The CDC has identified raw cookie dough sold under the Papa Murphy brand as being responsible for an outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis.  To date 80 cases have been confirmed in six states with patients ranging in age from 14 to 68 years with 83 percent female.  The disproportionate ratio of women is unusual for a foodborne infection but it would be consistent with tasting or consuming cookie dough in the kitchen during baking.

It is possible that additional cases will be recorded and that actual cases probably will exceed diagnosed cases by a factor of ten.

The unfortunate consequence of this outbreak is that the number of cases will be added to the CDC annual report listing SE as the causal pathogen with the inevitable but erroneous misperception that eggs were involved.