NESTLE TOLL HOUSE REFRIGERATED COOKIE DOUGH RECALL

The Hawai’i State Department of Health (DOH) is warning consumers not to eat any varieties of prepackaged Nestle Toll House refrigerated cookie dough due to the risk of contamination with E. coli O157:H7 (a bacterium that causes food borne illness).

Image courtesy: www.verybestbaking.com

The DOH advises that if consumers have any prepackaged, refrigerated Nestle Toll House cookie dough products in their home that they throw them away. Cooking the dough is not recommended because consumers might get the bacteria on their hands and on other cooking surfaces.

The warning is based on an ongoing epidemiological investigation conducted by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and multiple state and local health departments. Since March 2009 there have been 66 reports of illness across 28 states. Twenty-five persons were hospitalized; 7 with a severe complication called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). No one has died.

Hawai’i has identified 1 case of E. coli O157:H7 that is associated with this outbreak.  However, final confirmation of definitive match to the outbreak strain is pending from CDC.

E. coli O157:H7 causes abdominal cramping, vomiting, and a diarrheal illness, often with bloody stools. Most healthy adults can recover completely within a week. Young children and the elderly are at highest risk for developing HUS, which can lead to serious kidney damage and even death.

Individuals who have recently eaten prepackaged, refrigerated Toll House cookie dough and have experienced any of these symptoms should contact their doctor or health care provider immediately.

Consumers who have additional questions about these products or would like to view a complete listing of recalled products should contact Nestle consumer services at 1-800-559-5025 and/or visit their Web site at www.verybestbaking.com.

(Posted by Wendy Osher © 2009; Information provided by Hawaii State Department of Health)