A short podcast about everyday risks from germs

Peeled, hard-boiled eggs are submerged in water inside a fixed, built-in compartment of a refrigerator. The clear container appears seamlessly integrated into the fridge’s molded interior. A wire shelf sits above, and the eggs are uniformly packed, creating a sterile, institutional feel typical of a chain hotel appliance.

793. Peeled, Hardboiled Eggs Stored Immersed in Water in the Fridge at a Chain Hotel

July 04, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating peeled, hardboiled eggs stored immersed in water in the fridge at a chain hotel.

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

Vivian Howard - Wikipedia
How to Make Perfect Hard-Boiled Eggs | The Food Lab
2019 Outbreak of Listeria Infections Linked to Hard-boiled Eggs | Outbreak of Listeria Infections Linked to Hard-boiled Eggs | December 2019 | Listeria | CDC
2019 Outbreak of Listeria Infections Linked to Hard-boiled Eggs - Timeline | Outbreak of Listeria Infections Linked to Hard-boiled Eggs | December 2019 | Listeria | CDC
Almark Foods Expanded Recall to all Products from its Georgia Facility Due to Possible Listeria monocytogenes Contamination | FDA

777. Eating Deviled Eggs Made From Home-Canned, Split Open Hard-Boiled Eggs

May 28, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating deviled eggs made from home-canned, split open hard-boiled eggs,

Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - 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 👍🏼

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 👍🏼

DALL·E - A close-up image of an egg being fried on a very hot Astroturf field under a bright, scorching sun. The egg white is sizzling and bubbling, with the yolk slightly runny, and the green synthetic grass of the Astroturf contrasts with the golden egg. The grass is visibly affected by the heat, with some slight melting or warping where the egg is resting. Heatwaves rise from the scene, enhancing the sense of extreme temperature.

686. Eating an Egg Fried on Astroturf

October 28, 2024 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of eating an egg fried on Astroturf.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️

DALL·E - A dusty jar of pickled quail eggs sits on a shelf in a dimly lit country store. The jar is old and unlabeled. Behind it, slightly out of focus, is another jar with a skull and crossbones.

610. Unrefrigerated Unlabeled Pickled Quail Eggs From a Country Store

May 03, 2024 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating unrefrigerated unlabeled pickled quail eggs from a country store.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️

DALL·E - A French chef in a traditional white uniform, including a toque (chef's hat), is simultaneously cracking two eggs. In one hand the chef is cracking the egg on the side of the pan, and in the other hand they're cracking an egg on flat table… supposedly.

608. Breaking Your Eggs on Something Pointed

April 29, 2024 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of breaking your eggs on something pointed versus something flat.

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

573. Meringue

February 07, 2024 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from consuming meringue.

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

DALL·E - calculus and probability symbols in black text on a white chicken egg

534. Getting Your Food Safety Advice From (Our) Podcasts

November 08, 2023 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of getting food safety advice from their podcasts, in light of a long standing error.

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

503. Cracking an Egg on Your Kids Head

August 28, 2023 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of cracking an egg on your kids head.

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

DALL·E 10 egg yolks in liquid in a glass bowl in the refrigerator from a distance

441. Pooled Eggs in the Fridge for 10 Days

April 05, 2023 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of storing cracked pooled eggs in the fridge for 10 days.

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

424. Red Hot "Cured" Egg Yolks

February 24, 2023 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of eating egg yolks "cured" in Red Hot.

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

DALL·E 2022-12-02 10.27.08 - A box of salted butter, eggs and bacon sitting on the porch at night (this is **not** Nancy’s actual food)!

393. Nancy's Home Delivered Food Left Out Overnight

December 14, 2022 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks posed by Nancy's box of salted butter, eggs and bacon left out for 12 hours at 62°F

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

361. Used Egg Shells, Planted With Cress Seeds for Grandchildren

September 30, 2022 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks planting used egg shells with cress seeds as treat for grandchildren.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️

339. Storing Used Eggshells in the Carton

August 10, 2022 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of storing rinsed, used eggshells in the carton in the refrigerator until all the eggs are used.

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

281. Unpasteurized Eggs from Neighbor

March 28, 2022 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of eating cooked unpasteurized eggs from your neighbor.

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

210. Air cooled hard boiled eggs at room temperature

October 13, 2021 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from air cooled hard boiled eggs stored at room temperature.

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

182. Dashboard Cookies

August 09, 2021 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risk of making making cookies on the dashboard of a car.

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

177. Porch Eggs

July 28, 2021 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of eating eggs cooked on your porch using only the heat of the sun.

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

165. NC State Hollandaise Sauce

June 30, 2021 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of preparing hollandaise sauce using advice from an NC State website.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️