Risky or Not?

A short podcast about everyday risks from germs

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The image depicts an expired open package of deli meat in a dimly lit refrigerator. The meat appears discolored and unappetizing, with crumpled packaging and faint condensation. Surrounding items include a milk carton, a pickle jar, and vegetables, emphasizing a neglected, realistic kitchen scene.

717. Eating Opened Processed Deli Turkey a Month Past Its Best Before Date

January 08, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of eating expired turkey deli meat.

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

  • 671. Older Man Kayaking With Fresh Wounds in Water Which Regularly Fails Coliform Tests — Risky or Not?
  • The combination of lactate and diacetate synergistically reduces cold growth in brain heart infusion broth across Listeria monocytogenes lineages - PubMed
  • Hillshire Farms Ultra Thin Oven Roasted Turkey Breast - 9oz : Target
  • People at Increased Risk for Listeria Infection | Listeria Infection | CDC
  • Cultured dextrose - Wikipedia
  • Sodium phosphate - Wikipedia
  • Controlling Listeria monocytogenes and Leuconostoc mesenteroides in Uncured Deli‐style Turkey Breast Using a Clean Label Antimicrobial - Weyker - 2016 - Journal of Food Science - Wiley Online Library
  • Inhibition of Listeria monocytogenes by propionic acid-based ingredients in cured deli-style Turkey - PubMed
January 08, 2025 /Don Schaffner
Listeria monocytogenes, Deli meat

DALL·E - This image depicts a whimsical scene featuring a large treehouse nestled among tall trees in a Canadian forest. The treehouse is built with rustic wooden planks and blends into the natural surroundings. Inside the treehouse, there is a giant waffle, golden brown with textured square pockets, occupying much of the interior space. The waffle gives the treehouse a playful, imaginative look.

Around the treehouse, lush green trees typical of Canada stretch up into the sky, with soft sunlight filtering through the branches. The atmosphere is serene and peaceful, evoking a sense of nature and adventure. The combination of the rustic treehouse and the oversized waffle creates a fantastical, fun visual.

684. Recalled Treehouse Waffles

October 23, 2024 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from waffles currently recalled for Listeria monocytogenes.

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

  • 559. Waffles — Risky or Not?
  • Merch — Risky or Not?
  • “We promise not to waffle” graphic tee, long sleeve tee, tank, onesie, pullover crewneck, and pullover hoodie by Don Schaffner. | Cotton Bureau
  • TreeHouse Foods Announces Voluntary Recall of Certain Waffle Products Due to the Potential for Listeria monocytogenes Contamination | FDA
  • Updated Parameters for Listeria monocytogenes Dose–Response Model Considering Pathogen Virulence and Age and Sex of Consumer
  • Listeria monocytogenes Dose Response Revisited—Incorporating Adjustments for Variability in Strain Virulence and Host Susceptibility - Pouillot* - 2015 - Risk Analysis - Wiley Online Library
  • Listeria monocytogenes: Low Levels Equal Low Risk - ScienceDirect
  • Frozen Waffle Recall for Listeria | TreeHouse Foods - Consumer Reports
  • TreeHouse Foods expands listeria-linked waffles recall to all products
  • TreeHouse Foods, Inc. - TreeHouse Foods Announces Expansion of Voluntary Recall to Include All Waffle and Pancake Products Due to the Potential for Listeria monocytogenes Contamination
  • Brantford - Wikipedia
  • TreeHouse Foods-Voluntary Recall FAQs Oct-22-24.pdf
October 23, 2024 /Don Schaffner
Waffles, Listeria monocytogenes

DALL·E - A first-person perspective showing a woman's hands rinsing a blender under a stream of steaming hot water at a kitchen sink.

612. Making Smoothies in a Blender Carafe and Rinsing With Very Hot and High Pressure Water but No Soap

May 08, 2024 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of making smoothies in a blender carafe and rinsing with very hot and high pressure water but no soap.

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

  • High Performance Blenders - Blending Machines | Vitamix
  • I Love Lucy | Lucy's Vitameatavegimen Commercial (S1, E30) | Paramount+ - YouTube
  • Mark Knopfler - Boom, Like That Lyrics | SongMeanings
  • Whole genome sequencing analyses of Listeria monocytogenes that persisted in a milkshake machine for a year and caused illnesses in Washington State | BMC Microbiology
  • Infectious Dose of Listeria monocytogenes in Outbreak Linked to Ice Cream, United States, 2015 - PMC
  • Frontiers | Recovery and Growth Potential of Listeria monocytogenes in Temperature Abused Milkshakes Prepared from Naturally Contaminated Ice Cream Linked to a Listeriosis Outbreak
  • Amazon.com: nutribullet Personal Blender for Shakes, Smoothies, Food Prep, and Frozen Blending, 24 Ounces, 600 Watt, Gray, (NBR-0601) : Everything Else
  • Amazon.com: For Vitamix Blender Pitcher 64oz, Replace 5200 5000 6500 7500 Pro500 750 Vita-Prep vm0101 vm0102 vm0103 vm0197 E310 320 asy172 Classic/Explorian/Commercial series etc Container Jar Cup,3 YR Warranty : Home & Kitchen
  • Amazon.com: 64 oz Replacement Container Pitcher Jar w/Lid and Blade for Vitamix Blenders (Low-Profile) : Home & Kitchen
  • How to Change a Vitamix Blade by Raw Blend | Video - YouTube
  • Care and Maintenance-Frequently Asked Questions-Household Resources | Vitamix
  • Flange - Wikipedia
May 08, 2024 /Don Schaffner
Blenders, Mixers, Listeria monocytogenes, Cleaning, Fruit

DALL·E - Avocados in a pitcher of water in a refrigerator

505. Avocados Stored in Water in the Refrigerator

September 01, 2023 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of storing avocados in water in your refrigerator.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - risky ☣️ (updated)

  • Guacamole - Wikipedia
  • Research Triangle Park | Where People + Ideas Converge
  • neil chazin on X: "@bugcounter @benjaminchapman is this actually risky at fridge temps (assuming your fridge is set properly)? https://t.co/J0dkvx3JnG" / X
  • Avocado in Water Storage ‘Hack’ Isn’t Safe. Here’s What to Do Instead
  • Internalization of Listeria monocytogenes in Whole Avocado - ScienceDirect
  • Behavior of Listeria monocytogenes in Avocado Pulp and Processed Guacamole - ScienceDirect
  • Evaluation of Avocados as a Possible Source of Listeria monocytogenes Infections, United States, 2016 to 2019 - ScienceDirect
  • Listeria monocytogenes Dose Response Revisited—Incorporating Adjustments for Variability in Strain Virulence and Host Susceptibility - Pouillot* - 2015 - Risk Analysis - Wiley Online Library
  • Ice Ice Baby - Wikipedia
September 01, 2023 /Don Schaffner
Avocado, Listeria monocytogenes

A bowl of slightly melted ice cream in the style of Salvador Dali

446. Ice Cream From a Malfunctioning Freezer

April 17, 2023 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of eating soft ice cream from a malfunctioning freezer.

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

  • Welcome - Rutgers AAUP-AFT
  • Quantitative Assessment of Relative Risk to Public Health from Foodborne Listeria monocytogenes Among Selected Categories of Ready-to-Eat Foods | FDA
  • National Outbreak Reporting System (NORS) | CDC
  • Listeria Outbreak Linked to Ice Cream | CDC
  • Frontiers | Listeria monocytogenes Growth Kinetics in Milkshakes Made from Naturally and Artificially Contaminated Ice Cream
  • Mark Knopfler - Boom, Like That Lyrics | AZLyrics.com
  • Grinding It Out: The Making of McDonald's: Kroc, Ray: 8601300195858: Amazon.com: Books
  • Kelis - Milkshake (Official HD Video) - YouTube

PS, the strike was suspended at 12:41 AM on April 15, 2023.


April 17, 2023 /Don Schaffner
Ice cream, Listeria monocytogenes

227. Open Turkey Bacon a Few Weeks After It's Best by Date

November 22, 2021 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of eating from an open turkey bacon package a few weeks after it's best by date.

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

  • Merch — Risky or Not?
  • Butterball Bacon Style Turkey | Walmart Canada
  • ComBase
November 22, 2021 /Don Schaffner
Bacon, Nitrite, Listeria monocytogenes
187.png

187. Recalled Listeria Muffins

August 20, 2021 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating muffins recalled due to environmental contamination by Listeria monocytogenes.

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

  • Veronica on Twitter: even MUFFINS are risky?!
  • Muffins Sold At Evanston Sam's Club Recalled Due To Listeria | Evanston, IL Patch
  • Give and Go Prepared Foods (U.S.A.) Corp. Conducts Voluntary Recall of Certain Muffin Products Due to Possible Health Risk | FDA
  • Give and Go Prepared Foods photos
  • Food Safety Talk 242: Invisible Poop Particles
  • Listeria monocytogenes Dose Response Revisited
August 20, 2021 /Don Schaffner
Muffins, Listeria monocytogenes, Recall

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