E.Coli Found in Nestle Cookie Dough

There has been a national outbreak of E. coli 0157, a bacterium that lives in the intestines of cattle, in Nestle's refrigerated cookie dough. Food safety experts and microbiologists are stumped as to how the strain could have made it into the product. The outbreak, which has so far sickened at least 65 people in 29 states, is the latest worry for consumers unnerved by a wave of food-borne illnesses, including botulism associated with canned chili and infections from salmonella linked to peanut products. The young and the eldery are more likely to develop complications if infected with the bacteria. As of June 22, no one has died from the infection.

Nestlé recalled all its refrigerated Toll House cookie dough products, or about 300,000 cases, on Friday, within 24 hours of being notified by the FDA that it suspected a problem, said Laurie MacDonald, a vice president at Nestlé USA.

This outbreak comes as the United States government begins to revamp and reform the Food Safety System. President Obama has identified food safety as a priority, and Congress is moving legislation that would place new requirements on food manufacturers while beefing up the Food and Drug Administration's inspection and enforcement powers. A key House committee passed legislation last week that could be voted on as early as this week, and a companion bill is pending in the Senate.

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