By , ,
Published October 19, 2015
Nestle USA is voluntarily recallingall of their Toll House refrigerated cookie dough products today after reports of a possible E. coli outbreak linked to the ingestion of raw cookie dough. The FDA and the CDC are investigating reports of 66 cases of illness across 28 states related to these Toll House products. Now, I'm sure we've all indulged in a handful of raw cookie dough at one point or another, but this recall is just another reminder (aside from the WARNING printed on the label) - that it's not safe to eat until it's heated!
Because of the popularity of these products, we've been getting a lot of questions about E. coli, its symptoms and how to prevent infection. Here's a quick Q&A to help clear things up for you.
What is E. coli? E. coli is a kind of bacterium called Escherichia colithat lives in the digestive tracts of animals and humans. There are many different strains of E. coli bacteria, and for the most part, many of them are harmless. But some strains can cause extreme abdominal discomfort, diarrhea, bloody stools and vomiting - while others strains can lead to urinary tract infections, respiratory illnesses, anemia, kidney failure and even death.
Where does it come from? Contaminated food: The most common way people in the U.S. become infected with E. coli is from eating contaminated food. In fact, the CDC estimates that 85 percent of E. coli infections come from ingesting infected food or water. Because E. coli bacteria live in the intestines of healthy animals, like cows, it is possible for processed meats to become contaminated. If the contaminated meat is not heated to 160 degF during preparation, the bacteria can survive and infect you when you eat it. Raw foods can also carry E. coli. It's important to check the labels and make sure that all your dairy products are pasteurized, or heated to kill off bacteria before hitting the store shelves. Raw fruits and vegetables can become contaminated if they come in contact with manure or animal feces.
Contaminated water: While not as common as foodborne E. coli infections, people can also become ill from drinking or ingesting contaminated water that has not been properly treated. And sometimes, accidentally swallowing lake or pool water that has come in contact with human or animal feces can put you at risk for becoming infected with E. coli.
Person-to-person: E. coli can also be spread from person-to-person if someone does not wash their hands thoroughly after a bowel movement. This is not as common, but it's especially important for people who work in the restaurant/food preparation industry because they can spread the bacteria from their hands to other objects - including your dinner! I know it's not a nice thought, but it happens more often than you think, so it sounds simple, but washing your hands is one of the easiest ways to prevent all kinds of infections.
What are the symptoms? Symptoms usually start 3-4 days after exposure to the bacteria and can include:
Who is at risk?
How is it treated?E. coli infections will usually clear on their own in about a week in a healthy person and treatment involves resting and staying hydrated. Often, people just assume they have a stomach bug and don't go to the doctor, so they don't know that E. coli caused their illness, but a simple stool test can diagnose the condition. As a rule of thumb, you should contact your physician any time there is blood in your stool.
https://www.foxnews.com/health/cookie-dough-recall-qa-understanding-e-coli