The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) issued a press release on June 18 about an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 which has been under investigation by several state health departments and the CDC. The CDPHE release revealed that 66 people in 28 states have been sickened, and that epidemiological evidence is strong that the vehicle is Nestle Toll House uncooked cookie dough. The CDPHE reports that there are five cases in Colorado; two have been hospitalized and one has developed HUS (hemolytic uremic syndrome).
Reports had been surfacing about the potential link to Nestle Toll House raw Cookie Dough, but the Colorado release was the first official announcement. Made late in the day, the press release urged consumers to stay away from the product until more information was available.
“We can’t be certain that raw cookie dough is the source of these infections, but we are concerned enough that it might be and want consumers to be aware,” said Colorado foodborne illness epidemiologist Alicia Cronquist.
Further information is expected today.