Image via the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a warning to avoid eating raw cookie dough and other un- or under-cooked baked goods this holiday season.

Yes, uncooked cookie dough is delicious, and it’s often difficult to keep your hands out of the mixing bowl – especially this time of year; however, the CDC warns raw dough can contain bacteria that cause potentially life-threatening disease.

In 2016, an outbreak of E. coli infections linked to raw flour made 63 people sick, and the raw eggs used to make pastry dough or batter carry Salmonella.

To stay safe, the CDC encourages bakers (and bakers helpers) to follow safe food handling practices, included but not limited to:

• Do not taste or eat any raw dough or batter, whether for cookies, tortillas, pizza, biscuits, pancakes, or crafts made with raw flour, such as homemade play dough or holiday ornaments.
• Do not let children play with or eat raw dough, including dough for crafts.
• Bake or cook raw dough and batter, such as cookie dough and cake mix, before eating.
• Follow the recipe or package directions for cooking or baking at the proper temperature and for the specified time.

Even though it’s tempting, think about the potential consequences of licking that spatula.