latest news Salmonella outbreak linked to cookie dough sold in pizzerias
A salmonella outbreak linked to raw cookie dough has resulted in 18 cases in six states, including one in California, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Investigators have linked the outbreak to two varieties of cookie dough sold at Papa Murphy’s Take ‘N’ Bake Pizza stores. The chain has 64 franchises in California, most of which are in Northern California and the Central Valley, according to the company’s website.
Infected patients have reported eating the cookie dough without cooking it, although it is not meant to be eaten raw.
Two patients were hospitalized and no deaths were reported. The number of cases in the outbreak is likely higher than those reported due to asymptomatic or mild cases of salmonella that do not require medical treatment, according to the CDC.
The outbreak is the second salmonella outbreak to reach California this month after a case of Gold Medal white flour was one of 13 reported cases. A third US outbreak of 109 cases of salmonella, linked to backyard poultry, has not been reported in the state.
Anyone who has purchased Papa Murphy’s Take ‘N’ Bake Pizza Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough or S’mores Bar Dough should dispose of it to prevent illness. The CDC recommends washing surfaces and other objects that may have come in contact with the paste.
People infected with salmonella can suffer from diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps between six hours and six days after consuming the bacteria. Most cases resolve within four to seven days without treatment, although severe illness is possible, including among vulnerable populations.
