Risky or Not?

A short podcast about everyday risks from germs

  • Episodes
  • About
  • Contact us
  • Subscribe
  • Statistics
  • Merch
  • Search/Tags
108.png

108. Parking Lot Tamales

February 17, 2021 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of eating parking lot tamales.

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

  • Emily Coleman on Twitter: "There was a woman in the Walmart parking lot selling tamales and I bought them and Abi said, "Did you really just do that?" And I told her that when a woman offers you tamales in a parking lot, you just do it."
  • ‎Knowledge and Practices of Meat Safety by Meat Sellers in the Tamale Metropolis of Ghana
  • Tamale - Wikipedia
  • Every Single Thing You Need to Know About Mexican Street Food - Eater
February 17, 2021 /Don Schaffner
Tamales, Street Food
107.png

107. Slapping a Chicken to Cook It

February 15, 2021 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of slapping your chicken.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️

  • Don Schaffner 🦠 on Twitter: "The simulation shows lots of bits of blue flying away, so I'm going to assume that is 63°F chicken flying around your kitchen
  • Matt’s Newsletter
  • Full article: A review on underwater shockwave processing and its application in food technology
  • Physics Major Calculates How Hard You Have To Slap Chicken To Cook It And People React With Hilarious Memes | Bored Panda
February 15, 2021 /Don Schaffner
Chicken, Salmonella, High Pressure Processing, Shockwave Processing, Campylobacter
106.png

106. Sharing Dessert

February 12, 2021 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of sharing dessert on Valentines (or any other) Day

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

  • Is Double-Dipping a Food Safety Problem or Just a Nasty Habit? - Scientific American
  • Effect of Biting Before Dipping (Double‐Dipping) Chips on the Bacterial Population of the Dipping Solution
  • Woman Who Licked Blue Bell Ice Cream Tub And Put It Back Could Face Charges : NPR
  • Emerging role of bacteria in oral carcinogenesis: a review with special reference to perio-pathogenic bacteria
  • Saliva and viral infections
  • Detection of Norovirus in Saliva Samples from Acute Gastroenteritis Cases and Asymptomatic Subjects: Association with Age and Higher Shedding in Stool - PubMed
February 12, 2021 /Don Schaffner
Dessert, Saliva, Norovirus, Cross-contamination, Double dipping
105.png

105. Week Old Room Temperature Bacon

February 10, 2021 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating week old room temperature bacon.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️

Professor Ben - risky ☣️

  • Evaluating Microbial Safety of Slow Partial-Cooking Processes for Bacon: Use of a Predictive Tool Based on Small-Scale Isothermal Meat Inoculation Studies
  • Predicting Pathogen Growth during Short-Term Temperature Abuse of Raw Pork, Beef, and Poultry Products: Use of an Isothermal-Based Predictive Tool
  • Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center Cooked Bacon Fact Sheet.pdf
  • US Food & Drug Administration - Job Aid: Time and Temperature Control for Safety Foods
February 10, 2021 /Don Schaffner
Bacon, Staphylococcus, Temperature abuse
104.png

104. Spagetti Nasal Flossing

February 08, 2021 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of flossing your nose with spagetti.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️

  • Distinguishing the dominant species of pathogen in maxillary sinusitis by sequencing DNA dataset analysis - PubMed
  • Predictive Model for Growth of Bacillus cereus at Temperatures Applicable to Cooling of Cooked Pasta
  • Biochemical and toxic diversity of Bacillus cereus in a pasta and meat dish associated with a food-poisoning case
  • Spaghetti Nasal Flossing - YouTube
February 08, 2021 /Don Schaffner
Pasta, Nose, Flossing, Sinus Infection, Bacillus cereus
103.png

103. Sourdough Bread With Russian Starter Culture

February 05, 2021 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of eating sourdough bread made with starter culture ordered from Russia.

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

  • Rob Dunn | Applied Ecology | NC State University
  • Safety Assessment and Probiotic Evaluation of Enterococcus Faecium YF5 Isolated from Sourdough
  • Take Care when Sharing Friendship Bread
  • Sourdough breads and related products | SpringerLink
  • A multi-state outbreak of Salmonella serotype Thompson infection from commercially distributed bread contaminated by an ill food handler | Epidemiology & Infection
  • Growth of Salmonella enterica and Staphylococcus aureus in no-knead bread dough during prolonged yeast fermentation - PubMed
February 05, 2021 /Don Schaffner
Sourdough, Bread, Fermentation, Starter Culture
perpetual stew.png

102. Perpetual Stew

February 03, 2021 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of eating perpetual stew.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼

Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

  • shaney gober on Twitter: "@bugcounter @benjaminchapman Has this come to you guys yet? https://t.co/0DGwnhYoR7" / Twitter
  • Perpetual stew. How is it safe to consume? - Quora
  • Perpetual Stew: Is it good? Is it safe (compared to modern food practices)? Has anyone done it? : kingdomcome
  • The Stew You Brew (and Eat) for Years: Perpetual Stew | HowStuffWorks
  • Louro perpetual stew (@perpetual_stew) / Twitter
  • Why You Shouldn't Be Terrified of This Never-Ending Stew | Food & Wine
  • Is Medieval Perpetual Stew for You? - AleHorn - Viking Drinking Horn Vessels and Accessories
February 03, 2021 /Don Schaffner
Hot holding, Stew
mushrooms.png

101. Dirty Raw Fresh Mushrooms

February 01, 2021 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of eating dirty raw fresh mushrooms.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️

Professor Ben - risky ☣️

  • Incidence of Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli, Escherichia coli O157, Salmonella, and Listeria monocytogenes in Retail Fresh Ground Beef, Sprouts, and Mushrooms | Journal of Food Protection | Allen Press
  • Evaluation of Microbial Loads on Dried and Fresh Shiitake Mushrooms (Lentinula edodes) as Obtained from Internet and Local Retail Markets, Respectively
  • Outbreak of Listeria Infections Linked to Enoki Mushrooms | Outbreak of Listeria Infections Linked to Enoki Mushrooms | March 2020 | Listeria | CDC
  • Cultivable microbiome of fresh white button mushrooms - Rossouw - 2017 - Letters in Applied Microbiology - Wiley Online Library
  • Microbial ecology of mushroom casing soils and preharvest strategies to enhance safety and quality of fresh mushrooms
February 01, 2021 /Don Schaffner
Mushrooms
expired yogurt.png

100. Yogurt Past Its Best by Date

January 29, 2021 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of eating yogurt past its best by date.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼

Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

  • FoodKeeper App | FoodSafety.gov
  • Behavior of Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus in Yogurt Fermented with a Bacteriocin-Producing Thermophilic Starter | Journal of Food Protection | Allen Press
January 29, 2021 /Don Schaffner
Shelf-life, Yogurt
Bucatini.png

99. Drinking Soda Through Raw Pasta Straw

January 27, 2021 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of drinking soda through a raw pasta straw.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼

Professor Ben - risky ☣️

  • Why Is There a Bucatini Shortage in America?
  • Bucatini - Wikipedia
  • Survival of Microorganisms in Stored Pasta | Journal of Food Protection | Allen Press
  • The Extended Conformation of the 2.9-Å Crystal Structure of the Three-PASTA Domain of a Ser/Thr Kinase from the Human Pathogen Staphylococcus aureus - ScienceDirect
  • Improved Electrotransformation and Decreased Antibiotic Resistance of the Cystic Fibrosis Pathogen Burkholderia cenocepacia Strain J2315 | Applied and Environmental Microbiology
  • Effects of industrial pasta drying temperatures on starch properties and pasta quality - ScienceDirect
  • Microbiological Quality of Raw Dried Pasta from the German Market, with Special Emphasis on Cronobacter Species - Akineden - 2015 - Journal of Food Science - Wiley Online Library
  • Outbreak of E. coli Infections Linked to Flour | E. coli Infections Linked to Flour | May 2019 | E. coli | CDC
  • Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung Escherichia coli in flour – sources, risks and prevention
January 27, 2021 /Don Schaffner
Pasta, Cross-contamination
donated foods.png

98. Donated Foods at End of the Day

January 25, 2021 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from donated foods at end of the day.

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

  • Jon Fisher on Twitter: "Paging @bugcounter and @benjaminchapman. Please see this thread. Why is this a thing?" / Twitter
  • Walter Chaw 周瑜 on Twitter: "At Starbucks, we were instructed to throw away all the sandwiches/salads/protein plates at the end of the day. No, you can't take them home. No, you can't donate them. Throw them away. We considered it "theft" and you would be fired if you didn't toss them. Multiply by 31,256." / Twitter
  • Food Safety Guidelines for Food Banks | Feeding America
  • Stew of Sustainability 2020 | Fundraising Video - YouTube
January 25, 2021 /Don Schaffner
Shelf-life, Donating food
Two Beer Steak fixed small.png

97. Two Beer Steak

January 23, 2021 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from the beer in two beer steak.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️

  • William Coney on Twitter: "Ricky or not? @bugcounter @benjaminchapman" / Twitter
  • ᴄᴀɪᴛ on Twitter: "i love this province i don’t ever want to leave https://t.co/vEmYtnu1ZD" / Twitter
  • Centreville Valufoods/ ANBL Agency | Facebook
  • Microbiological baseline study of beef and pork carcasses from provincially inspected abattoirs in Alberta, Canada
  • Bacteria on Can Lids
  • About | Valufoods | Hartland's & Centreville's Community Groceries
January 23, 2021 /Don Schaffner
Beer, Steak, Cross-contamination, Raw meat
sprouts.png

96. Eating Raw Sprouts

January 20, 2021 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of eating raw sprouts.

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

  • Jonathan's Sprouts - Jonathan's Sprouts
  • ISGA – International Sprout Growers Association
  • FDA Concludes Major Sampling Study of Sprouts | FDA
  • Sprout Safety Alliance | FDA
  • Advice to Consumers & Retailers | Multistate Outbreak of Salmonella Muenchen Infections Linked to Alfalfa Sprouts Produced by Sweetwater Farms | February 2016 | Salmonella | CDC
  • Microgreens—A review of food safety considerations along the farm to fork continuum - ScienceDirect
  • Barf Blog - A great resource on why we should reconsider Sprouts | Marler Blog
January 20, 2021 /Don Schaffner
Sprouts
rodent gnaw.png

95. Eating Food From Rodent Gnawed Packages

January 18, 2021 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of eating food from rodent gnawed packages.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️

  • Gnawed food packets for sale and active rodent infestations triggers closure of businesses and restaurants
  • Mice infestations close sushi restaurant and Asian food market
  • How do Rodents Play Role in Transmission of Foodborne Diseases?
  • Rule of thumb - Wikipedia
  • List of Predatory Publishers | Stop Predatory Journals
January 18, 2021 /Don Schaffner
Rodents, Cross-contamination
franks_redhot_original_united_states.png

94. Room Temperature Fermented Hot Sauce

January 15, 2021 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of making and shipping room temperature fermented hot sauce

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

  • Kimchi Handout Colorado State
  • Frank’s RedHot
January 15, 2021 /Don Schaffner
Hot sauce, Hot peppers, Temperature, Fermentation
Inversion-Canning-2.png

93. Using The Inversion Method for Jams and Jellies

January 13, 2021 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of using inversion method for jams and jellies.

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

  • Ben Stanfield on Twitter: Jam canning advice from one of the year’s top cookbooks and a celebrated chef. Risky or not?
  • Baking at the 20th Century Cafe: Iconic European Desserts from Linzer Torte to Honey Cake: Polzine, Michelle: 9781579658984: Amazon.com: Books
  • National Center for Home Food Preservation | How Do I? Jam and Jelly
  • Judging Home Preserved Foods
  • Inversion Canning - Healthy Canning
  • Food Safety Talk 217: Fruit Forward — Food Safety Talk
  • Ball Blue Book Guide to Preserving
  • Food Preservation Competition
January 13, 2021 /Don Schaffner
Jam, Jelly, Canning
Screen Shot 2021-01-10 at 6.00.38 PM.png

92. Refrigerating Unopened Canned Food

January 11, 2021 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of refrigerating unopened canned food.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼

Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

  • Ocean Spray® Jellied Cranberry Sauce | Ocean Spray
  • Lyme disease - Wikipedia
  • Phytophotodermatitis - Wikipedia
  • Cranberries: Best Food for Lyme, an Ulcer, Cancer and Brain | Psychology Today
January 11, 2021 /Don Schaffner
Canned food, Refrigeration
roadkill.png

91. Eating Roadkill

January 08, 2021 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of eating roadkill.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️

Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

  • The Jungle - Wikipedia
  • FSIS Veterinary Opportunities
  • Transmission | Hansen's Disease (Leprosy) | CDC
  • Proper Processing of Wild Game and Fish - Food Safety - Home Food Safety - Food Safety and Quality
  • Occurrence | Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) | Prion Disease | CDC
  • Armadillos and leprosy: from infection to biological model
January 08, 2021 /Don Schaffner
Roadkill
bens seal.png

90. Dishwasher Seals

January 06, 2021 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from automatic dishwasher seals.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼

Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

  • The dishwasher rubber seal acts as a reservoir of bacteria in the home environment - PubMed
  • Dishwashers--a man-made ecological niche accommodating human opportunistic fungal pathogens - PubMed
  • Dishwashers are a major source of human opportunistic yeast-like fungi in indoor environments in Mersin, Turkey: Medical Mycology: Vol 51, No 5
  • A method to evaluate factors influencing the microbial reduction in domestic dishwashers - Brands - 2020 - Journal of Applied Microbiology - Wiley Online Library
January 06, 2021 /Don Schaffner
Dishwasher, Cross-contamination
mouthwash.png

89. Public Bathroom Mouthwash

January 04, 2021 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from using public bathroom mouthwash.

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

  • Tom Joad on Twitter: "@benjaminchapman @bugcounter Is this normal? And....why? Why? https://t.co/gTEeR7Vwxx" / Twitter
  • GotFreshBreath Mouthwash Dispenser
  • All Products | GotFreshBreath
  • Manual Mouthwash Dispenser Installation Guide | GotFreshBreath
  • Biotene - Wikipedia
January 04, 2021 /Don Schaffner
Mouthwash, Restrooms
  • Newer
  • Older

Powered by Squarespace