Skip to main content
          Skip to FDA Search
          Skip to in this section menu
          Skip to footer links


U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government

					Here’s how you know
          			Dot gov**The .gov means it’s official.**Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you're on a federal government site.
							      SSL**The site is secure.** The **https://** ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely. 
			U.S. Food and Drug Administration
				
        Search
            Menu
							
						Search FDA
									
									Submit search 
		Featured
							Contact FDA
	                FDA Guidance Documents
	                Recalls, Market Withdrawals and Safety Alerts
	                Press Announcements
	                Warning Letters
	                Advisory Committees
	                En Español

					Products
            Food
							Drugs
							Medical Devices
							Radiation-Emitting Products
							Vaccines, Blood, and Biologics
							Animal and Veterinary
							Cosmetics
							Tobacco ProductsTopics
            About FDA
							Combination Products
							Regulatory Information
							Safety
							Emergency Preparedness
							International Programs
							News and Events
							Training and Continuing Education
							Inspections and Compliance
							Science and ResearchInformation For
            Consumers
	            Patients
	            Industry
	            Health Professionals
	            Federal, State and Local Officials 
 In this section:

                Consumer Updates

Consumer Updates

                        Animal & Veterinary
          Children's Health
          Cosmetics
          Dietary Supplements
          Drugs
          Food
          Medical Devices
          Nutrition
          Radiation-Emitting Products
          Tobacco Products
          Vaccines, Blood & Biologics


                        Artículos para el consumidor en español Home
          For Consumers
          Consumer Updates
          Flour Is a Raw Food and Other Safety FactsConsumer Updates Flour Is a Raw Food and Other Safety Facts
  
  					Eating raw (uncooked) flour, dough or batter could make you sick
	
    Subscribe to Email Updates
    Share
    Post
    Linkedin

    Email
    PrintImage
              Photo of raw cookie dough on baking tray on kitchen counter with eggs, sugar, and flour in the background.Español​

You may not realize it, but most flour is a raw food. And it hasn’t been treated to kill any bacteria (germs) it may contain. Cooking and baking is what kills any bacteria in flour, as well as in raw eggs that are often used with it.

To stay safe, don’t eat or taste raw (uncooked) flour, dough or batter. Also, don’t let children use raw dough for crafts or “play clay.” Even if children don’t eat the dough, they may put their hands in their mouth after handling it.

Flour Facts

If you knew about the dangers of eating raw meat, poultry or eggs and didn’t know about flour, you’re not alone.

Most people in the U.S. don’t think raw flour is risky to eat, according to a 2019 U.S. Food and Drug Administration survey.

But it could make you sick. Over the years, the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have investigated several outbreaks of foodborne illness (food poisoning) involving raw flour or products that contain flour, like cake mixes and cookie dough. In those investigations, either the bacteria *Salmonella* or *Escherichia coli (E. coli)* caused food poisoning, which can have mild to serious symptoms.

How does bacteria get into flour? The flours most used for baking and cooking at home are made directly from raw grains. They can be exposed to bacteria in the field or when the flour is being made. Grains are harvested, ground and sometimes bleached, but processing raw grains into flour does not kill bacteria.

Flour Safety Tips and Other Resources

Both the FDA and the CDC have for years reminded people not to eat raw dough. Both agencies have helpful resources on their websites for safely using flour and eggs. Here’s a sampling of do’s and don’ts from cooking to cleanup and shopping to storing.

Handling Flour Safely: What You Need to Know
	What You Need to Know About Egg Safety
	Say No to Raw Dough! (CDC)
	Food Safety Tips for Healthy Holidays
	Safe Food Handling

                                                                                  Content current as of:
      12/05/2023
              
              
Regulated Product(s)
		 Food & BeveragesConsumer Updates

          
                        Animal & Veterinary
          Children's Health
          Cosmetics
          Dietary Supplements
          Drugs
          Food
          Medical Devices
          Nutrition
          Radiation-Emitting Products
          Tobacco Products
          Vaccines, Blood & Biologics


                        Artículos para el consumidor en español
 Consumer Update Email
                        Subscribe to receive FDA Consumer Update email notifications
    Subscribe to Consumer Updates
 Footer Links
    FDA Archive
          About FDA
          Accessibility
      Visitor Information
          Website Policies / Privacy
          No FEAR Act
          Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
      FOIA
          HHS.gov
          USA.gov
    Contact FDA
      Follow FDA on Facebook
      Follow FDA on X
      Follow FDA on Instagram
      Follow FDA on LinkedIn
      View FDA videos on YouTube
      Subscribe to FDA RSS feeds
    FDA Homepage
    Contact Number
      1-888-INFO-FDA (1-888-463-6332) Back toTop