Concerns Over Plastic Film Cause Nestlé To Recall Cookie Dough Tubs
Once upon a time, it was common practice to indulge in a bit of raw dough when baking cookies. That began to change in the 1980s, when consuming raw egg came to be associated with salmonella risk. Eventually, devoted raw cookie dough fans found a work-around — either by using pasteurized eggs or by skipping the eggs altogether. Starting in 2016, a new and largely unexpected threat emerged as uncooked wheat flour came to be known as a vector for E. coli, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Fortunately, there are ways around that as well, such as what you'll find in our recipe for Edible Cookie Dough, which uses gluten-free almond flour instead of wheat. Moreover, there are lots of retail options for ready-to-eat-raw cookie dough, which are presumed safe because they're made using heat-treated flour and either no eggs or pasteurized eggs, per The New York Times.
On the other hand, food safety isn't only about the avoidance of food poisoning. Sometimes, other issues come into play. For example, a recent Nestlé Toll House Cookie Dough recall involved contamination not with foodborne pathogens, but rather with small pieces of white plastic. That recall involved cookie dough intended for baking, but Nestlé has now issued another recall owing to the possibility of plastic contamination, and this one involves tubs of ready-to-eat raw cookie dough, according to a company announcement published by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
What to know about the Nestlé edible cookie dough recall
On November 3, 2022, Nestlé USA recalled tubs of its Nestlé Toll House Edible Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough over concerns of plastic contamination, according to a company announcement. Specifically, a "small number" of consumers alerted Nestlé that their tubs of cookie dough contained "soft plastic film." Nestlé didn't specify how many consumers brought the issue to its attention, but it did note that no injuries or illnesses were reported.
All recalled tubs were produced between August 1 and August 3, 2022. So, if you have any Nestlé Toll House Edible Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough in your possession, you'll want to check your packaging for the following Batch Code and Best By Dates: Batch Code 22135554RR with a Best By Date of 1/28/2023, Batch Code 22145554RR with a Best By Date of 1/29/23, and Batch Code 22155554RR with a Best By Date of 1/30/23. If you have any of these recalled tubs, Nestlé asks that you not consume their contents. Instead, you're advised to return them to the place of purchase for a refund or a replacement. The recall involves only these specific products, so other non-recalled Nestlé cookie dough products are considered safe. But in case you're worried, you can always heat-treat your own flour for a home not-baked cookie dough treat.
If you have additional questions, Nestlé USA can be reached at (800) 681-1678, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m.–6 p.m. EST.