For immediate release: June 19, 2009 (09-103)

Contacts:
Dave Gifford, Food Safety Program 360-236-3074
Gordon MacCracken, Communications Office 360-236-4072

Cookie dough-linked illnesses prompt recall, warning from state health officials
Nestlé® TOLL HOUSE® products linked to five E. coli patients in Western Washington

OLYMPIA ¾ State health officials are warning Washington residents not to eat Nestlé® TOLL HOUSE® refrigerated cookie dough products. The products have been linked to at least 66 E. coli O157:H7 infections in 28 states, including five cases in Western Washington.

Two of the five Washington cases were King County residents. Single cases were reported in Grays Harbor, Pierce, and Thurston counties. These cases all occurred in May. Two of the five Washington cases were hospitalized. There have been no reported deaths.

The Washington State Department of Health recommends that consumers check their refrigerators and freezers for any of the recalled products. If consumers have any of the recalled products at home, they should throw the products away and not try to cook any of the recalled products. While thorough cooking will kill any E. coli bacteria that may be present, the raw products could contaminate consumers’ hands or kitchen work surfaces.

"We want people to take this seriously," said Dave Gifford, who manages the Washington State Department of Health’s Food Safety Program. "If people have these products in their homes, they shouldn’t eat them."

Nestlé USA’s Baking Division has issued a voluntary recall of all TOLL HOUSE® refrigerated cookie dough products. These products are frequently sold in plastic tubes ("chubs"), plastic tubs, and large rectangular bars. A complete list of recalled products (http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm167954.htm) is on the Food and Drug Administration’s Web site. The recall does not currently include any baked cookies, cookie dough-flavored ice creams, or other TOLL HOUSE® brand products.

Raw cookie dough is known to sometimes contain harmful bacteria. Consumers should always try to avoid the temptation to eat cookie dough before baking. As with all foods prepared at home, consumers should wash their hands before and after working with raw cookie dough.

The E. coli O157:H7 strain can cause illness, most commonly diarrhea. In extreme cases, it can cause hemolytic uremic syndrome or HUS, which can lead to kidney failure, especially in children. That didn’t happen with any of Washington’s five cases.

The Washington State Department of Health has been in communication with local health agencies in the counties where the five patients live. The department is working with its local and federal health partners to address the issues involved in this outbreak.

Washington’s most recent case is from May 21, nearly a month ago.

The five cases include:

More information on E. coli (www.doh.wa.gov/EHSPHL/factsheet/ecoli.htm) is available online.

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