A short podcast about everyday risks from germs

A clear glass holds partially melted ice water with a single penny resting atop the remaining ice. The ice forms a cloudy disk floating above the water line. The background is a neutral surface, emphasizing the simple, almost scientific feel of the composition.

775. Coin in Cup for Freezer Safety After Power Outages

May 23, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from using the coin in cup for freezer safety tip after power outages.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️

Food Safety After a Storm | N.C. Cooperative Extension
Does a Coin in a Cup of Ice Accurately Tell You If Your Freezer Lost Power? | Snopes.com
Why Are People Putting A Cup Of Ice With A Coin On Top In Their Freezer?
Temperature & Humidity | Lascar Electronics
Amazon.com: tempi.fi Wireless Temperature and Humidity Sensor - Developed in The USA - 24/7 Data Logger with Alarm – Bluetooth Smart Thermometer and Hygrometer - Bluetooth Only - Not WiFi : Industrial & Scientific

A smiling man with curly hair, a beard, and glasses wears an orange turtleneck sweater. He holds a clear container filled with candied lemon peels. The background is a soft beige, giving the image a warm, cozy feel. The man appears cheerful and relaxed.

774. Room Temperature Candied Lemon Peels

May 21, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from storing candied lemon peels at room temperature.

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

A grimy single-cup coffee maker sits on a speckled countertop, heavily stained with rust and old coffee residue. The machine looks neglected and unclean. A filthy, streaked paper cup rests on the drip tray, emphasizing the unhygienic condition. The setting evokes discomfort, like a poorly maintained hotel room.

773. Single Cup Hotel Coffee Makers

May 19, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from using hotel single cup coffee makers.

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

A person in a brown shirt carefully sweeps spilled flour from a countertop into a ceramic bowl using a wooden brush, intending to save it for later. The scene is warmly lit and focused on the hands and tools.

772. Reusing Bench Flour

May 16, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from reusing bench flour.

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

A greasy cook licks his fingers while holding a steak over a grill. He wears a stained apron and chef’s hat. A young girl with long black hair looks on in horror, her mouth open in shock. The kitchen appears grimy, with a burger on a shelf in the background.

771. Eating Steaks Flipped With Licked Bare Hands

May 14, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating steaks flipped by someone who has licked their bare hands before flipping.

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

DALL·E image text: A concerned woman holds a glass of milk in front of FDA headquarters. Behind her, a somber line of employees exits the building, each wearing a sign that says "FIRED." The scene conveys unease, suggesting turmoil at the agency and possible implications for food safety or public trust.

770. Consuming Dairy Products Given Cuts to FDA

May 12, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of consuming dairy products given recent cuts to FDA.

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

This image is from Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/Mold/comments/1jc7ge8/mold_or_dirt_in_shallot/

769. Onion and Shallot Black Mold

May 09, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from onions and/or shallots with black mold.

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

DALL·E image text: A young restaurant worker in a black shirt and beige apron pulls on a white glove while a stern manager in a black suit watches disapprovingly with arms crossed. The warm, rustic restaurant setting contrasts with the tension between them, hinting that the worker skipped proper handwashing before gloving up.

768. Putting on Gloves Without Washing Your Hands

May 07, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of putting on gloves without first washing your hands as required by the FDA model food code.

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

DALL·E image text: The image shows the entrance to "Jordan's Bar & Restaurant," with wooden double doors featuring baseball bat handles. A lake and trees are visible through the glass panels. A sign on one door reads "Shoes, Shirt, No Service," and a wooden sign above displays the restaurant's name. The image is square.
Don: The image is square, and so is DALL·E, man.

767. Eating and Drinking at Nudist Bar

May 05, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks eating and drinking at nudist bar.

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

DALL·E image text: A glass bowl of overnight oats sits on a dark countertop, glowing ominously with green light. Wisps of toxic-looking green mist rise from the oats, surrounded by biohazard symbols, creating an eerie, dangerous atmosphere that hints at bacterial contamination.

766. Room Temperature Overnight Oats

May 02, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating overnight oats made a room temperature

Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️

DALL·E image text: A square photo of a glass jar, half-filled with syrupy peaches. Several peach slices are covered in thick, fuzzy mold, appearing green and white. The jar has a weathered metal lid, and the syrup inside is cloudy. The scene is softly lit against a plain, neutral background.

765. Big Open Spoiled Jar of Canned Peaches at Room Temperature

April 30, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben revisit episode 759, and talk about the risks of eating from big open spoiled jar of canned peaches at room temperature.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️

764. Canned Pineapple From a Gray Container

April 28, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating canned pineapple from a container that's turned gray on the inside.

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

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 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

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 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

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 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

A square image of a Canadian egg carton stamped with “RECALLED” in large red block letters. The carton reads “EGGS – OEUFS” and “CANADA A” 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 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

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 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

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 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

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 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

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 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼