Risky or Not?

A short podcast about everyday risks from germs

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ChatGPT image description: A person holds a labeled container of cooked mixed vegetables while removing it from a refrigerator. The vegetables appear thawed and ready for reheating, with bright colors and no visible ice crystals. Other refrigerated foods and fresh produce are visible on the surrounding shelves.

957. Reheating Refrigerated Cooked Frozen Vegetables

July 22, 2026 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from reheating refrigerated cooked frozen vegetables (when the package says not to).

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

  • Study Highlights Importance of Cooking Non-Ready-to-Eat Frozen Vegetables, Fruits and Herbs Prior to | Food Safety Authority of Ireland
  • National Microbiological Survey and Consumer Habits in relation to Frozen Vegetables, Fruits and Herbs (19NS6)
  • An Assessment of Listeriosis Risk Associated with a Contaminated Production Lot of Frozen Vegetables Consumed Under Alternative Consumer Handling Scenarios - ScienceDirect
  • Response to the Questions Posed by the Food Safety and Inspection Service Regarding Consumer Guidelines for the Safe Cooking of Poultry Products
957. Reheating Refrigerated Cooked Frozen Vegetables
Risky or Not
Download
July 22, 2026 /Don Schaffner
Vegetables, Frozen food, Leftovers, Reheating

A picture of the actual ham

945. Frozen Ham From 1992

June 24, 2026 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from him that's been in the freezer since 1992.

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

  • My dad bought this ham back in 1992. Its been in his freezer the whole time. He refuses to throw it out and says "its still good. Frozen meat doesnt go bad". : r/GrandmasPantry
945. Frozen Ham From 1992
Risky or Not
Download
June 24, 2026 /Don Schaffner
Ham, Frozen food, Shelf life

A person pours frozen spinach leaves from a green retail bag into a blender. The spinach appears frosty and leafy, not cubed. The scene is set on a beige countertop with soft lighting, and the person wears a gray T-shirt, focusing attention on the action and the vibrant green ingredients.

807. Eating Raw Frozen Spinach in a Smoothie

August 06, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating raw frozen spinach in a smoothie.

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

  • Home - AFFI - American Frozen Food Institute
  • Thermal Inactivation of Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella during Water and Steam Blanching of Vegetables - ScienceDirect
  • Frozen Food Development Recalls Lidl Branded Chopped Spinach Because of Possible Health Risk | FDA
  • Pictsweet Farmsยฎ Frozen Chopped Collard Greens, 14 oz - Harris Teeter
  • Prevalence of Listeria Species and Listeria monocytogenes on Raw Produce Arriving at Frozen Food Manufacturing Facilities - ScienceDirect
  • Frozen spinach recalled for possible listeria contamination | CNN
  • Brittany Magdovitz | LinkedIn
807. Eating Raw Frozen Spinach in a Smoothie
Risky or Not
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August 06, 2025 /Don Schaffner
Spinach, Frozen food, Blanching, Listeria

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

Thatโ€™s a lot of corn dogsโ€ฆ

423. Pastor Pinkston's Plentiful Pork Products

February 22, 2023 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of storing frozen corn dogs in the refrigerator for several weeks.

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

  • Classic | State Fair Corn Dogs
  • Listeria Fear Prompts 372,000 Pound Hot Dog, Corn Dog Recall | Food Manufacturing
  • Sara Lee Corp. Pleads Guilty In Meat Case - The New York Times
  • Update: Multistate Outbreak of Listeriosis -- United States, 1998-1999
423. Pastor Pinkston's Plentiful Pork Products
Risky or Not
Download
February 22, 2023 /Don Schaffner
Frozen food, Refrigeration, Listeria, Corndogs

221. Frozen Food From 1972

November 08, 2021 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of eating frozen food from 1972.

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

  • Merch โ€” Risky or Not?
  • Lee Katz ๐Ÿž on Twitter: "@bugcounter @benjaminchapman I don't know if I hear enough about obviously risky foods on #riskyornot. Has anyone has sent this to you yet? https://t.co/pAdnER471x https://t.co/G3IT52rJ3V" / Twitter
  • Woman Finds Food in Grandparents' Freezer Dating Back to 1972 Then Defrosts It
221. Frozen Food From 1972
Risky or Not
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November 08, 2021 /Don Schaffner
Frozen food, Shelf life

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