The Washington State Department of Health is working with local and federal public health partners to investigate cases of Salmonella likely linked to consuming raw chocolate chip cookie dough and raw s’mores bars dough from Papa Murphy’s Take ‘N’ Bake Pizza from multiple locations in Washington state. The company has discontinued selling the raw cookie dough products nationally at this time.
Papa Murphy’s products are not sold or served at University food establishments but may be present in the homes of University community members.
Currently there are six cases from six WA counties: Clark (1), King (1), Lincoln (1), Pierce (1), Spokane (1), and Whatcom (1). One person has been hospitalized. Four of the six cases so far report eating raw cookie dough products from Papa Murphy’s. This raw cookie dough is intended to be cooked before consumption. The current investigation has yet to determine which ingredient is the source of contamination. More cases may be identified as the investigation progresses.
What should consumers do?
Check freezers and fridges for any Papa Murphy’s raw chocolate chip cookie dough and s’mores bars dough. If found, immediately dispose of the product. Do not eat these products. Thoroughly wash and sanitize any utensils and surfaces that may have come into contact with dough products.
If you (or someone in your household) have eaten the Papa Murphy’s cookie dough or s’mores dough products, contact a healthcare provider if symptoms develop and inform them that you have eaten a product that is likely linked to a Salmonella outbreak.
About Salmonella
Salmonellosis is a common bacterial infection caused by strains of Salmonella. These bacteria have the potential to infect both humans and animals. Illness symptoms can develop one to three days following exposure to Salmonella and may include diarrhea, fever, chills, abdominal discomfort, and occasional vomiting.
Illness prevention practices
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Always bake raw dough according to package directions before eating.
- Tasting or eating raw dough or batter made with flour and eggs can make you sick.
- Flour doesn’t look like raw food, but most flour is raw. That means it hasn’t been treated to kill germs that can cause foodborne illness, such as Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Salmonella. Germs are killed only when flour is baked or cooked.
- Raw and lightly cooked eggs can also contain Salmonella, and cause foodborne illness.
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Check the label.
- Some companies make edible cookie dough and batter that you can find in stores. These products are made with heat-treated flour and pasteurized eggs or no eggs.
- Read the label carefully to make sure the dough is meant to be eaten without baking or cooking.
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Wash hands, work surfaces, and utensils thoroughly after contact with flour, raw dough, or batter.
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Keep raw food or dough separate from other foods while preparing them to prevent any possible contamination from spreading.
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Do not let children play with or eat raw dough products, including dough for crafts.
Visit the Washington State Department of Health website for more information about foodborne illness.