Warnings against eating raw dough have been issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The holiday season is when most people bake sweets, and eating raw dough and batter is a fun thing to do. But it can make you very sick. People also often make doughs for crafts, such as making Christmas ornaments. Never use raw flour for those projects.
There’s a special warning, too, about the Salmonella outbreak that is linked to Duncan Hines cake mixes. Check your pantry to see if you have any of these recalled cake mixes. If you do, throw them away.
The problem ingredients in cookie doughs and cake batters are eggs and flour. Eggs are often contaminated with Salmonella bacteria. And flour has been linked to E. coli outbreaks in the past.
Flour is a raw agricultural product, which means that it isn’t treated to kill pathogens. Bacteria can contaminate grains in the field, during harvest, during transport, and during processing. People don’t usually think of flour as being a risk for food poisoning, but it is.
So, do not taste or eat any raw dough or batter. This applies whether you are making biscuits, pie crust, cookies, cakes, or craft doughs. Never let children play with or eat raw doughs.
Always follow the baking directions when you are making cookies and cakes. And refrigerate any doughs or batters that contain raw flour or eggs.
When you’re in the kitchen, try to contain flour. This can be difficult, since flour can get everywhere. Wipe down countertops with soap and water after you are done baking. And always wash your hands well with soap and water after handling raw flour and raw eggs. Wash bowls and utensils with warm, soapy water too.
Have a safe and happy holiday season and enjoy spending time in the kitchen.
