Cookie Dough Can Kill
@DeborahDiane (40294)
Laguna Woods, California
November 5, 2018 6:28pm CST
Most of us have eaten raw cookie dough at one time or another. In fact, it is a popular addition to many ice cream treats.
Eight years ago, when one of our granddaughters was 16, she was home baking cookies from scratch and used some fresh eggs in the cookie batter from a local farm in California's Napa Valley. That granddaughter is pictured above.
Our granddaughter developed salmonella.
The next day she developed a fever and became seriously ill with what they first thought was the stomach flu. As it became worse and she became dehydrated, her parents took her to the hospital.
Shortly after arriving, and before they had diagnosed the problem, the dehydration caused her heart to briefly stop beating.
Over the hospital intercom they announced a "Code Red." When our daughter realized the Code Red was for her daughter, she was terrified. If they had delayed any longer getting her to the hospital, our granddaughter would have died.
Fortunately, the hospital staff was able to get our granddaughter's heart started again, diagnose the problem and put her on antibiotics through an IV. She was in the hospital for two weeks and fully recovered.
Since that time, I have often heard people comment that they love raw cookie dough. Many of my friends have been skeptical that it poses any danger.
The good news is that most cookie dough in stores has been treated so the eggs are less likely to carry salmonella.
However, in our family, we never eat any type of homemade batter which contains raw eggs, such as cake batter, pancake batter, or cookie dough. The risk is just too great.
I wanted to share this story in the hope that I will help keep other families from going through what we do. Stay safe and be careful of what you eat!
18 people like this
18 responses
@DWDavis (25805)
• United States
6 Nov 18
The good news about cookie dough included in ice cream offered for commercial sale is that the dough is specifically prepared so as not to pose a hazard from salmonella. I also remember reading recently that raw flour can be a source of bacteria possibly hazardous if ingested.
4 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40294)
• Laguna Woods, California
6 Nov 18
@DWDavis - Yes, the commercial cookie dough is much safer than the homemade kind. I also heard that about raw flour. We have to be very, very careful about what we eat!
3 people like this
@DWDavis (25805)
• United States
6 Nov 18
@DeborahDiane When I think about all the things we ate when we were little it's a wonder we made it this far.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (340019)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Nov 18
@DWDavis That is so true. I used to drink milk which was milked by hand straight into a glass. The glass was rinsed in water from the dam, upended on a dusty bench in the old milking shed and used again the next day. Maybe that's what's wrong with me! 
3 people like this
@LadyDuck (471541)
• Switzerland
7 Nov 18
@DeborahDiane Also with chicken and pork meat, never eat if it's not perfectly cooked. I also avoid raw fish, I prefer not to eat sushi.
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40294)
• Laguna Woods, California
7 Nov 18
@LadyDuck - Yes, we have to be careful with eggs!
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40294)
• Laguna Woods, California
8 Nov 18
@LadyDuck I occasionally eat sushi, and I know it can be dangerous, too.
2 people like this
@DianneN (247186)
• United States
7 Nov 18
I'm so glad your sweet granddaughter received help and survived. When our kids were young, we heard about salmonella poisoning from raw eggs and other raw foods. We've always been careful and even when eating sushi. One can't be too careful these days.
Have a great trip to Delaware! Watching the election returns right now while myLotting and biting my nails.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40294)
• Laguna Woods, California
9 Nov 18
@DianneN - I am having so much fun here! I was out climbing on the pirate ship with the grandsons awhile ago. I felt like a kid again! LOL
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40294)
• Laguna Woods, California
8 Nov 18
@DianneN I'm relaxing in Delaware right now, while my grandchildren take a nap. The candidate I supported for Congress is still in an "undecided" race, while they count provisional and mail-in ballots. We always knew this one would be close, because there has never been a Democrat elected in this district. However, I'm thrilled we flipped Congress and picked up six governorships, too!
Since the election, our president has flipped out, though. He is absolutely insane!
1 person likes this
@DianneN (247186)
• United States
8 Nov 18
@DeborahDiane I'm very satisfied with the results especially in our town and state. Extra happy about the House and the vibe of the country. Of course he has flipped out. Idiot!
Hope you enjoy your time in Delaware!!!!!!
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40294)
• Laguna Woods, California
6 Nov 18
@JudyEv - Yes, we always ate raw dough until that time, too. Since then, no one in our family eats it. The doctors told our daughter that only a very, very tiny percentage of eggs contain salmonella, but it only takes one.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (340019)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Nov 18
@DeborahDiane I couldn't imagine it being very common but as you say, it only takes one.
2 people like this
@sunrisefan (28524)
• Philippines
6 Nov 18
I'm glad to know your granddaughter was brought to the hospital immediately before it was too late. Thanks for sharing the information on the danger of homemade batter from raw eggs.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40294)
• Laguna Woods, California
7 Nov 18
@sunrisefan - Thank you!
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40294)
• Laguna Woods, California
7 Nov 18
@sunrisefan - You are welcome. I would not want this to happen to another family.
1 person likes this
@sunrisefan (28524)
• Philippines
7 Nov 18
@DeborahDiane Certainly, well-meaning individuals like you and me would not like anyone to be in that situation. That would be very stressful to the whole family. Thank God everthing went well for your granddaughter.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40294)
• Laguna Woods, California
7 Nov 18
@Icydoll - Me, too. The whole experience was very scary for our family!
@snowy22315 (180760)
• United States
10 Nov 18
Wow, that is scary. so glad she is OK now.
1 person likes this
@changjiangzhibin89 (16764)
• China
7 Nov 18
Fortunately your granddaughter got over the salmonella.We never have eaten the raw cookie dough,because we have different eating habit from yours.I have seen the photo above and know she is a promising girl.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40294)
• Laguna Woods, California
8 Nov 18
Thank you. Yes, it is fortunate you do not eat raw cookie dough in your country!
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40294)
• Laguna Woods, California
14 Nov 18
@jstory07 - You have definitely been doing the right thing to NOT eat cookie dough!
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
7 Nov 18
Hmm I never thought of that aspect before although I have had a decent amount of cookie dough when younger and pancake batter in past years.
Good thing to know.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40294)
• Laguna Woods, California
8 Nov 18
I have eaten it in the past, too. It just takes one raw egg with salmonella to create a disaster!
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40294)
• Laguna Woods, California
10 Nov 18
@just4him - I always tasted my batters, too. However, I never taste them after the raw eggs are put in, anymore. I know the risk is low, but definitely not worth it. When that granddaughter was in college, she even had one of her professors tell the students that "there is no longer a risk in raw eggs." She said she couldn't believe her professor would actually say that, so she told her teacher about her personal experience.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40294)
• Laguna Woods, California
17 Nov 18
@just4him - We always assume that professors know everything they are talking about. The truth is that they a human and often don't know all the facts!
1 person likes this
@just4him (317089)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
16 Nov 18
@DeborahDiane Professors shouldn't mislead students.
1 person likes this
@hillhjill (23717)
• United States
6 Nov 18
Thank you for sharing and I'm glad that your granddaughter is ok. I have always ate raw cookie dough but not homemade.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40294)
• Laguna Woods, California
6 Nov 18
@hilhjill - Yes, it is the homemade kind that can be risky. The risk is very low, but not worth it!
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (35608)
•
6 Nov 18
Thanks for this information. I have tasted raw cookie dough and thought nothing of getting sick from it. I guess like preparing meats (chicken) for a meal you need to be very careful. Germs can come into contact with food and easily contaminate it.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40294)
• Laguna Woods, California
7 Nov 18
@dgobucks226 - Yes, we have to be careful with our food. It is easy to get careless.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40294)
• Laguna Woods, California
9 Nov 18
@porwest - You are so right that no one ever thinks it could happen to them. It was terrifying for our family, though.
1 person likes this
@popciclecold (38721)
• United States
7 Nov 18
I have heard of this before, so glad they got her to the hospital, thank you for sharing your story, it will help a lot of people.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40294)
• Laguna Woods, California
7 Nov 18
@popciclecold - I hope it does prevent someone else from going through the same thing!
@wolfgirl569 (106298)
• Marion, Ohio
6 Nov 18
Glad she os ok. I love raw cookie dough and use my own eggs in it.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40294)
• Laguna Woods, California
6 Nov 18
@wolfgirl569 - Everyone in our family loved raw, homemade cookie dough, too, until this happened. It just took one egg to nearly kill her.
