A short podcast about everyday risks from germs

641. Using a Dishwasher With a Failing Heating Element

July 15, 2024 by Don Schaffner

DALL·E - An automatic dishwasher in a modern kitchen, with a flashing red light on its front panel. The red light displays the message 'NO HEAT.'

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of using a dishwasher with a failing heating element.

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

Merch — Risky or Not?
dishwasher - Risky or Not?
The survival of foodborne pathogens during domestic washing-up and subsequent transfer onto washing-up sponges, kitchen surfaces and food - ScienceDirect
Integrated model for the prediction of cleaning profiles inside an automatic dishwasher - ScienceDirect
Manual dishwashing habits: an empirical analysis of UK consumers - Berkholz - 2010 - International Journal of Consumer Studies - Wiley Online Library
method to evaluate factors influencing the microbial reduction in domestic dishwashers | Journal of Applied Microbiology | Oxford Academic

DALL·E - A person washing a very dirty mop in a public bathroom sink. The bathroom is slightly run-down, with tiled walls and a large mirror above the sink.

640. Using a Sink That's Been Used to Wash a Stadium Mop

July 12, 2024 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of washing your hands in a sink used for washing a stadium mop.

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

639. Nate's Meat Diet Cast Iron Pan Grease

July 10, 2024 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of reusing grease after cooking in a cast iron pan.

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

DALL·E - A pot half filled with water sitting on a stove with the lid off, showing the visible water inside from an angle that clearly displays the water.

638. Using the Pot My Roommate Boils Her Diva Cup In

July 08, 2024 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of using a pot used to boil a menstrual cup.

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

DALL·E - A bowl of sushi rice sitting at room temperature, with a thermometer reading 72°F placed in the rice. The scene shows the rice being moved to a refrigerator.

637. Holding Sushi Rice for 4 Hours and Then Refrigerating

July 05, 2024 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of holding sushi rice for 4 hours and then refrigerating for later consumption.

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

DALL·E - A glass overflowing with nacho cheese, with no nacho chips visible. A teabag that has just been pulled out of the cheese, heavily covered and dripping with cheese.

636. Brewing Tea in Nacho Cheese

July 03, 2024 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of brewing tea in nacho cheese.

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

DALL·E - An open refrigerator with various items inside. The main focus is a fast food chicken taco wrapped up tightly in packaging, which has the name of a generic fast food restaurant.

635. Eating 3-Day-Old Fast Food Chicken Tacos

July 01, 2024 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of eating properly refrigerated 3-day-old fast food chicken tacos.

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

DALL·E - A person sitting in the stands of a baseball game, surrounded by other spectators. The person is holding a hotdog and looking at it suspiciously.

634. Before the 5th Inning Baseball Hotdog

June 28, 2024 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of eating a hotdog at a baseball game before the 5th inning.

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

DALL·E - An open mailbox with a pan of lasagna inside. The mailbox is located at the edge of a suburban street, with a neatly trimmed lawn and a few houses visible.

633. Mailbox Lasagne

June 26, 2024 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of making lasagna in your mailbox.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️

DALL·E - A hand pouring food out of a bag labeled 'beef', but the food coming out is clearly chicken. The hand is mid-pour, and the chicken pieces are detailed.

632. Eating a Food Recalled for Misbranding if You Are Not Allergic to Any of the Ingredients

June 24, 2024 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating a food recalled for misbranding if you are not allergic to any of the ingredients

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

DALL·E - A very hot looking turkey sitting in a dimly lit garage. The turkey has exaggerated sweat droplets and looks exhausted.

631. Thawing a Whole Turkey in a Hot Garage Twice

June 21, 2024 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks thawing a whole turkey in a hot garage twice.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️

DALL·E - A queasy-looking person sitting in a restaurant window. The person has a pale face, a hand on their stomach, and a worried expression. The restaurant window displays and inspection certificate with a big letter C.

630. Eating at a New York City Restaurant With a "C" Rating

June 19, 2024 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of eating at a New York City restaurant with a "C" rating.

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

DALL·E - A hand reaching down to pick up dog poop, with the hand inside a plastic bag that is falling apart, exposing parts of the hand.

629. Picking Up Dog Poop Using a Composable Bag

June 17, 2024 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from picking up dog poop using a composable bag.

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

DALL·E - An open automatic dishwasher filled with a variety of fresh produce. Inside the dishwasher, there are colorful fruits and vegetables.

628. Washing Produce in the Dishwasher

June 14, 2024 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of washing produce in the dishwasher.

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

DALL·E - A cocktail with a giant ice cube in a glass. The ice cube has an ominous dark black streak running through the middle of it.

627. Drinking a Cocktail Using Ice From a Core Sample From Your Birth Year

June 12, 2024 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of drinking a cocktail using ice from a core sample from your birth year.

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

DALL·E - A photo-realistic image of a very angry-looking bear standing on two legs. In one hand, the bear is carrying a bag full of jerky, and in the other hand a rare steak.

626. Eating Rare Bear Meat

June 10, 2024 by Don Schaffner

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

Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️

DALL·E - A clear plastic bag filled with baby carrots. There is a small amount of liquid at the bottom of the bag, and a faint, whimsical hint of a few happy microorganisms.

625. Eating Expired Baby Carrots

June 07, 2024 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of eating baby carrots passed their expiration date.

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

DALL·E A singara pastry sitting on a pile of dirty money next to a glass of sangria on a rustic table.

624. Arden's Lukewarm Singara

June 05, 2024 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of consuming lukewarm singara in Bangladesh that might have been sitting on some money.

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

DALL·E - An image of George Washington hiding a bottle full of cherries under the floorboards of an old house. The scene is set in a rustic, colonial-era room

623. George Washington's Cherries

June 03, 2024 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of consuming cherries found under the floor of George Washington's house.

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

DALL·E,- A mallard duck floating on its back in a giant glass of whiskey. The duck is spitting whiskey out of its mouth like a fountain.

622. Duck Fat Washed Whiskey Cocktail

May 31, 2024 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of making duck fat washed whiskey cocktail, including if the duck fat is stored at room temperature.

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