Raw Reality: What’s Lurking in Your Cookie Dough

There’s something nostalgic about sneaking a spoonful of cookie dough straight from the mixing bowl. For many, it’s a guilty pleasure—comforting, indulgent, and seemingly harmless. But that unbaked bite can carry an invisible threat: Salmonella, a bacteria responsible for hundreds of foodborne illness outbreaks in the U.S., and one that has increasingly been tied to raw cookie dough.

While most people associate Salmonella with undercooked poultry or eggs, it’s also been found in flour and other dry ingredients—making it a stealthy contaminant in foods we wouldn’t expect. As the demand for refrigerated cookie dough and edible dough snacks grows, so does the concern.

Why Raw Dough Is Risky

Traditional cookie dough contains two high-risk ingredients: raw eggs and raw flour. Both can be con