Cookie Dough is Back - With a Warning

by Katherine Tweed (Subscribe to Katherine Tweed's posts)
Aug 19th 2009 4:00PM

Photo: David Rogowski/AOL

One of America's favorite indulgences is back. Packages of cookie dough are hitting the stores after a nearly two-month hiatus as a result of Nestle Toll House's iconic yellow packages being voluntarily recalled after they were linked to an E. coli outbreak.

Let's be honest, there's a lot of people -- young and old -- who love to take a spoon directly to a diet-derailing roll of cookie dough. But Nestle has now slapped a "Do not consume raw cookie dough" warning label to discourage that behavior. There's also a blue label to let everyone know it's a "new batch," not to be confused with that old, potentially tainted roll of cookie dough sitting in your fridge.

Maybe this is the right time to ditch this late-night treat all together. If you want some chocolate chip cookies, bake them from scratch. We recommend trying out this oatmeal chocolate chip cookie recipe for a low-fat version of the classic treat.

Remember, even if you make the cookies yourself, the raw dough still carries the risk of salmonella from the uncooked eggs. But usually a bite of raw cookie dough that is homemade is just that, one or two bites.

The other problem with Toll House cookie dough is that everyone eats it right out of the container. Just like ice cream or a bag of chips, diving directly into the package is a sure-fire way to overeat. And when have you ever seen someone put raw cookie dough into a little bowl and eat a portion size of one or two cookies?

So go ahead and have a cookie every now and then. Just bake them first and keep portion size in mind.

Or if you're craving a sweet treat, try this one of these low-calorie desserts.

Comments (19)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Joanna 8-19-2009 @ 7:27PM

If you want to make you own cookie dough and keep it raw, you could always splurge and try to find pasteurized eggs...

K.C. 8-19-2009 @ 9:48PM

The best way to help your diet succeed is to leave things like Nestle Chocolate Chip cookie dough at the store. If you don't bring it home, you'll never eat it raw or cooked.

DJ Karma 8-19-2009 @ 10:12PM

You can make really good cookies/ cookie dough without the eggs- just look for a vegan recipe.

tony 8-19-2009 @ 11:15PM

WARNING ! CONTINUED USE OF THIS PRODUCT COULD TURN YOU INTO A FAT PIG ! That's a warning i would like to see.

Annee 8-22-2009 @ 2:37PM

Hey tony, better to be a piglet than a Self-righteous BIGOT.

Gina 8-20-2009 @ 12:33AM

We love raw cookie dough. We've eaten it all our lives and we're fine. Usually I bake from scratch but we still eat the dough reguardless. When we say eat raw cookie dough we don't mean the entire package. We'll have a spoon or two and that's it. I eat raw cookie dough in ice cream as well and I'm always fine. I wouldn't give it to my kids if I thought they would get sick. They never have and they are all grown adults that still enjoy raw cookie dough! Come on CHRISTMAS! I can't wait to have a reason to bake again!

Joe 8-20-2009 @ 12:57AM

ha ha Tony says Warning, continued to use this could turn you into a fat pig! I guess he should know!

design*spatter 8-20-2009 @ 2:24AM

Definitely! Start from scratch and don't risk your health! Im not against saturated fat foods but I personally do NOT eat! Love being healthy and eating healthy foods! "-D

pochantis 8-20-2009 @ 2:37AM

AAAHAHAHAAHAHhhahaa

aishadsean 8-20-2009 @ 3:12AM

I am laughing so hard at that comment that I am crying. That gave me a good mental picture. So funny! I hope that you lost some weight at least.

Carxtoys 8-20-2009 @ 3:34AM

Like were going to stop eating raw cookie dough..! Damn that shlt is good...!!!

michele 8-22-2009 @ 2:59PM

You can eat healthy foods from now until the cows come home, it's not going to protect you from what fate and your genetics have in store for you.

marleigh 8-22-2009 @ 3:06PM

I have tried this cookie dough and I don't care for the taste. To me, it's totally different than home made cookies from the back of the Nestles choc. chip package.

Sparklle 8-22-2009 @ 3:39PM

This isn't about diets. It's about E coli. Not everyone wants a god damn healthy alternative cookie.

j w 8-22-2009 @ 4:37PM

Eating raw cookie dough is like chewing on sand.

cookie monster 8-22-2009 @ 4:57PM

Don't eat raw chocolate cookie dough? Is nothing sacred any more?

Cissy 8-22-2009 @ 6:14PM

I have never understood what anyone sees in raw cookie dough.
It tastes and feels like mush in your mouth. Yuk. Give me a warm from the oven chocolate chip cookie any day!