20: Freezing Your Jeans

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of freezing your jeans instead of washing.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼

Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

• (1) Stuart Khan on Twitter: ““What Sydney’s new water restrictions mean for you” (I don’t know about that “freeze your jeans” thing, -does anyone actually do that? There may be some more practical suggestions…). https://t.co/zmNHvkQxKO” / Twitter

• Sydney water restrictions: How you can help during the NSW drought

• Levi’s Denim Care Tips - Hacks for Washing Your Jeans

• Microbial Odor Profile of Polyester and Cotton Clothes after a Fitness Session | Applied and Environmental Microbiology

19: Unrefrigerated Mayo

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of unrefrigerated mayonaise.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼

Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

• BlackRoomSec on Twitter: “Um if mayo was refrigerated and then not for 3 days, how badly will I die if I eat it? I need a bacterial expert here.” / Twitter

• A day in the life of a pentester, or is my job is too sexy for me?

• What Is The Difference Between Mayonnaise And Aioli? - Food Republic

• Effect of mayonnaise pH and storage temperature on the behavior of Listeria monocytogenes in ham salad and potato salad. - PubMed - NCBI

18: RTE Foods in the Raw Meat Section

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of grocery stores stocking ready to eat items in the meat section.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼

Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

• Amy Kirby on Twitter: “I’m not a fan of grocery stores stocking ready to eat items, especially those eaten without cooking, in the meat section. They have far too much trust in that little plastic barrier. #badidea #crosscontamination #publichealth #foodsafety @bugcounter @benjaminchapman https://t.co/eqemwUkxYT” / Twitter

• Prevalence of Campylobacter, Salmonella, and Escherichia coli on the External Packaging of Raw Meat | Journal of Food Protection

17: Soaking Beans Overnight

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from soaking beans overnight before cooking.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼

Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

• The Occurrence of Bacillus cereus in some Dried Foods Including Pulses and Cereals - BLAKEY - 1980 - Journal of Applied Bacteriology - Wiley Online Library

• The Traditional Four-Step Method | Bean Institute

• Cooking Dry Beans from Scratch Can Be Quick

16: Thawed Crab Legs

Dr. Don and Professor Ben discuss the risks from cooked, frozen crab legs thawed for 24 hours in the refrigerator.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼

Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

• Listeria - Wikipedia
• Listeria (Listeriosis) | FDA
• Crab Legs Recalled Due to Listeria | Listeria Blog

15: Salt Pigs

Dr. Don and Professor Ben discuss the risks of cross-contamination from using a salt pig.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼

Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

• Lee Constable on Twitter: "Also Adam Savage retweeted it to his 1.3M followers and... no one needs to come back to their phone after a couple of hours to find that level of salty condescending feedback from the world. ̆ΩÌ∏Ç" / Twitter
• Salt pig - Wikipedia

14: Budnik's Banana

Dr. Don and Professor Ben discuss the risks from eating a banana where the skin has split, exposing the flesh.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️

Professor Ben - risky ☣️

• Kevin Budnik on Twitter: "Is there a phobia for this https://t.co/6jI2sT6cSq" / Twitter
• https://www.clemson.edu/extension/food/food2market/documents/ph_of_common_foods.pdf

13: Melted Styrofoam

Dr. Don and Professor Ben on the risks of eating food that was in contact with melted styrofoam.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️

Professor Ben - risky ☣️

• Marc F. Bellemare on Twitter: "One would think that a place that features the word "Thai" in its name would know how to package pad thai so that it doesn’t melt through the styrofoam, thereby making the whole thing unsafe for human consumption. https://t.co/wqZCPNLU8Y" / Twitter

• Styrene - Wikipedia

• https://www.plasticfoodservicefacts.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Polystyrene-Report.pdf

12: Composting Recalled Lettuce

Dr. Don and Professor Ben discuss the risks of backyard composting lettuce that was recalled for pathogenic E. coli.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼

Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

• Group requests Salinas romaine be composted, not trashed | Packer
• (3) Claire Zoellner on Twitter: "Was wondering about this after listening to the last #FoodSafetyTalk on composting. Risks of consumer backyard composting and industrial composting of recalled products? @bugcounter @benjaminchapman https://t.co/oahwfSkQsE" / Twitter
• Importance of Soil Amendments: Survival of Bacterial Pathogens in Manure and Compost Used as... - Abstract - Europe PMC

11: Hot Air Hand Driers

Dr. Don and Professor Ben discuss the risks posed by hot air hand driers.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️

Professor Ben - risky ☣️

• The Hygienic Efficacy of Different Hand-Drying Methods: A Review of the Evidence
• Deposition of Bacteria and Bacterial Spores by Bathroom Hot-Air Hand Dryers | Applied and Environmental Microbiology
• Quantifying the effect of hand wash duration, soap use, ground beef debris, and drying methods on the removal of Enterobacter aerogenes on hands. - PubMed - NCBI

10: Cotton Towel Dispensers

Dr. Don and Professor Ben discuss the risks posed by reusable cotton towel dispensers.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️

Professor Ben - risky ☣️

• Self strangulation by hanging from cloth towel dispensers in Canadian schools. - PubMed - NCBI
• A study of bacterial contaminants of cloth and paper towels.
• New Research Proves Cloth Roll Towel Systems (CRT) More Hygienic than Air Dryers | Daniel Berkhoudt, Architect
• How to use one paper towel | Joe Smith | TEDxConcordiaUPortland - YouTube

9: Barefoot Kitchen Staff

Dr. Don and Professor Ben discuss the risks of eating in an establishment where the kitchen staff are not wearing shoes.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼

Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

• Home | Occupational Safety and Health Administration
• FDA Food Code | FDA
• Health Codes and OSHA | Society for Barefoot Living

8: Etrog

Dr. Don and Professor Ben the safety of using Etrog Fruit for preparation of food items.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼

Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

• https://discover.pbcgov.org/coextension/agriculture/PDF/Etrog%20handout.pdf
• The Birth And Afterlife Of Israel's Precious Etrog Fruit : The Salt : NPR
• Warning against using etrog for jam or vodka! : Judaism
• Sukkot - Wikipedia

7: Unwashed Coffee Cups

Dr. Don and Professor Ben discuss the risks of reusing your coffee cup without washing in between.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼

Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

• A microbial survey of office coffee cups and effectiveness of an office cup washer for reduction of bacteria.
• Your office coffee cup is likely covered in poop

6: Cast Iron Cleaning

Dr. Don and Professor Ben discuss the risks of light cleaning of cast iron pans.

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

• Food Safety Talk
• Do By Friday
• Matfer Bourgeat USA Kitchen Utensils

5: Doner Kebab

Dr. Don and Professor Ben discuss whether doner kebab meat (also called gyro meat) is risky or not when it comes to food poisoning.

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

• Time-Temperature Conditions of Gyros | Journal of Food Protection
• Outbreak of Escherichia coli 0157:H7 infections associated with consumption of beef donair. - PubMed - NCBI
• Management of the Risks Related to Consumption of Donairs and Similar Products (Gyros, Kebabs, Chawarmas and Shawarmas) Health Canada, 2008

4: Vintage Glassware

Dr. Don and Professor Ben venture outside of their food microbiology comfort zone to talk toxicology, specifically about the risks from eating off vintage dishware.

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

• Vintage Pyrex Contains Unsafe Levels of Lead?
• Charity Navigator - CN Advisory of Lead Safe America Foundation
• Pamplin Media Group - Embattled former leader of Lead Safe America says felony charges are bogus
• leachable lead in tableware - U.S. Food and Drug Administration Search Results
• Is it Safe to Eat Off Vintage Plates? | Arts & Culture | Smithsonian
• Myth Busting: Is There REALLY Lead in Vintage Pyrex? - Creative Green Living
• Childhood Lead Poisoning from Commercially Manufactured French Ceramic Dinnerware --- New York City, 2003
• How Radioactive Is Fiesta Ware?
• Fiestaware (ca. 1930s)

3: Out of Date Ravioli

Dr. Don and Professor Ben discus the risky posed by consumption of Mushroom Ravioli that is several weeks past it’s use by date.

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

• Mushroom & Creamy Cheese Ravioli - Giovanni Rana
• Psychrotrophic strains of Bacillus cereus producing enterotoxin - van Netten - 1990 - Journal of Applied Bacteriology - Wiley Online Library

2: Refrigerated Grease

Dr. Don and regular co-host Professor Chapman discuss the risks posed by the long term storage of refrigerated cooking grease.

• Matfer Bourgeat USA Kitchen Utensils
• Garlic-in-Oil Associated Botulism: Episode Leads to Product Modification
• Schmaltz - Wikipedia

1: Non-Canonical First Episode

In this non-canonical first episode Dr. Don is joined by guest cohost Merlin Mann, and they talk about the risks from carrot water, washing chicken in your sink, eating human flesh and washing pre-washed spinach.

Carrot water - not risky 👍🏼
Washing chicken in your sink - risky ☣️
Human flesh - not risky 👍🏼
Washing triple washed leafy greens - risky ☣️

• Merlin Mann on Twitter: "@tvaziri @bugcounter Not for nothing: if Dr. Don ever did a Robot or Not-style program where he answered obscure food and health questions, I'd be the first subscriber." / Twitter
• Food Safety Talk
• Do By Friday
• Robot or Not? - a podcast from The Incomparable
• Should you wash raw chicken? CDC posts serious reminder about food poisoning
• Chicken and Food Poisoning | Food Safety | CDC
• Don't Wash Your Chicken
• Did a Swedish Scientist Propose Cannibalism as a Solution to Climate Change?
• Recommendations for Handling Fresh-cut Leafy Green Salads by Consumers and Retail Foodservice Operators