It was bad enough when Nestle told the world that its cookie dough contained bacteria that could sicken or kill. Now we learn that the American division of the Swiss company had a pattern of not cooperating with Food and Drug Administration inspectors at the plants that blended the tasty mix of chips and dough.

The Associated Press reported Friday that Nestle refused several times to provide federal food investigators with complaint logs, pest-control records and other information “in at least 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007.”

In a statement to the world’s largest news-gathering agency, Nestle said it rejects any implication that it did not cooperate with the FDA and said it provided all information required under law. Further, it told the AP, its practices are standard within the food industry.

I would like to think that President Obama’s new appointees to the FDA would consider tightening these kinds of loopholes in their much-touted quest to improve food safety.

There are already copious restrictions imposed to ensure that federal investigators do not violate or disclose confidential business information. And I know and have worked with many inspectors from not only FDA, but also EPA, USDA, CDC, NIOSH and others whose efforts to enforce regulations, protect the public health and ensure the safety of workers has been stymied by claims of confidentiality.

But back to cookies.

As of Thursday, the health detectives said they had identified 69 people from 29 states with E. coli O157. Washington and Minnesota lead the list with 6 confirmed cases each.

Thirty-four people have been hospitalized, nine of whom have been diagnosed with hemolytic uremic syndrome, which can destroy red blood cells, kidneys and sometimes cause death.

Almost all the illness has been attributed to eating the raw cookie dough or food that has been in contact with it.

My bet is it’s the dough. I know I should know better, but I’m one of those people who wonders why we even bother baking it.

In its announcement of the recall late last week, Nestle said: “We want to strongly advise consumers that raw cookie dough should not be eaten. This message also appears prominently on our packaging.”
Fans are anxious for the all-clear signal to be sounded and for Nestle to confirm that all is well again in the land of cookie dough.

Business travelers are undoubtedly saddened because many of the hotel chains that fill their lobbies with the back-to-childhood aroma of baking cookies have pulled the plugs on their ovens for the moment.