Nestle Cookie Dough Tied to 66 Illnesses From E. Coli

Nestle Toll House Cookie Dough Recall

Photo Credit Anna Molly Madison

Nestle is voluntarily recalling all of its refrigerated cookie dough products in the midst of an E. coli outbreak that has a strong link to the product. Sixty-five people in 29 states have fallen ill after eating the raw cookie dough. Twenty-five of these victims have required hospitalization. There has been no loss of life.

E. coli is a potentially fatal bacteria that can cause bloody diarrhea, dehydration and, in the most severe cases, kidney failure. The FDA has asked anyone possessing the product to throw it away and to not sell or serve these items. Items can be returned to the place of purchase for a refund. While the baked products are considered safe to eat, the FDA is asking everyone to not use the product. Bacteria from the dough can be transferred via hands or other surfaces the dough might come in contact with.

The company has temporarily ceased refrigerated dough production while the FDA inspects the plant. The recall includes refrigerated cookie bar dough, cookie dough tubs, cookie dough tubes, limited edition cookie dough items, seasonal cookie dough and Ultimates cookie bar dough. Nestle said about 300,000 cases of Nestle Toll House cookie dough are affected by the recall, which covers chocolate chip dough, gingerbread, sugar, peanut butter dough and other varieties.
Nestle cookie dough is linked to E. coli and recalled San Jose Mercury News

Nestle Cookie Dough Tied to 66 Illnesses From E. Coli Bloomberg

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Swiss Franc Weakens Sharply; SNB Has No Comment

The Swiss franc has weakened sharply against other major currencies

The Swiss franc has weakened sharply against other major currencies several hours after the Swiss National Bank said Thursday that it would intervene to stop an irrational rise in the franc against the euro. Asked about the franc's weakening, a spokesman for the SNB said he has no comment.

The SNB left key interest rates on hold at 0.25% earlier Thursday.

By 1335 GMT, the euro was trading at CHF1.5115, according to EBS, up from a post-March 12 intervention low of CHF1.5006 earlier in the trading session. The session high was CHF1.5140.

The SNB last intervened in the currency markets in March, when it sold the Swiss franc to push the euro up from the CHF1.48 area to over CHF1.53.

The Swiss National Bank doesn't have a fixed threshold for intervention in foreign-exchange markets to prevent the franc from rising against the euro, Thomas Jordan, a member of the central bank's policy-setting directorate, said earlier Thursday.

Nonetheless, traders have been keeping a close eye on the Swiss franc, with the euro trading close to the CHF1.50 point in recent days.

The safe-haven Swiss franc has been climbing of late due to renewed fears among investors about the global economy.

Swiss authorities are concerned about the strength of their currency

Swiss authorities are concerned about the strength of their currency because it could reduce the country's exports and increase the risk of deflation. Traders said the Bank for International Settlements sold Swiss francs on behalf of the SNB. The BIS declined to comment.