Risky or Not?

A short podcast about everyday risks from germs

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The image depicts a caring parent using a snot sucker to remove mucus from their infant's nose. The baby appears calm, while the parent has a concerned yet gentle expression. Virus particles swirl around, glowing to emphasize the presence of germs. The setting is a cozy home with soft lighting.

740. Using a "Snot Sucker" With Ones Mouth

March 03, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks posed by using a "snot sucker" with ones mouth.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️

  • NoseFrida the SnotSucker – Frida | The fuss stops here.
  • NoseFrida: Winter Colds and Baby’s Snot: A Better Way to Clear It Out • ItsaBelly Doulas
  • Amazon.com : BABY-VAC Clinically Tested Baby Nasal Aspirator - Vacuum-Powered Nose Sucker with Suction Head & Cleaning Brush for Safe and Gentle Relief : Baby Bathing Products : Baby
  • Comparing nasal suction devices in children with bronchiolitis: A pilot randomized control trial - Journal of Pediatric Nursing: Nursing Care of Children and Families
  • Nasal Suction Tip: Little Sucker® Nasal Tip - Neotech Products
  • NoseFrida HYGIENE FILTERS – Frida | The fuss stops here.
March 03, 2025 /Don Schaffner
Cross-contamination, Aerosols, Respiratory Viruses

A blonde-haired toddler with chubby cheeks sits on the floor, mischievously placing a chicken nugget into their tiny slipper. They wear colorful pajamas, and the cozy home setting has scattered toys in the background. The child's playful expression and clear action make the scene both adorable and amusing.

739. Nugget Shoes

February 28, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from a toddler placing chicken nuggets in their shoes.

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

  • SJ 🥥🌴💙 (@sjmcgriff)’s video of Kids TikTok Videos | TikTok
  • Pitted keratolysis: an infective cause of foot odour - PMC
  • Why Do Feet Stink? (for Kids) | Nemours KidsHealth
February 28, 2025 /Don Schaffner
Cross-contamination, Shoes, Chicken nuggets

he image depicts a cheerful Girl Scout at an outdoor cookie-selling booth. Among the cookies on display, one features a bold hazardous-waste symbol, creating an eerie contrast to the otherwise wholesome scene. The background suggests a typical suburban or park setting, reinforcing the unexpected and unsettling detail.

738. Girl Scout Cookies

February 26, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from Girl Scout Cookies

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

  • Girl Scouts of the USA
  • Danger in the Dough: Unveiling the Toxic Contaminants in Girl Scout Cookies - GMOScience
  • Questions and Answers on Glyphosate | FDA


February 26, 2025 /Don Schaffner
Glyphosate, Toxicology, Girl Scouts, Cookies

A person is drying their hands with a slightly dirty, wrinkled hand towel in a home bathroom. The towel shows visible signs of frequent use, with light stains and a worn texture. The background features a bathroom sink and mirror, emphasizing an everyday, lived-in atmosphere.

737. Using a Bath Towel (Laundered Weekly) to Dry Hands After Using the Bathroom and Before Preparing Food

February 24, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of using weekly laundered bath towel to dry hands after using the bathroom and before preparing food.

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

  • Why you probably aren't washing your towels often enough
  • Bacterial Occurrence in Kitchen Hand Towels
  • A Study of Bacterial Contaminants of Cloth and Paper Towels
  • Quantifying the Effect of Hand Wash Duration, Soap Use, Ground Beef Debris, and Drying Methods on the Removal of Enterobacter aerogenes on Hands - ScienceDirect
February 24, 2025 /Don Schaffner
Handwashing, Cross-contamination, Cloth towel

A man in cozy pajamas stands in his softly lit bedroom, pouring a glass of water into a sleek white humidifier on the floor. The room features a neatly made bed, a bedside table with a lamp, and a window with slightly open curtains, creating a warm, calm atmosphere.

736. Reusing Old Sleep-Water in Cold Humidifiers

February 21, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of using water from a bedside glass to refill a humidifier.

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

  • Molecular analysis of single room humidifier bacteriology - ScienceDirect
  • Severe neonatal legionellosis associated with use of home humidifiers – A case report - ScienceDirect
  • Legionella - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics
  • A review of legionnaires’ disease and public water systems – Scientific considerations, uncertainties and recommendations - ScienceDirect


February 21, 2025 /Don Schaffner
Water, Humidifier, Cross-contamination, Legionella

A rugged, bare-chested Canadian man with a bushy beard smiles while holding a rice ball. His wild hair and visible chest hair add to his outdoorsy charm. In the background, a shy Japanese girl blushes, covering her face with one hand, standing in a cozy, traditional Japanese-style kitchen.

735. Armpit Riceballs

February 19, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of making riceballs in an armpit.

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

  • Human sweat-infused rice balls fashioned in the armpits of cute Japanese girls become unlikely culinary hit, at a price | South China Morning Post
  • Sweat and Sebum Preferences of the Human Skin Microbiota | Microbiology Spectrum
  • The Microbiota of the Human Skin | SpringerLink
  • The effect of habitual and experimental antiperspirant and deodorant product use on the armpit microbiome [PeerJ]
February 19, 2025 /Don Schaffner
Armpit microbiota, Rice balls, Cross-contamination

Chopped onions, ginger, and garlic are neatly sun-dried on a clean wire rack over a wooden table in a modern suburban patio. The bright, soft sunlight highlights the fresh produce. The backdrop features a well-maintained backyard with a green lawn, stylish outdoor furniture, and a serene, upscale ambiance.

734. Sun Drying Onions, Ginger and Garlic for 4 Days

February 17, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of sun drying onions, ginger and garlic for 4 days.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️

  • Study the effect of sun, oven and microwave drying on quality of onion slices - ScienceDirect
  • Effect of Drying Characteristics of Garlic
  • Salmonella survival during thermal dehydration of fresh garlic and storage of dehydrated garlic products - PubMed
  • Survival of common foodborne pathogens on dates, sundried tomatoes, and dried pluots at refrigerated and ambient temperatures - ScienceDirect
  • Survival or Growth of Inoculated Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella on Yellow Onions (Allium cepa)under Conditions Simulating Food Service and Consumer Handling and Storage - ScienceDirect


February 17, 2025 /Don Schaffner
Sun-drying, Onions, Garlic, Ginger, Salmonella, Time temperature control for safety food

A small strawberry sits at the bottom of an absurdly deep kitchen sink garbage disposal filled with a chaotic spiral of countless sharp blades. The exaggerated quantity of blades contrasts humorously with the strawberry’s vulnerability. A big red button labeled "Garbage Disposal" looms in the background, enhancing the scene’s comedic tension.

733. Ben's Garbage Disposal Strawberry

February 14, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of eating a strawberry that has fallen into a garbage disposal.

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

  • Brach's Candy Cinnamon Imperial Hearts
  • Brach's Candy Tiny Conversation Hearts
  • This time I DIDN'T train a neural net to generate candy hearts - AI Weirdness


February 14, 2025 /Don Schaffner
Strawberry, Cross-contamination, Garbage disposal

The image shows a professor in a lab coat and glasses, using a tip-sensitive digital thermometer to measure the temperature at the center of a container of vegetarian chili. The chili is on a refrigerator shelf in a home kitchen, with the fridge open, revealing various food items.

732. Don's Slow Cooling Veggie Chili

February 12, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of slow cooling vegetarian chili.

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

  • FSIS Stabilization Guideline for Meat and Poultry Products (Revised Appendix B) December, 2021
  • Cooling Uncovered Foods at a Depth of ∼5.1 cm (2 in.) or Less Poses Little Risk of Pathogen Growth - ScienceDirect
  • FDA Food Code | FDA
  • Cooling Rates of Chili Using Refrigerator, Blast Chiller, and Chill Stick Cooling Methods


February 12, 2025 /Don Schaffner
Cooling, Clostridium perfringens, Bacillus cereus

The image depicts a cyclist in professional gear standing beside their road bike on a scenic route. They are licking an energy chew, preparing to stick it to the bike frame. The background features mountains or countryside, with early morning light setting a serene atmosphere for the long ride ahead.

731. Sticking Energy Chews to a Bike's Frame for Easy Access

February 10, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from sticking energy chews to a bike's frame for easy access.

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

  • Stewie Griffin - Wikipedia
  • Energy Chews | Chewable Energy | GU Energy Labs
  • Outbreak of Campylobacteriosis Associated with a Long-Distance Obstacle Adventure Race — Nevada, October 2012
  • Campylobacteriosis outbreak associated with ingestion of mud during a mountain bike race - PubMed
February 10, 2025 /Don Schaffner
Cycling, Energy chews, Cross-contamination, Mud

The image depicts a person at a table, holding a fork near their mouth with a surprised expression. They are about to accidentally eat sprouts that have fallen off a Chia Pet, which sits nearby with missing greenery. The scene is humorous, lighthearted, and brightly lit.

730. Accidentally Eating Some Seeds or Sprouts From a Chia Pet

February 07, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks posed by accidentally eating some seeds or sprouts from a Chia Pet.

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

  • FAQ - Chia.com
  • Chia Home - Chia.com
  • Ice Spice Chia Pet - Chia.com
  • Chia seed benefits: What you need to know - Harvard Health
  • ISGA – International Sprout Growers Association
  • International outbreak of multiple Salmonella serotype infections linked to sprouted chia seed powder – USA and Canada, 2013–2014 | Epidemiology & Infection | Cambridge Core
  • Physicochemical and Bacteriological Characteristics of Organic Sprouted Chia and Flax Seed Powders Implicated in a Foodborne Salmonellosis Outbreak - ScienceDirect
  • Voluntary Recall of Select Great Value Organic Black Chia Seeds Due to The Possible Presence of Salmonella | FDA
  • US, Canadian authorities recall chia seed powder after Salmonella outbreak | Processing Magazine
February 07, 2025 /Don Schaffner
Sprouts, Seeds, Chia Pet

The image shows a slightly older, balding Canadian professor with short blonde hair, glasses, and a short beard on a Brazilian farm. He looks nervous as he holds a tiny piece of raw milk Gouda cheese. Behind him are lush green fields, grazing cows, a rustic barn, and a Brazilian flag waving.

729. Eating Raw Milk Gouda Cheese in an Unregulated Brazilian Facility

February 05, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks that Ben faced when eating raw milk gouda cheese in an unregulated Brazilian facility.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️

  • Food Safety Talk
  • NC Tobacco Trust Fund Commission Agricultural Leadership Development Program | NC State Extension
  • Gouda Recipe | Cheese Maker Recipes | Cheese Making Supply
  • Enumeration of Escherichia coli O157 in Outbreak-Associated Gouda Cheese Made with Raw Milk - ScienceDirect
  • Outbreak of Escherichia coli O157:H7 Infections Linked to Aged Raw Milk Gouda Cheese, Canada, 2013 - ScienceDirect
  • Multistate Outbreak of Escherichia coli O157:H7 Infections Associated with In-Store Sampling of an Aged Raw-Milk Gouda Cheese, 2010 - ScienceDirect
  • Escherichia coli O121 outbreak associated with raw milk Gouda-like cheese in British Columbia, Canada, 2018 - PMC
  • Microbiological Safety of Various Gouda Cheeses Produced from Raw Milk
February 05, 2025 /Don Schaffner
Cheese, Raw milk, Raw milk cheese, Brazil

The image shows a transparent plastic container filled with brown sugar, with dry, crumbly pieces of stale bread mixed in. The container is placed on a clean kitchen countertop with a neutral background, emphasizing the sugar’s granular texture and the contrasting roughness of the bread.

728. Using Stale Bread in Brown Sugar

February 03, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of using stale bread to keep brown sugar moist.

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

  • Carnac the Magnificent - Wikipedia
  • The Rolling Stones – Brown Sugar Lyrics | Genius Lyrics
  • Brown Sugar Saver | King Arthur Baking Company
  • The Pioneer Woman Terracotta Sugar Saver at Walmart - Where to Buy Ree Drummond's Brown Sugar Savers
  • How to Soften Brown Sugar | Bob's Red Mill Natural Foods
February 03, 2025 /Don Schaffner
Brown sugar, Stale bread, Cross-contamination

The image shows a person loading dishes into an open dishwasher in a modern, well-lit kitchen. The dishes are visibly contaminated with red streaks and residue from raw meat juices, emphasizing cross-contamination risks. The individual, dressed casually, appears unaware of the contamination, with clean countertops and appliances surrounding them.

727. Placing Raw Meat Dishes Directly in the Dishwasher

January 31, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from not pre-washing raw meat dishes and placing them directly in the dishwasher.

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

  • Cardiff Metropolitan University - Study in Cardiff
  • method to evaluate factors influencing the microbial reduction in domestic dishwashers | Journal of Applied Microbiology | Oxford Academic
  • FSIS Cooking Guideline for Meat and Poultry Products (Revised Appendix A) December, 2021
  • Roderick on the Line - Merlin Mann
January 31, 2025 /Don Schaffner
Cross-contamination, Dishwasher, Raw meat

A close-up of a sunny-side-up egg cooking in a textured black pan. The yolk is vibrant yellow, and the whites are cooked with light browning at the edges. Subtle, glowing, microscopic virus-like shapes are faintly embedded in the egg whites, blending naturally into the scene under warm lighting.

726. Sunny Side Up Egg From a Bird Infected With Bird Flu

January 29, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from sunny side up egg from a bird infected with bird flu.

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

  • SHensley: "@benjaminchapman.bsky.social @bugcounter.bsky.social Georgia is like 15% of the US poultry production. Eggs sunny side up from a chicken with bird flu #riskyornot? www.wjcl.com/article/geor..." — Bluesky
  • Full article: Heat inactivation of avian influenza and Newcastle disease viruses in egg products
  • The Impact of Holding Time on the Likelihood of Moving Internally Contaminated Eggs from a Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Infected but Undetected Commercial Table-Egg Layer Flock | Avian Diseases
  • Full article: Avian influenza viruses in poultry products: a review
  • Evaluation of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Egg Pasteurization Processes on the Inactivation of High-Pathogenicity Avian Influenza Virus and Velogenic Newcastle Disease Virus in Processed Egg Products - ScienceDirect
  • Detection of Influenza A Viruses in Eggs Laid by Infected Turkeys | Avian Diseases
  • Questions and Answers Regarding the Safety of Eggs During Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Outbreaks | FDA
  • Interagency Risk Assessment for the Public Health Impact of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus in Poultry, Shell Eggs, and Egg Products (May 2010) | Food Safety and Inspection Service
  • Executive Summary, Interagency Risk Assessment for the Public Health Impact of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus in Poultry, Shell Eggs, and Egg Products - May 2010
  • Interagency Risk Assessment for the Public Health Impact of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus in Poultry, Shell Eggs, and Egg Products Conducted by FSIS in collaboration with FDA and APHIS
  • USDA Questions and Answers: Food Safety and Avian Influenza April 2015
  • Skibidi Toilet - Season 1 [FULL SCREEN] - YouTube
January 29, 2025 /Don Schaffner
Eggs, HPAI, Bird flu, Highly pathogenic avian influenza, Cooking

The image depicts a man standing next to a bulldozer on a landfill. He appears worried, gazing at a pile of chicken feathers, beaks, and feet amidst the trash. The setting is overcast, with debris scattered around, creating a somber and tense atmosphere.

725. Landfilling Ground Up HPAI Infected Chickens Without PPE

January 27, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of workers landfilling ground up highly pathogenic avian influenza infected chickens without personal protective equipment.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️

  • TWiV 1178: Clinical update with Dr. Daniel Griffin — This Week in Virology — Overcast
  • CDC Interim Guidance for Landfill Workers in the United States Disposing of Poultry Carcasses During Outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza
  • NJ Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) “Bird Flu” FAQ
  • Survival rate of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses at different temperatures - ScienceDirect
  • Survivability of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 Virus in Poultry Faeces at Different Temperatures - PMC
January 27, 2025 /Don Schaffner
HPAI, Personal protective equipment, Highly pathogenic avian influenza, PPE

A whimsical scene of a bearded professor in a tweed jacket sipping diet cola while licking orange cheese dust off his fingers from Cheetos. Surrounded by scattered books and papers in a cozy academic office, his quirky enjoyment adds charm to the playful, lighthearted atmosphere.

724. Licking Cheetos Dust Off Your Fingers

January 24, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from licking Cheetos dust off your fingers.

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

  • Home | Cheetos
  • Hands Are Frequently Contaminated with Fecal Bacteria and Enteric Pathogens Globally: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis | ACS Environmental Au
January 24, 2025 /Don Schaffner
Cheetos, Cross-contamination, Licking, Hands

A playful winter scene of a person licking an icicle attached to the edge of a snow-covered wooden cabin roof. Dressed in a cozy coat, gloves, and a beanie, they stand on a snowy ground, surrounded by snow-laden trees under a clear blue sky, capturing a fun, chilly moment.

723. Occasionally Eating Roof Icicles

January 22, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from occasionally eating icicles off your roof.

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

  • What Are Roof Shingles? (2025) | Today's Homeowner
  • Quality of roof-harvested rainwater – Comparison of different roofing materials - ScienceDirect
  • A global review of the microbiological quality and potential health risks associated with roof-harvested rainwater tanks | npj Clean Water
  • Microbiological Quality of Roof‐Harvested Rainwater and Health Risks: A Review - Ahmed - 2011 - Journal of Environmental Quality - Wiley Online Library
  • An examination of the microbial community and occurrence of potential human pathogens in rainwater harvested from different roofing materials - ScienceDirect
  • ChatGPT on icicles
  • Meteorologist Explains Why You Should Never Eat Icicles, No Matter How Tempting They Look | IFLScience
January 22, 2025 /Don Schaffner
Icicles, Ice, Snow, Roof, Licking

A lighthearted scene of a person changing a baby's diaper in a cozy nursery. Unknowingly, they have baby poop on their finger, dangerously close to their mouth. The baby lies amused on a changing table, surrounded by baby wipes, a clean diaper, and pastel-colored toys, creating a playful atmosphere.

722. Eating Baby Poop Regularly

January 20, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of eating baby poop regularly.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️

  • Gregory Koch: "Eating baby poop - Risky or Not? @bugcounter.bsky.social @benchapmanncsu.bsky.social" — Bluesky
  • Development of intestinal microbiota in infants and its impact on health: Trends in Microbiology
  • Bifidobacterium - Wikipedia
  • The First Microbial Colonizers of the Human Gut: Composition, Activities, and Health Implications of the Infant Gut Microbiota | Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews


January 20, 2025 /Don Schaffner
Baby Poop

The image depicts a lively coffee cupping session where participants share spoons, simultaneously dipping them into small labeled coffee cups arranged on a rustic wooden table. The cozy café setting features sunlight streaming through large windows, green plants, and coffee equipment, creating a warm, collaborative, and interactive atmosphere.

721. Coffee Cupping in January

January 17, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from coffee tasting using shared cups, i.e., coffee cupping.

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

  • Coffee Cupping: A Step By Step Guide
  • Responsible Coffee Cupping During Covid-19 - Perfect Daily Grind
  • Detection of Norovirus in Saliva Samples from Acute Gastroenteritis Cases and Asymptomatic Subjects: Association with Age and Higher Shedding in Stool - PMC
  • US norovirus outbreaks are up, CDC data show | CIDRAP
  • NoroSTAT Data | Norovirus | CDC
  • 316. Using Cups to Scoop Water Out of a Shared Bowl — Risky or Not?
January 17, 2025 /Don Schaffner
Cross-contamination, Coffee cupping
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