Holiday baking with safety in mind

Lots of cookies are made each holiday season. Many cookie recipes use eggs, which are commonly linked to the bacteria nontyphoidal Salmonella. It is important to keep this in mind and use preventive measures to ensure you stay safe during the Christmas season. 

Eggs are used to make many things like Christmas cookies. Eggs may or may not contain nontyphoidal Salmonella. The eggs can acquire this bacterium when on the farm. Many of the farm animals carry this bacterium naturally like chickens. If a chicken carrying this bacterium lays an egg, this egg has nontyphoidal Salmonella on the shell. But an egg that is laid by a chicken not carrying these bacteria can still obtain the bacteria by bird droppings from a bird containing the bacteria. It is important to treat every egg like it may contain the bacteria.  

If someone consumes a small amount of the bacteria, they can become ill. This illness is called salmonellosis, which leads to symptoms like diarrhea, abdominal cramps, vomiting, and fever. The severity depends on the person’s health and the quantity of bacteria. 

To stay safe while baking cookies, there are important preventive measures to follow. First, avoid eating raw cookie dough, which the CDC recommends against due to the risk of illness. Another step is to ensure the cookies that contain eggs are baked to 165℉ internal temperatures, which effectively kills any potential salmonella bacteria. These steps ensure that the cookies containing eggs are safe to consume. 

Another important preventative measure while baking cookies is avoiding cross-contamination. Wash your hands, utensils, and any equipment that comes into contact with the raw cookie to prevent the spread of harmful bacteria to other surfaces or utensils. By following these steps, you can reduce the risk of foodborne illness and safely enjoy your holiday treats. 

Caitlin Kerry is a junior in the dietetics program at Central Michigan University. To learn more about the nutrition and Dietetics program and course offerings, please get in touch with the program director Dr. Najat Yahia at yahia1n@cmich.edu.