NEW YORK -- Federal authorities are investigating a new national outbreak of a bacteria-triggered illness, this time related to a sweet treat treasured by the heartbroken and children-at-heart -- packaged raw cookie dough.

The federal Centers for Disease Control said its preliminary investigation shows "a strong association" between eating raw refrigerated cookie dough made by Nestle and the illnesses of 65 people in 29 states whose lab results have turned up E. coli bacteria since March.

About 25 of those people have been hospitalized, but no one has died. E. coli is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhea, dehydration and, in the most severe cases, kidney failure.

Nestle USA voluntarily recalled all of its Toll House refrigerated cookie dough products after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration advised consumers to throw away any Nestle Toll House cookie dough products in their homes and asked retailers, restaurateurs and other foodservice operations not to sell or serve any of the recalled products.

Customers also can return any recalled product where they bought it for a full refund. The recall does not affect other Toll House products, including ice cream that contains raw Toll House dough.

Here are some food safety tips from the FDA:

NEVER EAT EGGS RAW - If you want to eat cookie dough without cooking it, and you are making it at home, consider using pasteurized eggs.

WASH WELL - Always thoroughly wash your hands, food and cooking surfaces and utensils before and after preparing any food that could be contaminated, and after touching any animals that could carry salmonella, particularly reptiles.

COOK SUFFICIENTLY - Many bacteria can be destroyed when food is cooked to recommended temperatures. However, Nestle and the FDA are recommending that no one bake or eat the products being recalled in any form.

CHILL PROMPTLY - Stow perishables as soon as you bring them home, and check that your refrigerator is at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below and your freezer at zero degrees Fahrenheit or below.

ALWAYS OBEY RECALLS - For a constantly updating list of food and drug recalls, check www.fda.gov/safety/recalls.

For information on food-borne germs that can make people sick, visit http://www.fda.gov/Food/.