It’s a temptation that home-bakers will know well, but new advice might make you rethink munching on raw cookie dough.
Experts from the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have revealed the dangers of eating raw dough - and it’s not just the raw eggs you have to worry about.
The CDC tweeted: “Say no to raw dough! Raw dough and raw batter may give you food poisoning.”
On its website, the CDC went into further detail about this warning, which focuses on bacteria found in flour, as well as eggs.
It said: “Flour is typically a raw agricultural product. This means it hasn’t been treated to kill germs like Escherichia coli (E. coli).
“Harmful germs can contaminate grain while it’s still in the field or at other steps during flour production.
“The bacteria are killed 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.”
Raw eggs can also make you sick if eaten raw, as they can contain a germ called Salmonella - which is also killed off when cooked.
Worryingly, if these bacteria are consumed, they can cause some pretty nasty food poisoning symptoms, including stomach cramps, diarrhoea and vomiting.
Based on these findings, the CDC is urging people to be wary about the raw foods they consume.
It added: “Do not taste or eat any raw dough or batter, whether for cookies, tortillas, pizza, biscuits, pancakes, or crafts made with raw flour, such as homemade play dough or holiday ornaments.”
