Risky or Not?

A short podcast about everyday risks from germs

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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 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

  • 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 — 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

DALL·E - a glass container half full of syrup filled with sausage links

543. Eating Table Syrup From IHOP Containing Food Hidden by College Students

November 29, 2023 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of eating table syrup from IHOP containing food hidden by college students.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️

  • IHOP's New Syrup Containers
  • Amazon.com - 6 Oz. (Ounce) Glass Bulb Jar Syrup Dispenser, Sugar Dispenser, Retracting Spout, Dispensing Thumb-Lever, Pancake House Style (2) - Food Dispensers
November 29, 2023 /Don Schaffner
Syrup, Water activity, pH, Clostridium botulinum

414. Slimy Meat With Holes

February 01, 2023 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of eating meat with holes that are slimy.

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

  • Alex on Twitter: "@f*ckedupfoods @bugcounter and @benjaminchapman this is uh... Bad right" / Twitter
  • f*cked up looking food on Twitter: "https://t.co/mI1yRQrNWu" / Twitter
  • Microbiological Spoilage and Contamination of Vacuum-Packaged Cooked Sausages | Journal of Food Protection
  • Sodium Nitrite and Sorbic Acid Effects on Clostridium botulinum Toxin Formation in Chicken Frankfurter‐Type Emulsions - Sofos - 1979 - Journal of Food Science - Wiley Online Library
  • CSIRO Meat Technology Update
February 01, 2023 /Don Schaffner
Meat, Bologna, Clostridium botulinum, Spoilage

326. Foods in Oil Stored for a Long Time

July 11, 2022 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of several foods (chili oil, herbs in oil and potato frying oils) stored for different times and temperatures.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️

  • Aunties Chili Oil 2016 - Google Photos
  • Current Food Safety Issues of Home-prepared Vegetables and Herbs Stored in Oil
  • 315. Continuing to Eat a Jar of Recalled Jif Peanutbutter — Risky or Not?
  • Earth-616 - Wikipedia
  • Conservative Prediction of Time to Clostridium botulinum Toxin Formation for Use with Time-Temperature Indicators To Ensure the Safety of Foods | Journal of Food Protection
  • (1) ★metal★matt★ on Twitter: "@bugcounter @benjaminchapman I fried some potatoes in oil; afterward the oil still looked clean, so I let it cool and put it back in the bottle. Stored at room temp, is it #RiskyOrNot to continue to use this oil for other cooking?" / Twitter
  • Reconcilable Differences Store
July 11, 2022 /Don Schaffner
Oil, Clostridium botulinum, Chili, Herbs

234. Salmon at 43 °F for 15 Hours

December 08, 2021 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of holding salmon at 43 °F for 15 hours.

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

  • Merch — Risky or Not?
  • When Is Hanukkah (Chanukah) Celebrated in 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025? - Hanukkah Dates - Chanukah - Hanukkah
  • Risk of Growth and Toxin Production by Clostridium botulinum Nonproteolytic Types B, E, and F in Salmon Fillets Stored Under Modified Atmospheres at Low and Abused Temperatures | Journal of Food Protection
  • Conservative Prediction of Time to Clostridium botulinum Toxin Formation for Use with Time-Temperature Indicators To Ensure the Safety of Foods | Journal of Food Protection
December 08, 2021 /Don Schaffner
Salmon, Temperature abuse, Listeria, Clostridium botulinum
189.png

189. Epoxy Hotdog

August 25, 2021 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of eating a hotdog encased in epoxy for months.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️

  • Home of the epoxy hotdog, for all your epoxy hotdog needs!
  • Putting A Whole Hot Dog In Epoxy Resin | DIY Epoxy Resin Art - YouTube
  • 10 month epoxy hot dog update!
  • Microbiological safety of processed meat products formulated with low nitrite concentration — A review
  • Epoxy: A Complete Guide - Copps Industries
August 25, 2021 /Don Schaffner
Epoxy, Hot dogs, Clostridium botulinum

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