Risky or Not?

A short podcast about everyday risks from germs

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A whimsical scene of a bearded professor in a tweed jacket sipping diet cola while licking orange cheese dust off his fingers from Cheetos. Surrounded by scattered books and papers in a cozy academic office, his quirky enjoyment adds charm to the playful, lighthearted atmosphere.

724. Licking Cheetos Dust Off Your Fingers

January 24, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from licking Cheetos dust off your fingers.

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

  • Home | Cheetos
  • Hands Are Frequently Contaminated with Fecal Bacteria and Enteric Pathogens Globally: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis | ACS Environmental Au
January 24, 2025 /Don Schaffner
Cheetos, Cross-contamination, Licking, Hands

A playful winter scene of a person licking an icicle attached to the edge of a snow-covered wooden cabin roof. Dressed in a cozy coat, gloves, and a beanie, they stand on a snowy ground, surrounded by snow-laden trees under a clear blue sky, capturing a fun, chilly moment.

723. Occasionally Eating Roof Icicles

January 22, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from occasionally eating icicles off your roof.

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

  • What Are Roof Shingles? (2025) | Today's Homeowner
  • Quality of roof-harvested rainwater – Comparison of different roofing materials - ScienceDirect
  • A global review of the microbiological quality and potential health risks associated with roof-harvested rainwater tanks | npj Clean Water
  • Microbiological Quality of Roof‐Harvested Rainwater and Health Risks: A Review - Ahmed - 2011 - Journal of Environmental Quality - Wiley Online Library
  • An examination of the microbial community and occurrence of potential human pathogens in rainwater harvested from different roofing materials - ScienceDirect
  • ChatGPT on icicles
  • Meteorologist Explains Why You Should Never Eat Icicles, No Matter How Tempting They Look | IFLScience
January 22, 2025 /Don Schaffner
Icicles, Ice, Snow, Roof, Licking

Cat sniffing a cat cake

269. Cat Licked Cake

February 28, 2022 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of eating cake licked by a cat.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️

  • Goudy Bold Italic on Twitter: "@benjaminchapman @bugcounter @firstbornspawn Risky or not: cake that a cat has been licking. Not frosted, plain top with occasional crumb topping. (Extra credit: gross or not?) Just happened, is it rude to not want to take home leftover cake after your hosts' cat has licked it?" / Twitter
  • Cats | Healthy Pets, Healthy People | CDC
  • 'I’m not a cat': lawyer gets stuck on Zoom kitten filter during court case - YouTube
  • Anaplasma, Ehrlichia and Rickettsia species infections in cats: European guidelines from the ABCD on prevention and management - Maria Grazia Pennisi, Regina Hofmann-Lehmann, Alan D Radford, Séverine Tasker, Sándor Belák, Diane D Addie, Corine Boucraut-Baralon, Herman Egberink, Tadeusz Frymus, Tim Gruffydd-Jones, Katrin Hartmann, Marian C Horzinek, Margaret J Hosie, Albert Lloret, Hans Lutz, Fulvio Marsilio, Etienne Thiry, Uwe Truyen, Karin Möstl, 2017
  • Detection of Bartonella henselae in domestic cats' saliva
February 28, 2022 /Don Schaffner
Cat, Licking

252. Taste the TV

January 19, 2022 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of licking Taste the TV.

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

  • Randal Oulton on Twitter: "@bugcounter risky or not https://t.co/1wiQ8anaKR" / Twitter
  • Taste the TV: Japan invents lickable screen to imitate food flavours | Japan | The Guardian

  • Tasty TV: Japanese professor creates flavourful screen | Reuters

  • Taste the TV: Japanese professor invents lickable TV screen | wtsp.com
  • Smell-O-Vision - Wikipedia
January 19, 2022 /Don Schaffner
Cross-contamination, Licking
RoN69.png

69. Licking a Chocolate Statue

November 18, 2020 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of licking a chocolate statue.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️

Professor Ben - risky ☣️

  • Watch in horror as people lick and bite a chocolate Benedict Cumberbatch statue
  • Veronica Bryant (@NoroNerd) / Twitter
  • Vomiting Device Offers First Direct Evidence That Vomit Aerosolizes Norovirus-Like Particles | NC State News
November 18, 2020 /Don Schaffner
Chocolate, Ice Statues, Licking

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