Nestle is voluntarily recalling all varieties of prepackaged Nestle Toll House refrigerated cookie dough after it was potentially linked to a 29 state outbreak of E. coli 0157:H7.
The FDA is warning all customers not to eat or handle any remaining product due to the possibility of contamination or cross-contamination with this particularly virulent strain of the E. coli bacteria. Since March 2009, there have been 70 reports of E. coli 0157:H7 infections in 29 states that may be linked to eating or handling Nestle Toll House Cookies.
E. coli is a food borne illness especially dangerous to children, those with compromised immune systems and the elderly. In some cases, the E. coli 0157:H7 strain can lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a secondary condition that attacks red blood cells and can lead to renal failure. Although rare, hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is a serious and potentially fatal condition.
If you or a loved one had experienced symptoms of E. coli such as nausea, abdominal cramps, watery or bloody diarrhea, fever and fatigue and have consumed or handled any Nestle refrigerated cookie dough, you are urged to seek medical treatment and contact your local health authorities.
E. coli strains each have unique DNA structures which help in identifying potential links between illnesses and sources of outbreak. If you or a loved one is being treated for symptoms of E. coli and have consumed or handled Nestle cookie dough, ask your doctor about having a “PFGE” taken. This simple test can identify your particular strain of E. coli and possibly link it back to the source of the outbreak.
