Recalls

SOLON, Ohio (CBS13/AP) ― Federal authorities are investigating a new outbreak of bacteria-triggered illness related to a sweet treat treasured by the heartbroken and children-at-heart -- packaged raw cookie dough.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Friday that, since March, 66 people in 28 states have fallen ill with symptoms caused by e. coli bacteria after eating Nestle Toll House dough raw.

About 25 people have been hospitalized but no one has died. E. coli is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhea, dehydration and, in the most severe cases, kidney failure.

Nestle USA voluntarily recalled all of its Toll House refrigerated cookie dough products after the FDA advised consumers to throw away any Nestle Toll House cookie dough products in their homes and asked retailers, restaurateurs and other foodservice operations not to sell or serve any of the products.

Customers also can return any Nestle cookie dough product where they bought it for a full refund. The recall does not affect other Toll House products, including ice cream that contains Toll House raw cookie dough.

The federal Centers for Disease Control also are investigating the illnesses.

"This has been a very quickly moving situation," said Roz O'Hearn, spokeswoman for the company's baking division, adding the company took action within 24 hours of learning of the problem.

Nestle USA spokeswoman Laurie MacDonald said the company has temporarily stopped making the dough while the FDA investigates its factory.

"We hope to resume production as soon as possible," she said.

Nestle holds a 41 percent share of the prepared cookie dough market.

The recall includes refrigerated cookie bar dough, cookie dough tubs, cookie dough tubes, limited edition cookie dough items, seasonal cookie dough and Ultimates cookie bar dough. Nestle said about 300,000 cases of Nestle Toll House cookie dough are affected by the recall, which covers chocolate chip dough, gingerbread, sugar, peanut butter dough and other varieties.

The FDA said consumers should not try to cook the dough, even though it would be safe to eat if cooked, because the bacteria could move to their hands and to countertops and other cooking surfaces.

The cookie dough is nearly as popular raw as it is cooked. There are more than 40 raw cookie dough groups on Facebook -- one with more than 3,000 members -- complete with photos of dough and postings that read like love notes. Most do not relate directly to Nestle products.

Stacey Oyler, a 33-year old San Francisco resident, called raw cookie dough her "secret indulgence" -- a treat that became irresistible when she was pregnant with her second child last August. She said she still indulges occasionally.

"I love the combination of the salt and sweet," she said. "You can't get that from a piece of chocolate."

Raw cookie dough may be tasty, but it isn't necessarily safe. The eggs in Nestle Toll House's dough are pasteurized, which eliminates most of the risk of salmonella infection that is present in raw eggs. But other raw ingredients could contain other pathogens or bacteria. The company warns in product labels not to eat the dough raw.

Several recent food recalls have been related to bacterial contamination, including a salmonella outbreak last winter traced to a peanut company that sickened more than 600 people and that was blamed for at least nine deaths. A separate outbreak of salmonella last year linked to jalapeno peppers from Mexico led 1,400 people to become ill.

Sarah Klein, staff attorney in the food safety group at consumer advocacy group Center for Science in the Public Interest, called the news disheartening.

"Unfortunately, I don't think that people who have been working in food safety for years can be surprised at this point and sadly, I don't think the American people are surprised, either," Klein said.


Consumers who have purchased these products should not eat them. Instead, the company is asking that consumers return these products to their local grocer for a full refund. Oeople with questions can contact Nestle Consumer Services at 1-800-559-5025 or go to their website at www.verybestbaking.com.

The products involved in the voluntary 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. Variety information is included in the list below.

COOKIE & BROWNIE DOUGH BAR

Chocolate Chip bar 16.5oz 0 50000 62231 3

Chocolate Chip bar 16.5oz 0 50000 11308 8

Chocolate Chunk bar 16.5oz 0 50000 62235 1

Walnut Chocolate Chip bar 16.5oz 0 50000 62233 7

Jumbo Chocolate Chip bar 16.5oz 0 50000 62237 5

Oatmeal Raisin bar 16.5oz 0 50000 06219 5

Sugar Cookies bar 16.5oz 0 50000 62244 3

Sugar Cookies bar 16.5oz 0 50000 12178 6

Mini Chocolate Chip bar 16.5oz 0 50000 62242 9

Mini Chocolate Chip bar 16.5oz 0 50000 12188 5

Mini Brownie Bites bar 16oz 0 50000 62227 6

Fudgy Brownie With Peanut Butter Filling 19oz 0 50000 00820 9

COOKIE DOUGH TUB

Chocolate Chip tub 40oz 0 50000 62246 7

Chocolate Chip tub 80oz (5 lb) 0 50000 00934 3

Sugar tub 40oz. 0 50000 62253 5

Gingerbread tub 40oz 0 50000 44060 3

Peanut Butter tub 40oz 0 50000 44062 7

TUBE (CHUB) DOUGH

Chocolate Chip tube 16.5oz 0 50000 62239 9

Chocolate Chip tube 32oz 0 50000 00400 3

ULTIMATES COOKIE BAR DOUGH

Ultimates Peanut Butter Cups, Chips & Chocolate

Chunks bar 16oz 0 50000 00922 0

Ultimates White Chip Macadamia Nut bar 16oz 0 50000 00923 7

Ultimates Chocolate Chip & Chunks with Pecans bar 16oz 0 50000 00925 1

Ultimates Chocolate Chip Lovers 16oz 0 50000 00926 8

Ultimates Turtles bar 16oz 0 50000 00928 2

Ultimates Peanut Butter Lovers bar 16oz 0 50000 00507 9

Ultimates Chocolate Chip with Caramel Filling bar 16oz 0 50000 44066 5

Ultimates Chocolate Chip with Chocolate Filling bar 16oz 0 50000 44069 6

SEASONAL COOKIE & BROWNIE DOUGH

Valentine Hearts Sugar Cookie Shapes 15.5oz 0 50000 12009 3

Valentine Swirled Chocolate Chip bar 16oz 0 50000 00931 2

Fudgy Brownies With Raspberry Filling 19oz 0 50000 20090 0

Easter Eggs Sugar Cookie Shapes 15.5oz 0 50000 52009 1

Easter Swirled Chocolate Chip bar 16oz 0 50000 00932 9

Easter Swirled Mini Brownie Bites bar 18 oz 0 50000 20093 1

Red, White & Blue Swirled Choc Chip bar 16oz 0 50000 00937 4

Halloween Pumpkin Pals Sugar Cookies 13.5oz 0 50000 06217 1

Halloween Swirled Chocolate Chip bar 16oz 0 50000 00929 9

Halloween Swirled Fudgy Brownies bar 18oz 0 50000 00088 3

Christmas Shapes Sugar Cookies 15.5oz 0 50000 00505 5

Christmas Swirled Chocolate Chip bar 16oz 0 50000 00930 5

Christmas Swirled Fudgy Brownies bar 18oz 0 50000 00089 0

Limited Edition Mint Swirled Chocolate Chip 16oz 0 50000 00827 8

Discontinued Varieties

Valentine Hearts Sugar Cookies 13.5oz 0 50000 44056 6

Easter Brownie Bar 18oz 0 50000 00518 5

Easter Bunnies Sugar Cookies 13.5oz 0 50000 44058 0

Halloween Sugar Shapes 15.5oz 0 50000 00829 2

Christmas Sugar Cookie Tube 16oz 0 50000 00448 5

Oatmeal Cranberry Cookie Tub 48 oz. 0 50000 62229 0

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