Risky or Not?

A short podcast about everyday risks from germs

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ChatGPT image description: A grinning old-time criminal in a black eye mask and striped prison uniform stands behind a pizza counter, slicing and serving pizza. The vintage pizzeria setting includes stacked boxes, condiments, and a retro sign, creating a playful, anachronistic scene where a cartoonish outlaw works as a pizza seller.

894. Pizza Sold by a Person That Broke Into the Restaurant

February 25, 2026 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from Eating pizza sold by a person that broke into a pizza restaurant.

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

  • Burglary - Wikipedia
  • Man breaks into Little Caesars and sells pizzas, NC cops say | Raleigh News & Observer
  • Microbiological Quality and Safety of Pizza Held Out of Temperature Control in University Dining Halls - ScienceDirect
  • Herman Cain - Wikipedia
  • Herman Cain: An implausible candidate - CBS News
February 25, 2026 /Don Schaffner
Pizza, Active managerial control

DALL·E - A delicious-looking pizza with a perfectly baked crust, gooey cheese, and a variety of toppings like pepperoni, mushrooms, and bell peppers. Someone is squirting Elmers glue on the pizza.

621. Pizza With White Glue

May 29, 2024 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of eating pizza made with white glue.

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

  • Katie Notopoulos on X: "It’s time https://t.co/hkTO5G9Eai" / X
  • SG-r01 on X: "https://t.co/6ALCbz6EjK" / X
  • Elmer's Glue-All - CAMEO
  • Elmer's
  • Polyvinyl acetate - CAMEO
  • Polyvinyl alcohol - CAMEO
  • Propylene glycol - CAMEO
  • Homemade white glue - Creative recipes - Educatall
  • Rutgers SEBS Chairs: Departments
  • Amazon.com: Elmer's White PVA Glue | 225 mL | Washable and Kid Friendly | Great for Making Slime and Crafting : Arts, Crafts & Sewing
  • The Elmer's Glue Pizza Error Is More Fascinating Than You Think
  • Google promised a better search experience — now it’s telling us to put glue on our pizza - The Verge
  • Ethylene Glycol and Propylene Glycol Toxicity: What is Propylene Glycol? | Environmental Medicine | ATSDR
  • Public Health Statement Vinyl Acetate CAS#: 108-05-4
  • Elmers Safety Data Sheet.pdf
  • The role of beverage congeners in hangover and other residual effects of alcohol intoxication: a review - PubMed
May 29, 2024 /Don Schaffner
Pizza, White Glue, Toxicology

DALL·E - pizza slice covered in sand floating in the ocean

568. Sandy Ocean Rinsed Pizza

January 26, 2024 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating pizza dropped in the sand and rinsed in the ocean.

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

  • Radiation Vibe - Wikipedia
  • 448. Pool Pizza — Risky or Not?
  • Rapidly measured indicators of recreational water quality and swimming-associated illness at marine beaches: a prospective cohort study | Environmental Health | Full Text
  • 334. Snacklebox — Risky or Not?
  • Shibumi Shade - The Original Wind Powered® Beach Shade
  • NESO - Beach Tents, Furniture and more for your Next Sunny Adventure. – Neso
January 26, 2024 /Don Schaffner
Pizza, Salt water, Sand

490. Extended Refrigerated Storage of Thawed Frozen Pizza Dough

July 28, 2023 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of eating pizza made from refrigerated thawed frozen pizza dough stored for at least 2 weeks in the fridge.

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

  • Validation of baking as a kill-step for controlling Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli during traditional crust pizza baking process - PMC
  • Frozen pizza suspected in 10-state E coli outbreak | CIDRAP
  • Investigation of Outbreak of Human Infections Caused by E. coli O157:H7 | E. coli CDC
  • Survival and growth of foodborne bacterial pathogens in fermenting dough of wadi, a legume-based indigenous food - PMC
July 28, 2023 /Don Schaffner
Pizza, Dough, Refrigerated storage

DALL·E: a wet slice of pepperoni pizza floating in a pool

448. Pool Pizza

April 21, 2023 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of eating a slice of pizza dipped momentarily in a pool.

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

Mystery Guest 1 - not risky 👍🏼
Mystery Guest 2 - not risky 👍🏼

  • pizza - Risky or Not?
  • CDC Online Newsroom | Press Release | CDC study finds fecal contamination in pools
April 21, 2023 /Don Schaffner
Pizza, Water, Cross-contamination

377. Election Night Pizza

November 07, 2022 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of eating pizza left out for six hours.

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

  • All the Risky or Not? Pizza Episodes
  • ComBase Perfringens Predictor
November 07, 2022 /Don Schaffner
Pizza, Temperature control for safety foods

254. Do It Yourself Pizza Oven

January 24, 2022 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of using a do it yourself pizza oven from TikTok.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️

  • The Flintstones would be so proud 😭 #fypシ #pizzastone #diy #cheaptok #pizza #camping #backyard #easydiy
  • Rodrigo on TikTok
  • MSDS for paving stones
  • Is Concrete Toxic?
January 24, 2022 /Don Schaffner
Pizza, Toxicology, Concrete
157.png

157. Leftover Pizza

June 11, 2021 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of leftover pizza refrigerated for 1 week.

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

  • National Pizza Week
  • Potential growth of Listeria monocytogenes in Italian mozzarella cheese as affected by microbiological and chemical-physical environment - ScienceDirect
  • FoodKeeper App | FoodSafety.gov
June 11, 2021 /Don Schaffner
Pizza, Leftovers
156.png

156. Trunk Pizza

June 09, 2021 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of leaving meat pizza in the trunk of your car for an entire hockey game.

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

  • 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs | Carolina Hurricanes
  • How Long Does a Game of Ice Hockey Last?
  • Longest NHL Games in the Post-Expansion Era
  • Parameters for Determining Inoculated Pack/Challenge Study Protocols†,‡ | Journal of Food Protection
June 09, 2021 /Don Schaffner
Pizza, Temperature abuse, Time temperature control for safety
155.png

155. Lava Pizza

June 07, 2021 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of cooking pizza on lava.

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

  • Mike Batz on Twitter: "My first thought was that lava smoke must have some nasty crap in it...
  • Viewing Lava Safely-Common Sense is Not Enough, Volcano Fact Sheet
  • Here's How To Actually Cook Food Over Lava
  • Volcanic gases can be harmful to health, vegetation and infrastructure
  • Roasting hotdogs over an open … volcano; scientists test their culinary skills in Iceland | KXAN Austin
June 07, 2021 /Don Schaffner
Lava, Pizza
141.png

141. Vacuum Packaged Pizza In The Mail

May 05, 2021 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of sending vacuum packaged pizza in the mail.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️

Professor Ben - risky ☣️

  • Chris Waldrop on Twitter
  • Colgate University Mailed Students Pizza. Food Safety Experts Weigh in
  • The Complex Underworld of Lost Baggage Delivery - Underunderstood
  • Food Safety Talk 58: Where's my wallet? — Food Safety Talk
  • Colgate-Palmolive – Global Household & Consumer Products
May 05, 2021 /Don Schaffner
Pizza, Vacuum packaging

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