Easy doughs it.
Instagram's beloved Cookie Do shop is facing a possible class action lawsuit alleging that the baked goods store caused food-borne illnesses in its customers, according to Bloomberg.
The cookie dough confectioner sells gourmet edible cookie dough made with pasteurized egg product and heat-treated flour, which allows them to make "worry-free treats you can't get sick from," as explained on their official website.
Bloomberg reported that plaintiffs Julia Canigiani and Katherine Byrne filed the lawsuit after they both experienced symptoms of a food-borne illness after eating Cookie Do's "Sandowich" and a scoop of oatmeal M&M cookie dough.
The complaint reports, "Within approximately 15 minutes, plaintiff Canigiani began experiencing stomach pains. Later that day, she experienced more severe stomach pains and nausea. Throughout the night, plaintiff suffered from diarrhea. She was unable to eat until the following afternoon." Byrne suffered similar issues, stomachache, heartburn and nausea, according to the complaint.
The complaint also cites eight other reviews posted on Yelp of customers who had experienced similar symptoms after eating at Cookie Do.
In response to these allegations, Cookie Do denies that their products are unsafe. "We stand behind the safety of our products and our representations about our products," the restaurant told People. "We will fully and faithfully defend ourselves against any and all false accusations. The health and happiness of our customers has, and always will be, a top priority."
Kristen Toman, Cookie Do's founder, spoke of the restaurant's massive success admitting to People, "We were unprepared for how popular it was going to be. We were turning people away!"
This lawsuit adds to ongoing debate over the safety of consuming "raw" cookie dough. The FDA advises against consuming cookie dough, but Cookie Do claims its food is "worry-free" so long as the flour is heat-treated and the eggs are pasteurized.
The FDA's warnings seem to offer little respite to curious consumers wanting a taste of these viral buzz-worthy foods, as the restaurant racks up long lines and longer waits.
The attorney representing the plaintiffs told Bloomberg that they were excited to go to Cookie Do because of all the media frenzy surrounding its products, but "were obviously disappointed after it failed to meet the marketed representation that one would not get sick."