Risky or Not?

A short podcast about everyday risks from germs

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Image description: the actual toothpaste in question

991. Toothpaste From Kristin's Split Toothpaste Tube

October 09, 2026 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from using toothpaste that came from a tube split during the packaging process.

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

  • Contents of toothpaste - safety implications - Australian Prescriber
  • US7135163B2 - Prevention of crystal formation in toothpaste - Google Patents
  • Antimicrobial Efficacy of Different Toothpastes and Mouthrinses: An In Vitro Study - PMC
  • Antimicrobial Effect of Newly Formulated Toothpastes and a Mouthrinse on Specific Microorganisms: An In Vitro Study - PMC
991. Toothpaste From Kristin's Split Toothpaste Tube
Risky or Not
Download
October 09, 2026 /Don Schaffner
Toothpaste, Packaging, Leak

Image description: the actual bacon in question

990. Bacon With a Pinhole Leak in the Package

October 07, 2026 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating bacon with a pinhole leak in the package.

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

  • Great Value Hickory Smoked Sliced Bacon, 12 oz Naturally Smoked Pork Bacon Slices - Walmart.com
  • Bacon Prices Set to Surge Anew in Threat to More Meat Inflation - Bloomberg
  • Use of Optical Oxygen Sensors in Non-Destructively Determining the Levels of Oxygen Present in Combined Vacuum and Modified Atmosphere Packaged Pre-Cooked Convenience-Style Foods and the Use of Ethanol Emitters to Extend Product Shelf-Life
  • Bacon and Food Safety | Food Safety and Inspection Service
  • Toss Your Bacon Immediately If You Notice These Signs
  • Bacon Method
  • Accidental Tech Podcast
990. Bacon With a Pinhole Leak in the Package
Risky or Not
Download
October 07, 2026 /Don Schaffner
Bacon, Packaging, Leak

ChatGPT image description: A nervous person at their desk, clutching a tiny chewing-gum box like it contains the secrets of the universe, while Reddit menaces them from the laptop screen.

Don: this seems like the same worried guy we've seen beforeโ€ฆ

849. Eating a Hollywood Chewing-Gum Cardboard Box

November 12, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of eating a cardboard box from Hollywood chewing-gum.

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

  • Is it safe to eat cardboard? : r/stupidquestions
  • Hollywood 2fresh (FreshenUp) Chewing Gum - Peppermint | EVN
  • Green Mint Chewing-Gum Hollywood | Buy Online | My French Grocery
  • Full article: Food contact materials: an effect-based evaluation of the presence of hazardous chemicals in paper and cardboard packaging
  • Pica: A Common Condition that is Commonly Missed - An Update Review | Bentham Science Publishers
  • Pica practices, anemia, and oral health outcomes: a systematic review | BMC Oral Health
849. Eating a Hollywood Chewing-Gum Cardboard Box
Risky or Not
Download
November 12, 2025 /Don Schaffner
Pica, Cardboard, Packaging, Toxicology

DALLยทE - A sausage inside a clear plastic package laying next to a baseball bat on a wooden table. The sausage looks worn and dirty, as if it has been rolled around on the ground a lot.

619. Eating the Minnesota Twins Lucky Sausage

May 24, 2024 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of eating the Minnesota Twins lucky sausage in its current state.

Dr. Don - risky โ˜ฃ๏ธ
Professor Ben - risky โ˜ฃ๏ธ

  • The Twinsโ€™ new home-run sausage is fueling their winning streak | MPR News
  • How the Minnesota Twinsโ€™ lucky summer sausage got made | MPR News
  • Original Tangy Summer Sausage - Cloverdale Foods
  • Rigdon | Texture of Fermented Summer Sausage With Differing pH, Endpoint Temperature, and High Pressure Processing Times | Meat and Muscle Biology
  • Dry and Semi-Dry Fermented and Direct Acidified Sausage Validation - Pork Information Gateway
619. Eating the Minnesota Twins Lucky Sausage
Risky or Not
Download
May 24, 2024 /Don Schaffner
Baseball, Summer sausage, Sausage, Packaging
138.png

138. Non Airtight Bags of Chips

April 28, 2021 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of eating chips from a bag that is not air-tight.

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

  • A review of acoustic research for studying the sensory perception of crisp, crunchy and crackly textures
  • Smart packaging systems for food applications: a review
  • FDA Food Tampering fact sheet
  • 'Food terrorism' and other possible culprits behind the strawberry contamination scare - ABC News
138. Non Airtight Bags of Chips
Risky or Not
Download
April 28, 2021 /Don Schaffner
Chips, Packaging, Food Terrorism

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