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FDA says you really can't eat raw cookie dough -- for REAL this time

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Posted at 8:31 AM, Jun 30, 2016
and last updated 2016-06-30 08:45:52-04

Everyone knows that you're *not* supposed to eat raw cookie dough...because of the raw eggs and all that jazz.

But everyone also knows that one little spoonful won't kill you. And the Internet is full of magnificent recipes for eggless raw cookie dough.

Now, the FDA is turning all of our worlds upside down and said Wednesday that we really have to stop eating raw cookie dough. The culprit: flour contaminated with E. coli.

The New York Times reports that some 38 people in 20 different states were infected by the "cookie dough strain," which is actually called Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O121.

"Investigations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the F.D.A. traced the source of the outbreak to flour that was produced in November 2015 at the General Mills facility in Kansas City, Mo.," the Times' article reads. "General Mills issued a voluntary recall of 10 million pounds of flour sold under three brand names: Gold Medal, Signature Kitchens and Gold Medal Wondra. Flour that is part of the recall should be thrown away."

The symptoms of E. coli are pretty gross -- diarrhea, bloody stool and vomiting -- and, if untreated, can lead to kidney failure. Children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems are most vulnerable to be infected.

Since last December, 10 people have been hospitalized for four-related E. coli infections, the Times said.

So, if you're looking for that sign to try the paleo or Atkins diets, now would be a great time.

POLL below: Will you stop eating raw cookie dough?