FDA confirms E. coli found in Nestle cookie dough

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Monday confirmed that it has found E. coli O157:H7 bacteria in a sample of Nestle Toll House refrigerated cookie dough.

The contaminated sample was collected at Nestle's facility in Danville, Va. on Thursday, the FDA said in a statement.

Nestle SA announced a voluntary recall of Toll House refrigerated cookie dough on June 19, saying the FDA had found evidence of E. Coli in a production sample of a refrigerated chocolate chip cookie dough bar.

Nestle's USA's baking division said the recall did not include other Nestle toll house products or any Nestle professional cookie dough products destined for foodservice use.

The FDA and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention earlier this month warned consumers not to eat pre-packaged Nestle Toll House refrigerated cookie dough, citing the risk of E. Coli contamination.

The warning was based on an epidemiological study conducted by the CDC and local health departments, the FDA said.

As of last Thursday, the CDC reported that 69 people in 29 states had been infected with a strain of E. Coli. Thirty-four people have been hospitalized.

The FDA said more tests were needed to conclusively link the E. Coli strain found in the cookie dough to the strain that is causing the outbreak.

E. coli O157:H7 can cause diarrhea and dehydration. Children, the elderly and people with weak immune systems are the most susceptible.

(Reporting by Joanne Allen, editing by Dhara Ranasinghe)