A short podcast about everyday risks from germs

DALL·E image text: A square photo of a glass jar, half-filled with syrupy peaches. Several peach slices are covered in thick, fuzzy mold, appearing green and white. The jar has a weathered metal lid, and the syrup inside is cloudy. The scene is softly lit against a plain, neutral background.

765. Big Open Spoiled Jar of Canned Peaches at Room Temperature

April 30, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben revisit episode 759, and talk about the risks of eating from big open spoiled jar of canned peaches at room temperature.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️

759. Big Open Jar of Canned Peaches at Room Temperature — Risky or Not?
Further Studies on Development of Clostridium Botulinum in Refrigerated Foods 1 - Tanner - 1940 - Journal of Food Science - Wiley Online Library
Further Studies on Development of Clostridium botulinum in Refrigerated Foods - abstract
Growth and Toxin Production by Clostridium botulinum in Sauteed Onions - ScienceDirect
Journal of Food Science - Wikipedia

Actual photo texted to Ben

764. Canned Pineapple From a Gray Container

April 28, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating canned pineapple from a container that's turned gray on the inside.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

A man in a dark hoodie stands before an open refrigerator, cautiously sneaking a spoonful of cottage cheese straight from the container. The fridge glows with soft light, revealing milk, juice bottles, tomatoes, oranges, and lettuce. His wide eyes suggest he's hoping no one catches him in the act.

763. Yogurt or Cottage Cheese Directly Out of the Container

April 25, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from repeatedly eating yogurt or cottage cheese directly out of the container.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

762. Garlic Yogurt Dip 10 Days Post Making, Just Prior to Surgery

April 23, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating garlic yogurt dip 10 days post making, just prior to surgery.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

A person is cleaning a reddish-orange spill inside a refrigerator using a scrub brush and a bowl of water. Some food items, like eggs, milk, and condiments, have been removed and sit on the counter. The refrigerator shelves hold strawberries, jars, and bottles, creating a tidy but active cleaning scene.

761. Cleaning the Fridge With Water Only

April 21, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from cleaning refrigerator shelves using water only.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

A square image of a Canadian egg carton stamped with “RECALLED” in large red block letters. The carton reads “EGGS – OEUFS” and “CANADA A” with a red maple leaf, indicating Canadian origin. The carton sits on a light wooden surface, viewed directly from above.

760. Eggs Recalled for Salmonella

April 18, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating eggs recalled for Salmonella.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

This is a screen capture from the actual TikTok video.

759. Big Open Jar of Canned Peaches at Room Temperature

April 16, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating peaches from big open jar of canned peaches kept at room temperature.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

A panicked man frantically refills multiple plastic water jugs at a kitchen sink. His wide-eyed, stressed expression suggests urgency or impending crisis. The countertop and sink are crowded with empty jugs, and water spills slightly as he struggles to keep up with the task.

758. Reusing Plastic Drinking Water Jugs Without Washing

April 14, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from reusing plastic drinking water jugs without washing.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

A close-up of a heavily rusted can opener resting on a weathered wooden surface. The corroded metal is pitted and flaking, showing deep orange-brown rust throughout. The worn texture of the tool and wood suggests age, neglect, and decay, evoking a gritty, industrial, almost post-apocalyptic aesthetic.

757. Rusty Can Opener

April 11, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from using a rusty can opener.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

Today instead of stealing from all artists, we are just stealing from one. This image was originally posted on the eatortoss.com website and we're using it without permission. Hopefully Rachel will forgive us. If not I know a way to make another one.

756. Apples Bitten by Stink Bugs

April 09, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating an apple bitten by stink bugs.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

A clear glass of milk sits on a wooden surface, featuring a vibrant purple crazy straw looping playfully above the rim. The background is softly lit with a neutral tone, highlighting the straw’s curves and the milk’s smooth texture. The image is balanced, nostalgic, and visually inviting.

755. Reusable Straws

April 07, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from using re-usable straws.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

A square photo shows a crusty spoon resting in a cocoa powder container. The spoon is stained with dried hot chocolate mix and milk. Nearby, a mug of hot chocolate sits on a textured surface, capturing a cozy, slightly messy moment in making the drink.

754. Reusing a Hot Chocolate Milk Spoon

April 04, 2025 by Don Schaffner

The image shows a used spoon crusted with dried hot chocolate mix and milk, sitting inside a container of cocoa powder. It looks messy and realistic, as if it was just used to stir chocolate milk and then carelessly returned to the container. A nearby glass of chocolate milk completes the scene.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from reusing a hot chocolate milk spoon.

A whimsical lasagna slice with mismatched layers—crispy and soft pasta, colorful sauces, varied cheeses, and mixed fillings—sits on a plate in a rustic kitchen. Each layer contrasts wildly, symbolizing change over time in a playful take on the Ship of Theseus paradox, now deliciously reimagined in pasta form.

753. Re-Heating Leftovers Indefinitely and the Lasagna of Theseus

April 02, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of re-heating leftovers indefinitely and the lasagna of Theseus.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

Actual old sliced lamb’s liver. Not DALL·E.

752. Frozen Sliced Liver From the Last Century

March 31, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating frozen sliced liver from the last century.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

A green juice bottle sits on a car seat, partially frozen with visible ice crystals. Frost covers the car windows, and condensation clings to the bottle. The early morning light casts a cold, bluish hue, emphasizing the chill of a winter night spent inside the vehicle.

751. Leaving Green Juice in the Car Overnight in the Winter

March 28, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from consuming Green Juice left in the car overnight in the winter.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

A festive kitchen decorated for St. Patrick's Day features green streamers, shamrocks, and themed treats. In contrast, a shopping bag with a forgotten package of corned beef and bread sits quietly on the counter, slightly tucked away, hinting at a small oversight amid the celebration.

750. Corned Beef Left Out for a Couple of Hours

March 26, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating corned beef left out for a couple of hours.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

Golden cookie-style lemon bars with glistening lemon curd sit on a rustic surface. Their edges are slightly dry and cracked, showing signs of age, yet they still look rich and tempting. The vibrant yellow curd contrasts beautifully with the soft, crumbly base, inviting a bite despite their two-week-old appearance.

749. Two Week Old Cookie Style Lemon Bars

March 24, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating two week old cookie style lemon bars.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

A charming cartoon mouse in an apron stands on a stool, cheerfully churning butter in a rustic farmhouse kitchen. Warm lighting, wooden beams, and shelves filled with jars and herbs create a cozy, storybook atmosphere. The scene is whimsical, inviting, and full of delightful countryside detail.

748. Butter That a Mouse Churned

March 21, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating butter that a mouse churned.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️

A modern home kitchen features an open oven with a small pile of rodent feces on the rack. In the background, a cute mouse with big eyes and a guilty expression peeks out, adding a humorous contrast to the otherwise clean and well-lit space.

747. Cooking in an Oven With Mouse Droppings

March 19, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from cooking in an oven with mouse droppings.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

A man in a cozy kitchen stirs golden honey into creamy homemade peanut butter using a wooden spoon. Sunlight streams through a window, casting a warm glow on the glass jar. Peanuts and a honey jar sit nearby on the counter, enhancing the inviting, homemade feel of the scene.

746. Homemade Nut Butter Containing Honey

March 17, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating homemade nut butter containing honey.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼