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Flour contaminated with E Coli - don't lick the bowl

(55 Posts)
Farmor15 Wed 06-Dec-17 14:38:11

As a retired microbiologist, I think the risk is extremely low. I notice report was from US where food standards seem to be lower than this side of Atlantic. I’ll continue to lick bowl, particularly for rich choc cake and brownies.smile
But I think my 35 year old Kenwood chef may be on last legs. Can’t live without it so will have to replace.

Baggs Wed 06-Dec-17 14:17:44

How many people (what proportion of bowl licker-outers) ever, anywhere, had unpleasant repercussions after licking out the bowl? Bet the number and the proportion are tiny. It's worth the risk imo.

SueDonim Wed 06-Dec-17 13:37:33

Weird how America warns against licking the cake bowl but does nothing about the far more lethal gun epidemic. I guess there are no votes in flour. confused

shysal Wed 06-Dec-17 13:00:40

I shall never stop licking the bowl! smile

JessM Wed 06-Dec-17 11:42:16

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-42236702
This seems an unlikely food poisoning risk. E Coli is not going to breed on flour as it is dry and cool - so I guess it depends on how contaminated the grain might be. Two possible sources I reckon. Faeces in fertiliser is one, as E Coli is a bowel based bug. The other is rats. I know of a "mill" in Ireland which makes brown bread mix for soda bread. No way is it rat proof. Raw egg is now deemed safe in the UK, but should we still discourage "licking the bowl?"