eating uncooked flour or raw eggs can make you sick. Don't taste or eat raw dough or batter!