What happens to your body when you eat raw cookie dough

You may have heard that you shouldn’t eat raw cookie dough. However, not everyone thinks it is harmful, as there are many people who consume it regularly and enjoy it. The simple truth is that for some people, raw cookie dough is a joy to cook. As Kelly Fields, author of The Good Southern Baking Book, shares Food and wine"This has always been my favorite part of cookie making. Still, to this day, I have a piece of cookie dough at work almost every day. I grab some every time I walk by it."

It’s a feeling shared by millions of people who can’t resist its taste and texture. The flavors of butter mixed with granulated sugar—coupled with memories of licking the mixer as a child and the aroma of mom’s freshly baked cookies wafting through the kitchen—may be enough to make the advantages of raw cookie dough even more apparent. However, there’s one big downside to eating this smooth, silky treat: It’s not safe.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns Eating uncooked dough may be harmful to your health. So why do people continue to eat it? 'Supermarket guru' Phil Lempert says part of it is just good nostalgia new york times. "It brings us back to a time when we felt safe and felt good." If you’re one of the many people who can’t get enough of this famous comfort food, it’s important to understand the risks associated with consuming it.

The main reason to avoid eating raw cookie dough is that it puts you at significant risk of exposure to salmonella, a bacteria that can cause symptoms such as cramps, diarrhea, nausea, and fever. The bacteria come from the raw eggs used to prepare the batter. However, salmonella only dies when cooked properly.

Eating the batter raw means you’re eating raw eggs, which means you may be unknowingly ingesting harmful bacteria. Once this happens, symptoms can take anywhere from six hours to six days to appear (depending on mayo clinic). Although symptoms are similar to those of the stomach flu, and an infection does not always require hospitalization, in some cases a person may need more intensive medical care. This is especially true for infants, the elderly, and anyone with a compromised immune system. It’s important to see your doctor if symptoms don’t subside within a few days, or if you have bloody stools or a temperature that doesn’t go down.

Remember, just because you’ve eaten raw cookie dough before without issue doesn’t mean the same will always be the case. Dr. Karen Neal, a medical epidemiologist in the Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, tells us chattanooga times free press", "The fact that you ate raw cookie dough or other things containing raw eggs and didn’t get sick in the past doesn’t mean you won’t get sick in the future. "

Just as harmful as the eggs in raw cookie dough is raw flour, which can contain harmful E. coli. Leslie Smooth, Ph.D., Office of Food Safety, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) explains news24“Four is extracted from grains that come directly from the field and is usually not sterilized.” Therefore, any type of animal waste can remain on the flour, greatly increasing the risk of illness when consumed.

E. coli can cause a number of distressing gastrointestinal symptoms, including cramping, diarrhea, vomiting and fatigue. As with salmonella, one very critical step is crucial to making flour safe to eat. "Flour is one of the main ingredients in cookie dough, and a lot of times people think flour isn’t harmful, but it can contain bacteria because it’s not heated when it’s processed," says registered dietitian Beth Czerwony. cleveland clinic daily health.

according to CDConly cooking and baking can kill germs. Czerwony explains that process is important. "We need to heat it to at least 140 degrees Fahrenheit to kill any bacteria." Additionally, ingredients near the flour can become contaminated, which is why it’s important to keep ingredients separate during cooking.

Although E. coli symptoms usually disappear within 10 daysthis is not always the case. Sometimes, this form of food poisoning persists and leads to a kidney disease called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). This condition causes inflammation of small blood vessels, which can lead to blood clots that can damage the kidneys. Although it can affect anyone, HUS is more likely to affect children and people with weakened immune systems.

Symptoms are mainly gastrointestinal symptoms such as bloody diarrhea, bloating and vomiting. It may also cause fever and, as the condition worsens, anemia, which can lead to severe drowsiness. Symptoms of kidney damage include fatigue, paleness, confusion, water retention (especially in the calves, feet, and ankles), and decreased urination. Doctors will evaluate blood, stool, and urine to diagnose HUS and then begin treatment.

People with anemia may need blood transfusions. Kidney function and red blood cell production are closely related. When the kidneys deterioratethey don’t produce enough erythropoietinan important hormone responsible for red blood cell production. The key is to slow the progression of the disease, which may require taking medications to control blood pressure, dialysis to help filter waste products from the blood, or in rare cases, a kidney transplant.

Salmonella is more than just obvious gastrointestinal upset. Some people have more severe reactions to bacteria that cause prolonged diarrhea. This can lead to a loss of vital fluids, which can lead to dehydration. Unfortunately, this can cause serious complications for some people, especially those with already weakened immune systems, as well as children and the elderly.

mayo clinic "If someone feels dehydrated, has severe difficulty controlling fluids, needs medical attention, or has a condition that compromises their immune system, they may need antibiotics," shares Dr. Summer Allen, MD, a family medicine physician. Avoid. The key to this situation, according to Dr. Donald Ford, MD, MBA, family medicine physician cleveland clinicjust persist. "When your body tries to get rid of what’s in it, it throws away the good stuff along with the bad stuff. It flushes out a lot of fluids and toxins that make you sick. You have to be very aggressive in replacing them."

If dehydration is causing symptoms such as excessive sleepiness or difficulty speaking, adding fluids may not be enough, adds Dr. Ford. In these cases, doctors may need intravenous fluids.

The time your symptoms started may not exactly coincide with the date you ate the uncooked cookie dough. In some cases, Gastrointestinal discomfort may occur a few days after licking a spoon. Once they occur, these unwelcome side effects may affect you for up to a week, which in turn may put you at greater risk of exhaustion and dehydration.

Being sick can also be a huge inconvenience when you’re baking cookies for a special occasion, such as an upcoming holiday. For example, if your raw cookie dough consumption coincides with Valentine’s Day, Christmas, or a birthday, you may find yourself so frustrated that you can’t participate in the celebration.

Dr. Soohyoun Ahn tells us daily health When it comes to potentially harmful raw materials, it’s important to make informed choices across the board. "It’s not just cookie dough. The same risks apply to brownie and cake batter or any other dough that uses similar ingredients." The most important thing is to make safe choices in the kitchen and always make sure eggs and flour are consumed Pre-cooked.

Armed with this information, you may be wondering how you should avoid raw cookie dough at all costs if you’ve enjoyed it without issue in the past. There’s no denying the popularity of unbaked foods, which is why many food manufacturers have developed completely safe versions of them that eliminate all safety concerns.

Many types of prepackaged cookie dough are labeled "safe to eat raw" or "edible" because they are made with ingredients like pasteurized eggs and heat-treated flour. It’s worth noting that the brands that sell these products, such as Pillsbury and Nestlé, also make other products that are not heat-treated and contain raw eggs. Always look for labels or other indications to confirm that the product is safe to eat directly from the package.

Finally, if you love cookie dough ice cream, you can go ahead and enjoy it without any worries. A spokesperson for Ben & Jerry’s explained people Their cookie dough supplier only uses “flour that is heat treated during the production of cookie dough so there is no bacterial contamination.”