Pillsbury Releases Raw Cookie and Brownie Dough Products that Can Safely Be Eaten Raw

General Mills and their Pillsbury division announced they their refrigerated raw cookie dough and brownie dough are now safe to eat raw (on those packages marked as such). This comes due to the "move to use heat-treated flour and pasteurized eggs, creating a unique product that families can enjoy baked or straight from the package."

Cookie and brownie dough traditionally contain flour and eggs, two raw materials that can contain microbial pathogens such as Salmonella and E. coli. These pathogens have led to cases of foodborne illness when that product was eaten raw. But by using pretreated eggs and flour, the product is designed to be safe when eaten raw, that is, before cooking by the consumer.

One of the difficulties has been creating a product where the pretreatment does not affect the functionality of the ingredients so that the product comes out the same as it did with the untreated ingredients.

General Mills
https://www.generalmills.com/en/News/NewsReleases/Library/2020/July/Pillsbury-brings-childhood-dreams-to-life
News Releases
Jul 27, 2020
Pillsbury brings childhood dreams to life: Cookie and brownie dough now ‘safe to eat raw’

Cookie Dough Company Shuts Down in Light of Listeria Contamination Issue

Aspen Hills, the cookie dough manufacturer with a Listeria contamination issue has decided to shut its operations.  In October, Aspen Hills product was found to contain Listeria by Blue Bell.  The company announced a recall which caused a number of customer companies to announce recalls. At which time FDA conducted an investigation and later issued a Warning Letter.

The Des Moines Register
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/money/business/2017/02/02/iowa-cookie-dough-supplier-shuts-down-after-listeria-outbreak/97401586/
Iowa cookie dough supplier shuts down after listeria outbreak
Associated Press 12:09 p.m. CT Feb. 2, 2017

CDC Report - 2016 Outbreak of Pathogenic E. coli O157:H7 Associated with Dough Mix

In this week's MMWR, CDC reviews the 2016 outbreak or E. coli O157:H7 associated with a dough mix.  There were 13 people in 9 different states who became ill.  Eight of those people were hospitalized, and two developed HUS (hemolytic uremic syndrome - a condition that can lead to loss of kidney function). 8 of these individuals ate a desert pizza made iwht the mix while one other ate bread sticks made with that dough.

Government inspectors sampled 88 samples of the dough mix at the restaurants and 6 samples of the dry dough mix at the manufacturer and did not find this strain of E. coli, (although strains of  identified non-O157 STEC were found.)

Flour is a raw agricultural commodity, and while level of pathogens such as E. coli and Salmonella are normally very low, there are times when sufficient pathogens can be present to cause illness.  While it seems not one was affected from eating the pizza with this dough, the investigators felt that the thicker desert pizza may not have been cooked as thoroughly.  And when people spread flour on surfaces, such as when working dough, this flour may then get upon other foods.

It is important for not only consumers, but also foodservice operations to treat flour as potentially contaminated.  This means cooking dough thoroughly, cleaning up spilled flour as well as flour spread on surfaces so that it does not come in contact with ready-to-eat foods, and of course, not eating raw dough.

CDC - MMWR
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/66/wr/mm6603a6.htm?s_cid=mm6603a6_e
Notes from the Field: Multistate Outbreak of Escherichia coli O157:H7 Infections Linked to Dough Mix — United States, 2016

Blue Bell Expands Recall After Supplier Expands Recall of Cookie Dough, Blue Bunny and Others Also Issues Recalls

Blue Bell is expanding its recall of cookie dough ice cream after its ingredient supplier of cookie dough expanded its recall for Listeria.   Just over two weeks ago, Blue Bell issued a recall for 5 lot codes of two flavors that contained the cookie dough ingredient.  That recall now includes all product made from February 2, 2016 through September 7, 2016.
Along with this, Blue Bunny is recalling its Hoppin' Hollidoodle ice cream because it also contains the suspect cookie dough.

 We have come to expect expansions of recalls when there is Listeria contamination issues.  These recalls get expanded because the facility finds that there are underlying issues which indicate that Listeria could have been around for some time in the facility.

Other recalls affected by this supplier of cookie dough.

Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream Company Recalls Select Products Containing Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Pieces Purchased From Outside Supplier Aspen Hills Due To Possible Health Risk

Publix Recalls Publix Premium Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream Due To Possible Listeria monocytogenes Contamination From Aspen Hills, Inc. Cookie Dough Pieces

Nutrisystem Retail Division Voluntarily Recalls One Product Containing Chocolate Cookie Dough Pieces Purchased From Third Party Supplier Due To A Possible Health Risk
FDA Recall Notice
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm524749.htm
Outside Supplier Aspen Hills Expands Cookie Dough Recall; Blue Bell Recalls All Products Made With Aspen Hills Cookie Dough Due To Potential Health Risk
For Immediate Release
October 10, 2016