The CDC Is Here to Ruin the Holidays By Reminding You Not to Eat Cookie Dough

The holidays are upon us and, right on schedule, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has arrived to crush one of the small joys the season has to offer. As The Takeout reports, the CDC issued a statement recently reminding us to abstain from eating raw cookie dough while baking, no matter how great the temptation may be.

Cookie dough, though delicious, is unfortunately unsafe to consume any time of year. The dough contains raw eggs that can potentially harbor salmonella, a type of bacteria that causes fever, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. And the risk of salmonella poisoning isn't the only reason to avoid raw dough: Uncooked flour hasn't been treated to kill germs, which means it may be carrying E. coli. The bacteria—which induces symptoms similar to those seen with salmonella exposure—can stay dormant in flour for months and reactivate when it's mixed with eggs, oil, and water. The only way to make sure your cookies are safe to eat is by giving them plenty of time to bake in the oven.

It's widely known that sampling raw cookie dough comes with health risks, but some of us need an extra reminder ahead of holiday cookie swap season.

"There are many special occasions through the year that are perfect to spend time with loved ones while preparing delicious baked foods in the kitchen," the CDC said in its statement. "When you prepare homemade cookie dough, cake mixes, or even bread, you may be tempted to taste a bite before it is fully cooked. But steer clear of this temptation."

Cookies are so appealing in their uncooked form that there are entire businesses built around cookie dough that's purportedly safe to eat. New York and London are both home to cookie dough cafes, and in 2014, a company that sells edible dough by the tub found success on Shark Tank. If you don't have access to safe-to-eat dough this holiday season, there are plenty of fully-baked cookie options out there to choose from.

[h/t The Takeout]