unbaked dough came later, although it comes with potential health problems. Health risks Because of the presence of raw egg and raw flour, the consumption of uncooked cookie dough increases the possibility of contracting foodborne illness. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) strongly discourages the consumption of all food products containing raw eggs or raw flour because of the threat from disease-causing bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli. Two tablespoons of milk can be swapped for eggs in cookie recipes. Leavening, such as baking powder or baking soda, can be removed. Doing so ensures that the cookie dough is safely edible. Cookie dough should be placed in the freezer, but it is considered safe to consume if left out in the open for 2–4 hours. Several outbreaks stemmed from pathogens in flour. For example, raw flour was found to be the culprit in a June 2009 E. coli outbreak involving Nestlé Toll House prepackaged cookie dough, which was recalled; more than 7,000 people fell ill, although none died. In 2010, Nestle switched to heat-treated processing for all flour used in producing cookie dough. Heat treatment for flour is a simple treatment to kill bacteria. This treatment involves heating the flour in a oven, or heating the flour in a microwave until it gets hot. In 2016, General Mills recalled flour and cake mixes because of E. coli in the raw flour. In 2015, certain Blue Bell Ice Cream products were recalled due to Listeria monocytogenes found in the facility that produces chocolate chip cookie dough and other cookie dough containing flavors. Edible cookie dough Cookie dough designed specifically for eating raw (such as that found in ice cream) is made either with Pasteurized eggs or without eggs at all and heat-treated flour. Companies offering edible dough include "Nestle Tollhouse Edible Cookie Dough", Dō, Edoughable, and The Cookie Dough Café. Doughp, a Bay Area-founded cookie dough company experienced a sales boom during the COVID-19 pandemic despite not getting a deal on ABC's Shark Tank. Edible cookie dough, egg-free and made with specially treated flour, became a dessert trend in the 2010s and led to the creation of several businesses. Some sweet shops sell multiple desserts with cookie dough as one option, while others solely create and sell dough. Popular culture The "cookie dough" flavor, originating in the United States as comfort food, has gained worldwide recognition. References External links