Risky or Not?

A short podcast about everyday risks from germs

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A man in a dark hoodie stands before an open refrigerator, cautiously sneaking a spoonful of cottage cheese straight from the container. The fridge glows with soft light, revealing milk, juice bottles, tomatoes, oranges, and lettuce. His wide eyes suggest he's hoping no one catches him in the act.

763. Yogurt or Cottage Cheese Directly Out of the Container

April 25, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from repeatedly eating yogurt or cottage cheese directly out of the container.

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

  • 47: Peanut Butter Fingering โ€” Risky or Not?
  • Effect of Biting Before Dipping (Doubleโ€Dipping) Chips on the Bacterial Population of the Dipping Solution
  • Listeria in the domestic environment | Emerald Insight
  • 316. Using Cups to Scoop Water Out of a Shared Bowl โ€” Risky or Not?
  • Calcium - Cheese Science Toolkit
April 25, 2025 /Don Schaffner
Yogurt, Cottage cheese, Cross-contamination

762. Garlic Yogurt Dip 10 Days Post Making, Just Prior to Surgery

April 23, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating garlic yogurt dip 10 days post making, just prior to surgery.

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

  • Opinion on leveling kits ? : r/ToyotaTacoma
  • Garlic Aroma That Could Level Tacoma question : r/Zappa
  • BEST of Tacoma, WA Garlic Knots - Yelp
April 23, 2025 /Don Schaffner
Yogurt, Surgery, Garlic

A person is cleaning a reddish-orange spill inside a refrigerator using a scrub brush and a bowl of water. Some food items, like eggs, milk, and condiments, have been removed and sit on the counter. The refrigerator shelves hold strawberries, jars, and bottles, creating a tidy but active cleaning scene.

761. Cleaning the Fridge With Water Only

April 21, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from cleaning refrigerator shelves using water only.

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

  • Domestic and Indoor Microbiology - ScienceDirect
  • Surface Sanitation and Microbiological Food Quality of a University Foodservice Operation
  • Domestic Refrigeration Practices with Emphasis on Hygiene: Analysis of a Survey and Consumer Recommendations - ScienceDirect
  • Microbiological Safety of Domestic Refrigerators and the Dishcloths Used To Clean Them in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico - ScienceDirect
April 21, 2025 /Don Schaffner
Cleaning, Water, Refrigerator

A square image of a Canadian egg carton stamped with โ€œRECALLEDโ€ in large red block letters. The carton reads โ€œEGGS โ€“ OEUFSโ€ and โ€œCANADA Aโ€ with a red maple leaf, indicating Canadian origin. The carton sits on a light wooden surface, viewed directly from above.

760. Eggs Recalled for Salmonella

April 18, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating eggs recalled for Salmonella.

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

  • Eggs In B.C., Ont., Man., Recalled Over Salmonella Concerns - Canadian Manufacturing
  • Eggs recalled in multiple provinces over salmonella concerns | CBC News
  • Costco eggs recalled: Make sure they're not still in your fridge
  • FDA designates Costco egg notice as a Class I recall : NPR
  • Investigation Update: Salmonella Outbreak, Eggs - September 2024 | Salmonella Infection | CDC
  • Eggs recalled in Alberta, B.C., Ontario, over salmonella
  • DeCosters lose appeal in Salmonella outbreak case | WATTAgNet | WATTPoultry.com
  • HHS Lays Off All Full-Time Cruise Ship Health Inspectors Amid Illness Outbreaks: Report | HuffPost Latest News
April 18, 2025 /Don Schaffner
Salmonella, Eggs, Recalls

This is a screen capture from the actual TikTok video.

759. Big Open Jar of Canned Peaches at Room Temperature

April 16, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating peaches from big open jar of canned peaches kept at room temperature.

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

  • Conference for Food Protection
  • #peachlady #peaches @Costco Wholesale | peach jar lady | TikTok
  • Zalea Peaches. Any one have experience with them? : r/Costco
  • McCullough recalls decades of food science work upon retirement from UGA-Griffin | University of Georgia Griffin Campus
  • Pathogen Modeling Program (PMP) Online
  • Further Studies on Development of Clostridium botulinum in Refrigerated Foods.
  • Clemson pH Values of Common Foods and Ingredients
  • Pruno - Wikipedia
  • Peaches En Regalia - YouTube
  • The Presidents of the United States of America โ€“ Peaches Lyrics | Genius Lyrics
April 16, 2025 /Don Schaffner
Time temperature control for safety food, Peaches

A panicked man frantically refills multiple plastic water jugs at a kitchen sink. His wide-eyed, stressed expression suggests urgency or impending crisis. The countertop and sink are crowded with empty jugs, and water spills slightly as he struggles to keep up with the task.

758. Reusing Plastic Drinking Water Jugs Without Washing

April 14, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from reusing plastic drinking water jugs without washing.

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

  • Gregory Koch: "Me wearing my #RiskyOrNot no waffles shirt for Passover. @bugcounter.bsky.social @benjaminchapman.bsky.social" โ€” Bluesky
  • Quantifying the Influence of Relative Humidity, Temperature, and Diluent on the Survival and Growth of Enterobacter aerogenes - ScienceDirect
  • Draft Genome Sequence for Klebsiella michiganensis B199A, Originally Identified as Enterobacter aerogenes | Microbiology Resource Announcements
  • Matt Igo | LinkedIn
  • Aqua North Carolina | Essential Utilities
April 14, 2025 /Don Schaffner
Water, Cross-contamination

A close-up of a heavily rusted can opener resting on a weathered wooden surface. The corroded metal is pitted and flaking, showing deep orange-brown rust throughout. The worn texture of the tool and wood suggests age, neglect, and decay, evoking a gritty, industrial, almost post-apocalyptic aesthetic.

757. Rusty Can Opener

April 11, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from using a rusty can opener.

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

  • Eat or Toss? Is it OK to eat?
  • Rusty Linux: Advances in Rust for Linux Kernel Development | Proceedings of the 18th ACM/IEEE International Symposium on Empirical Software Engineering and Measurement
  • A microbial survey of food service can openers, food and beverage can tops and cleaning methodology effectiveness - Michaels - 2003 - Food Service Technology - Wiley Online Library
  • The hygiene of slicing machines, carving knives and can-openers | Epidemiology & Infection | Cambridge Core
  • The โ€œGermiestโ€ Items in the Kitchen โ€“ Savannah Valley District
  • The importance of hygiene in modern society - ScienceDirect
  • Clean the Germiest Home Items | NSF
  • Clean the Germiest Kitchen Items | NSF
  • John Roderick (musician) - Wikipedia
  • Amazon.com: Chef Craft Select Can Opener with Tapper, 6.5 inches in length, Nickle Plated : Home & Kitchen
  • Should I get another tetanus shot after seeing rusts in the can opener that I used? I got my tetanus shot last year, I was wondering if I need another one after possibly ingesting rust. Should I be concerned? - Quora
  • You Don't Get Tetanus From Rust | Discovery
  • 310: Arc โ€” Robot or Not? โ€” Overcast
  • Tomato sprouts INSIDE the tomato?
April 11, 2025 /Don Schaffner
Can opener, Rust, Tetanus, Clostridium tetani

Today instead of stealing from all artists, we are just stealing from one. This image was originally posted on the eatortoss.com website and we're using it without permission. Hopefully Rachel will forgive us. If not I know a way to make another one.

756. Apples Bitten by Stink Bugs

April 09, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating an apple bitten by stink bugs.

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

  • Eat or Toss? Is it OK to eat?
  • Dark, dented spots on apple?
  • Fate of Escherichia coli O157:H7 on Fresh-Cut Apple Tissue and Its Potential for Transmission by Fruit Flies | Applied and Environmental Microbiology
  • 707. Eating Fruit Thatโ€™s Been Bitten by a Bat โ€” Risky or Not?
  • Brown Marmorated Stink Bug | US EPA
April 09, 2025 /Don Schaffner
Apples, Stink Bugs, E. coli O157:H7

A clear glass of milk sits on a wooden surface, featuring a vibrant purple crazy straw looping playfully above the rim. The background is softly lit with a neutral tone, highlighting the strawโ€™s curves and the milkโ€™s smooth texture. The image is balanced, nostalgic, and visually inviting.

755. Reusable Straws

April 07, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from using re-usable straws.

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

  • Eat or Toss? Is it OK to eat?
  • 475. Bamboo Straw Used for Smoothies Without a Brush for Cleaning โ€” Risky or Not?
  • Food Safety Talk 33: Fresh Produce Punk Rock Hippieness โ€” Food Safety Talk
  • View of Do reusables pose greater infectious risks than disposables for consumer goods? A systematic literature review
  • Guidance Document for the Safe Reuse of Containers | Conference-Developed Guides and Documents | Conference for Food Protection
April 07, 2025 /Don Schaffner
Straws, Cross-contamination, Cleaning

A square photo shows a crusty spoon resting in a cocoa powder container. The spoon is stained with dried hot chocolate mix and milk. Nearby, a mug of hot chocolate sits on a textured surface, capturing a cozy, slightly messy moment in making the drink.

754. Reusing a Hot Chocolate Milk Spoon

April 04, 2025 by Don Schaffner

The image shows a used spoon crusted with dried hot chocolate mix and milk, sitting inside a container of cocoa powder. It looks messy and realistic, as if it was just used to stir chocolate milk and then carelessly returned to the container. A nearby glass of chocolate milk completes the scene.

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

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from reusing a hot chocolate milk spoon.

  • Eat or Toss? Is it OK to eat?
  • Time to B. cereus about hot chocolate - PMC
  • Estimation of human dose of staphylococcal enterotoxin A from a large outbreak of staphylococcal food poisoning involving chocolate milk - ScienceDirect
  • Understanding and Controlling Microbiological Contamination of Beverage Dispensers in University Foodservice Operations
  • Profiling Bacillus cereus populations in a traditional style, hot-drinks vending machine and vended hot chocolate drink using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) techniques - ScienceDirect
April 04, 2025 /Don Schaffner
Milk, Chocolate, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus

A whimsical lasagna slice with mismatched layersโ€”crispy and soft pasta, colorful sauces, varied cheeses, and mixed fillingsโ€”sits on a plate in a rustic kitchen. Each layer contrasts wildly, symbolizing change over time in a playful take on the Ship of Theseus paradox, now deliciously reimagined in pasta form.

753. Re-Heating Leftovers Indefinitely and the Lasagna of Theseus

April 02, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of re-heating leftovers indefinitely and the lasagna of Theseus.

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

  • Life Kit : NPR
  • Theseus - Wikipedia
  • Ship of Theseus - Wikipedia
  • Tyndallization - Wikipedia
  • How long do leftovers last? An - Life Kit - Apple Podcasts
  • How long do leftovers last? And other food safety questions, answered : Life Kit : NPR
April 02, 2025 /Don Schaffner
Leftovers

Actual old sliced lambโ€™s liver. Not DALLยทE.

752. Frozen Sliced Liver From the Last Century

March 31, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating frozen sliced liver from the last century.

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

  • I found this sliced liver from Safeways in my... - Military Aircraft | Facebook
  • FSIS Chicken Liver Guidance
  • Campylobacter spp. in New Zealand raw sheep liver and human campylobacteriosis cases - PubMed
  • Forcemeat - Wikipedia
March 31, 2025 /Don Schaffner
Liver, Frozen food

A green juice bottle sits on a car seat, partially frozen with visible ice crystals. Frost covers the car windows, and condensation clings to the bottle. The early morning light casts a cold, bluish hue, emphasizing the chill of a winter night spent inside the vehicle.

751. Leaving Green Juice in the Car Overnight in the Winter

March 28, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from consuming Green Juice left in the car overnight in the winter.

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

  • Green Goodnessยฎ - Bolthouse Farms
  • FAQs - Bolthouse Farms
  • Botulism Associated with Commercial Carrot Juice --- Georgia and Florida, September 2006
  • 100% Carrot - Bolthouse Farms
March 28, 2025 /Don Schaffner
Time temperature control for safety food, Juice, Pasteurization

A festive kitchen decorated for St. Patrick's Day features green streamers, shamrocks, and themed treats. In contrast, a shopping bag with a forgotten package of corned beef and bread sits quietly on the counter, slightly tucked away, hinting at a small oversight amid the celebration.

750. Corned Beef Left Out for a Couple of Hours

March 26, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating corned beef left out for a couple of hours.

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

  • What is the term for a 750th anniversary in The AnswerBank: Phrases & Sayings
  • Tony Hawk - Wikipedia
  • LUCKY CHARMS - 60s 70s 80s 90s Commercials Compilation - YouTube
  • Corned beef - Wikipedia
  • No such thing as 'uncured' corned beef, Penn State meat expert says | Penn State University
  • Curing (food preservation) - Wikipedia
March 26, 2025 /Don Schaffner
Time temperature control for safety food, Corned beef, Sodium Nitrate

Golden cookie-style lemon bars with glistening lemon curd sit on a rustic surface. Their edges are slightly dry and cracked, showing signs of age, yet they still look rich and tempting. The vibrant yellow curd contrasts beautifully with the soft, crumbly base, inviting a bite despite their two-week-old appearance.

749. Two Week Old Cookie Style Lemon Bars

March 24, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating two week old cookie style lemon bars.

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

  • Easy Lemon Bar Cookies - Cambrea Bakes
  • Recipes - Texas Cottage Food Law
March 24, 2025 /Don Schaffner
Time temperature control for safety food, Lemon curd, Cookies

A charming cartoon mouse in an apron stands on a stool, cheerfully churning butter in a rustic farmhouse kitchen. Warm lighting, wooden beams, and shelves filled with jars and herbs create a cozy, storybook atmosphere. The scene is whimsical, inviting, and full of delightful countryside detail.

748. Butter That a Mouse Churned

March 21, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating butter that a mouse churned.

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

  • Richard Gere and the Gerbil | Snopes.com
  • Two Little Mice Fell Into a Bucket of Cream Lesson
  • Is it true that if you shake the creamer cups you get with coffee enough, they turn into butter? : r/NoStupidQuestions
  • Fecal Shedding of Zoonotic Food-Borne Pathogens by Wild Rodents in a Major Agricultural Region of the Central California Coast - PMC
  • SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night, More Cowbell Season 1, Episode 2
  • Annie Hall (8/12) Movie CLIP - Can I Confess Something? (1977) HD - YouTube
March 21, 2025 /Don Schaffner
Rodents, Butter, Cross-contamination

A modern home kitchen features an open oven with a small pile of rodent feces on the rack. In the background, a cute mouse with big eyes and a guilty expression peeks out, adding a humorous contrast to the otherwise clean and well-lit space.

747. Cooking in an Oven With Mouse Droppings

March 19, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from cooking in an oven with mouse droppings.

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

  • Mickey Mouse heads to the public domain
  • HAPPY DAYS - "Fonzie Moves in Over the Cunninghams Garage" - The Fonz - YouTube
  • Hantavirus Disease
  • Hantavirus: What is disease that killed Gene Hackman's wife?
  • Reported Cases of Hantavirus Disease | Hantavirus | CDC
  • Applications of heat: Hantavirus
March 19, 2025 /Don Schaffner
Feces, Rodents, Cross-contamination, Hantavirus

A man in a cozy kitchen stirs golden honey into creamy homemade peanut butter using a wooden spoon. Sunlight streams through a window, casting a warm glow on the glass jar. Peanuts and a honey jar sit nearby on the counter, enhancing the inviting, homemade feel of the scene.

746. Homemade Nut Butter Containing Honey

March 17, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating homemade nut butter containing honey.

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

  • Contamination of Nuts/Nut Butters | Food Safety
  • Water Activity (aw) in Foods | FDA
  • Water content, water activity, water structure and the stability of foodstuffs - ScienceDirect
  • Influence of Water Activity on Foodborne Bacteria โ€” A Review - ScienceDirect
  • Water activity - Wikipedia
  • T. Rex - Bang A Gong (Get It On) (Official Vinyl Video) - YouTube
March 17, 2025 /Don Schaffner
Peanut butter, Honey, Salmonella, Clostridium botulinum, Water activity

The image shows a stainless steel pan with murky, dirty water sitting on a kitchen counter overnight. The water has a greasy film and floating residue. The pan has dried streaks on its sides. The counter has scattered crumbs and stains, illuminated by soft morning light filtering through a window.

745. Reusing Pasta Water That's Been Sitting Out Overnight

March 14, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks reusing pasta water that's been sitting out overnight.

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

  • NACCHO
  • Bacillus sp. R2 ฮฑ-amylase production optimization: Pasta cooking water as medium of amylase production | African Journal of Biotechnology
  • Fatal Family Outbreak of Bacillus cereus-Associated Food Poisoning - PMC
  • Predictive Model for Growth of Bacillus cereus at Temperatures Applicable to Cooling of Cooked Pasta - Juneja - 2019 - Journal of Food Science - Wiley Online Library
  • 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
  • A systematic review and meta-analysis of the prevalence of Bacillus cereus in foods - ScienceDirect
  • A survey study on safety and microbial quality of โ€œgluten-freeโ€ products made in Italian pasta factories - ScienceDirect
  • The occurrence of Bacillus cereus in fast foods: International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition: Vol 49, No 4
  • Toxin producing Bacillus cereus persist in ready-to-reheat spaghetti Bolognese mainly in vegetative state - ScienceDirect
  • Microbiological Quality of Filled Pasta in Relation to the Nature of Heat Treatment - ScienceDirect
March 14, 2025 /Don Schaffner
Bacillus, Heat stable toxin, Pasta, Time temperature control for safety food

The image features a plate of freshly cooked shrimp with dipping sauce on a wooden table. In the background, a television displays a football game. A majestic owl with striking feathers perches nearby, gazing intently at the shrimp. The cozy living room setting has warm lighting, creating a relaxed atmosphere.

744. Superb Owl Shrimp That's Been Out of Temperature, Refrigerated and Reheated

March 12, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating Superb Owl shrimp that's been out of temperature, refrigerated and reheated.

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

  • Watch the Football! โšฝ | That Mitchell and Webb Look - BBC - YouTube
  • 2025 Super Bowl LIX Sunday - When, Where & More - NFL.com
  • A comprehensive review of the spoilage of shrimp and advances in various indicators/sensors for shrimp spoilage monitoring - ScienceDirect
  • FoodKeeper App | FoodSafety.gov
  • Food Lion Shrimp Ring, with Cocktail Sauce, Cooked Same-Day Delivery or Pickup | Food Lion


March 12, 2025 /Don Schaffner
Shrimp, Time temperature control for safety food, Leftovers
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