Risky or Not?

A short podcast about everyday risks from germs

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395. Open Dippin' Dots in a Sporting Event Bathroom Stall

December 19, 2022 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of bringing an open Dippin' Dots container into a bathroom stall during a sporting event (you know what kind of sport we're talking about๐Ÿ’).

Dr. Don - not risky ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿผ
Professor Ben - not risky ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿผ

  • Dippin' Dots
  • Dippin Dots Vending Machine
  • Reusable grocery bag carried nasty norovirus, scientists say
  • Prevalence of Human Noroviruses in Commercial Food Establishment Bathrooms - PMC
  • The Spread of a Norovirus Surrogate.pdf
December 19, 2022 /Don Schaffner
Dippin' Dots, Bathroom
DALLยทE 2022-12-17 17.02.18 - cans of water in a boiling water bath canner

394. Home Canning Water

December 16, 2022 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of using a boiling water bath canning method for canning water for long-term storage.

Dr. Don - not risky ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿผ
Professor Ben - not risky ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿผ

  • Risky or Not Water Episodes
  • Fact check: Plastic water bottles leach chemicals, but not dioxins
  • NCHFP Factsheets on Home Canning Water
  • Quantifying the Influence of Relative Humidity, Temperature, and Diluent on the Survival and Growth of Enterobacter aerogenes | Journal of Food Protection
December 16, 2022 /Don Schaffner
Water, Canning

DALLยทE 2022-12-02 10.27.08 - A box of salted butter, eggs and bacon sitting on the porch at night (this is not Nancyโ€™s actual food)!

393. Nancy's Home Delivered Food Left Out Overnight

December 14, 2022 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks posed by Nancy's box of salted butter, eggs and bacon left out for 12 hours at 62ยฐF

Dr. Don - not risky ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿผ
Professor Ben - not risky ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿผ

  • Bacon Method
  • The fate of a toxigenic strain of Staphylococcus aureus in vacuum-packaged bacon - PMC
  • Evaluating Microbial Safety of Slow Partial-Cooking Processes for Bacon: Use of a Predictive Tool Based on Small-Scale Isothermal Meat Inoculation Studies | Journal of Food Protection
  • How Long Can Bacon Be Out of the Fridge? | MyRecipes
  • Evaluation and Definition of Potentially Hazardous Foods
December 14, 2022 /Don Schaffner
Home delivery, Time temperature control for safety, Salted butter, Eggs, Bacon

DALLยทE 2022-12-02 10.25.23 - vacuum packed container of olives sitting in the back of an open dimly lit refrigerator in the style of Edward Hopper

392. Polly's Old Olives

December 12, 2022 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of some vacuum sealed olives found by Polly in a bar fridge.

Dr. Don - not risky ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿผ
Professor Ben - not risky ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿผ

  • Conservative prediction of time to Clostridium botulinum toxin formation for use with time-temperature indicators to ensure the safety of foods - PubMed
  • Amazon.com : Marinated Mixed Olives With Orange and Herbs | Kalamata Greece | Terra Creta | 250g : Grocery & Gourmet Food
  • Archaeopteryx - Wikipedia


December 12, 2022 /Don Schaffner
Olives, Botulism, Expired food

391. Washing Shoes in a Commercial Dishwasher

December 09, 2022 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of using a commercial dishwasher to wash shoes.

Dr. Don - not risky ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿผ
Professor Ben - not risky ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿผ

  • Clean your footwear : KitchenConfidential
  • 300. Washing Your Toilet Seat in Your Dishwasher โ€” Risky or Not?
  • Fresh Foam Arishi v4 - New Balance
  • Tree Dasher 2 for Men | Running Shoes | Allbirds
December 09, 2022 /Don Schaffner
Shoes, Dishwasher

DALLยทE 2022-12-02 10.22.46 - Dirty forks with the tongs pointing upward in a container for people to take

390. Tongs Up Self Service Utensils

December 07, 2022 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of storing eating utensils with the business end pointing up.

Dr. Don - not risky ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿผ
Professor Ben - not risky ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿผ

  • Bacterial Transfer During Eating
  • The survival and transfer of microbial contamination via cloths, hands and utensils - PubMed
  • Bacterial Transfer During Eating: Transfer of bacteria from mouth to different utensils and from utensils to food: Dawson, Paul, Purohit, Chaitali, Han, Inyee: 9783639218381: Amazon.com: Books
December 07, 2022 /Don Schaffner
Silverware, Utensils, Cross-contamination
DALLยทE 2022-12-02 10.21.33 - Christmas ornaments filled with spaghetti sauce

DALLยทE 2022-12-02 10.21.33 - Christmas ornaments filled with spaghetti sauce

389. Special Italian Style Christmas Spaghetti Ornaments

December 05, 2022 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks posed by handmade Christmas ornaments filled with spaghetti.

Dr. Don - risky โ˜ฃ๏ธ
Professor Ben - risky โ˜ฃ๏ธ

  • f!cked up looking food (@f!ckedupfoods) / Twitter
  • sasha on Twitter: "wont the gases created by anaerobic decomposition eventually overcome the epoxy and disassemble these accursed spheres with the gentleness of your average grenade" / Twitter
  • 189. Epoxy Hotdog โ€” Risky or Not?
  • Ranch on a Branch Collectible Boxed Set | Hidden Valleyยฎ Ranch
  • Omnibus Episode 217: The Christmas Pickle (Entry 220.IS0108)
  • Ranch on a Branch Collectible Box Set Hidden Valley Shop LE Ranchie Plush Boxed | eBay
  • Elon Musk on Twitter: "Did you know Apple puts a secret 30% tax on everything you buy through their App Store?" / Twitter


December 05, 2022 /Don Schaffner

388. That Hand Move in Face Off

December 02, 2022 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of doing "that hand move" in the movie Face Off.

Dr. Don - not risky ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿผ
Professor Ben - not risky ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿผ

  • Face Off or Every Time They Brush A Hand Down A Face Or Say Face Off In Face Off - YouTube
  • Face/Off (1997) - IMDb
  • Face/Off - Wikipedia
December 02, 2022 /Don Schaffner
Face off, Touching faces, Cross-contamination

387. Licking a Sonoran Desert Toad

November 30, 2022 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of licking a Sonoran Desert Toad.

Dr. Don - risky โ˜ฃ๏ธ
Professor Ben - risky โ˜ฃ๏ธ

  • Please don't lick this psychedelic toad, National Park Service warns | National News | kvoa.com
  • Bufotenin - Wikipedia
  • All the celebrities who 'died' from smoking toad venom
  • Spanish Porn Star Arrested For Death From Toad Venom Ritual, What Is 5-MeO-DMT
  • Demand for This Toadโ€™s Psychedelic Toxin Is Booming. Some Warn Thatโ€™s Bad for the Toad. - The New York Times
  • Colorado River toad - Wikipedia
  • Bufo Toad Ceremony Therapy: Is 5-MeO-DMT Right for Me?
  • Salmonella Infection from Frogs, Turtles and Lizards
November 30, 2022 /Don Schaffner
Sonoran desert toad, Toxin, Psychedelics, Bufotenin

386. Pink Burger at 170 ยฐF

November 28, 2022 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of eating a clearly pink burger that is cooked to 170 ยฐF.

Dr. Don - not risky ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿผ
Professor Ben - not risky ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿผ

  • Persistent pinkness in ground beef patties - Meat Science
  • Fresh Ground Beef Color: A Consumer Guide
  • Assessment of Risk Communication about Undercooked Hamburgers by Restaurant Servers - PubMed
  • Dr. Melvin Hunt: Relationship of Meat Color to Cooked Meat Safety - YouTube
November 28, 2022 /Don Schaffner
Burger, Persistent pink, Cooking

385. George Costanza Trash Eclair

November 25, 2022 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of eating food out of the trash, specifically the canonical example from the hit TV show Seinfeld where George eats an eclair out of the trash.

Dr. Don - not risky ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿผ
Professor Ben - not risky ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿผ

  • The Trash Eater - Seinfeld - YouTube
  • Chocolate Eclair (film) - Wikipedia)
November 25, 2022 /Don Schaffner
Trash, Cross-contamination, Eclair

384. Mother In-Law's Well Rested Thanksgiving Turkey

November 23, 2022 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of very well rested Thanksgiving turkey from a listeners Mother In-Law.

Dr. Don - risky โ˜ฃ๏ธ
Professor Ben - risky โ˜ฃ๏ธ

  • Growth of Clostridium perfringens in cooked chili during cooling | Applied and Environmental Microbiology
  • Survival of Clostridium perfringens During Baking and Holding of Turkey Stuffing - PMC
  • Staphylococcal Food Poisoning from Turkey at a Country Club Buffet -- New Mexico
  • ComBase
  • Store your Thanksgiving leftovers safely, and quickly - USATODAY.com
November 23, 2022 /Don Schaffner
Turkey, Room Temperature

383. Smoking a 27 Lb Turkey

November 21, 2022 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks that Ben will face this American thanksgiving when he smokes a 27 lb turkey named ham.

Dr. Don - not risky ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿผ
Professor Ben - not risky ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿผ

  • Staphylococcal Food Poisoning from Turkey at a Country Club Buffet -- New Mexico
  • Growth of Clostridium perfringens in cooked chili during cooling | Applied and Environmental Microbiology
  • Thermal Inactivation of Clostridium perfringens Enterotoxin in Buffer and in Chicken Gravy - 1982 - Journal of Food Science - Wiley Online Library
  • Growth and Survival of Clostridium Perfringens During Constantly Rising Temperatures - Willardsen- 1978 - Journal of Food Science - Wiley Online Library
  • ComBase
November 21, 2022 /Don Schaffner
Turkey, Smoked meat, Cooking

382. Don's Condolences Chili

November 18, 2022 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks posed by a pot full of warm chili delivered by well-meaning family friends when no one was home.

Dr. Don - not risky ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿผ
Professor Ben - not risky ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿผ

  • Obituary for Willliam Robert Schaffner | Ness-Sibley Funeral Home
  • Growth of Clostridium perfringens in cooked chili during cooling | Applied and Environmental Microbiology
  • Thermal Inactivation of Clostridium perfringens Enterotoxin in Buffer and in Chicken Gravy - 1982 - Journal of Food Science - Wiley Online Library
November 18, 2022 /Don Schaffner
Clostridium perfringens, Cooling, Temperature control

381. Eating Random Mushrooms From the Forest

November 16, 2022 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of eating "random" mushrooms from the forest.

Dr. Don - risky โ˜ฃ๏ธ
Professor Ben - risky โ˜ฃ๏ธ

  • Ohio foragers are accidentally poisoning themselves with lethal mushrooms | Ars Technica
  • Cincinnati Childrens on Twitter: "Multiple patients have reported eating mushrooms foraged from a public area in SW Ohio that appear to be highly toxic. You should never eat wild mushrooms. If someone has eaten a wild mushroom and has any symptoms, immediately contact the Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222." / Twitter
  • Hunting Mushrooms: The Old Not Bold Approach | The Outside Story
  • โ€ŽModel Wild Harvested Mushroom Program
  • Random Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com
November 16, 2022 /Don Schaffner
Wild mushrooms, Mushrooms

380. Ninety Minute Room Temperature Delivery Sushi

November 14, 2022 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of home delivery sushi that arrived after ninety minute and at room temperature.

Dr. Don - not risky ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿผ
Professor Ben - not risky ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿผ

  • ComBase
  • sushi - Risky or Not?
  • Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Fish | CDC
November 14, 2022 /Don Schaffner

379. Jeff's 12 Hour Delayed Start Short Ribs

November 11, 2022 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of cooking short ribs after a 12 hour delay at room temperature.

Dr. Don - risky โ˜ฃ๏ธ
Professor Ben - risky โ˜ฃ๏ธ

  • Instant Pot Short Ribs (Pressure Cooker) | Tested by Amy + Jacky
  • ComBase
  • Evaluating Microbial Safety of Slow Partial-Cooking Processes for Bacon: Use of a Predictive Tool Based on Small-Scale Isothermal Meat Inoculation Studies | Journal of Food Protection
November 11, 2022 /Don Schaffner
Clostridium perfringens, Staphylococcus aureus, Time temperature control for safety

378. Toast

November 09, 2022 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of acrylamide in toast.

Dr. Don - not risky ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿผ
Professor Ben - not risky ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿผ

  • From poisoned party to toxic toast: How to get nerve poison out of your food | Food Safety News
  • Review of epidemiologic studies of dietary acrylamide intake and the risk of cancer on JSTOR
  • EFSA Scientific Opinion on acrylamide in food
  • Acrylamide | Food Standards Agency
  • Chemical Concerns โ€“ Does Acrylamide in Toast & Roast Potatoes Cause Cancer? โ€“ Compound Interest
  • Streetband - Toast - YouTube
November 09, 2022 /Don Schaffner
Acrylamide, Toast, Epidemiology

377. Election Night Pizza

November 07, 2022 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of eating pizza left out for six hours.

Dr. Don - not risky ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿผ
Professor Ben - not risky ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿผ

  • All the Risky or Not? Pizza Episodes
  • ComBase Perfringens Predictor
November 07, 2022 /Don Schaffner
Pizza, Temperature control for safety foods

376. Ben's Bagel Shop Knife Cleaning

November 04, 2022 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of bagel's from Ben's (not Chapman) bagel shop, given their knife cleaning procedures.

Dr. Don - risky โ˜ฃ๏ธ
Professor Ben - risky โ˜ฃ๏ธ

  • The Differences Between Gravlax, Lox, and Smoked Salmon
  • Allergen Removal and Transfer with Wiping and Cleaning Methods Used in Retail and Food Service Establishments | Journal of Food Protection
  • Lauren S. Jackson | LinkedIn
November 04, 2022 /Don Schaffner
Cross-contamination, Bagels, Lox, Cream cheese, Allergen
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