Risky or Not?

A short podcast about everyday risks from germs

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A worried Canadian family—father with curly hair and beard, mother with long blonde hair, an older redheaded son, and a younger blonde son with a mullet—sits at a tropical restaurant table playing cards. A stern Gambling Police officer, badge and notebook in hand, writes a ticket as palm trees sway in the background.

780. Playing Games at a Table in a Restaurant

June 04, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from playing games at a table in a restaurant.

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

  • Peg solitaire - Wikipedia
  • Restaurant and Staff Characteristics Related to Practices that Could Contribute to Cross-Contamination - ScienceDirect
  • Surprising Hawaii Law Shuts Down Family’s Vacation Tradition - Beat of Hawaii


June 04, 2025 /Don Schaffner
Restaurant, Cross-contamination, Games

DALL·E - A dimly lit restaurant at night, with all the chairs placed upside down on the tables. The restaurant has a slightly dirty and unkempt appearance.

664. Putting Chairs on a Sanitized Restaurant Table

September 06, 2024 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks posed to diners when chairs are placed on sanitized tables.

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

  • Consumer Perceptions, Pathogen Detection, and Removal Rate Determination in Market-style Restaurants
  • A Survey of Microbial Contamination on Restaurant Nonfood‐Contact Surfaces - Patel - 2017 - Journal of Food Safety - Wiley Online Library
  • Are Ball Pits the Playground for Potentially Harmful Bacteria? - Document - Gale Academic OneFile
September 06, 2024 /Don Schaffner
Restaurant, Cross-contamination, Chairs, Tables

DALL·E - A man wearing a Canadian flag shirt sitting in a café, eating a cookie. Across the table from him is a large cat, looking hungrily at the cookie.

645. Eating at the Toe Beans Cat Cafe

July 24, 2024 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating at the Toe Beans Cat Cafe (that's in Canada).

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

  • Bob and Doug McKenzie - Wikipedia
  • O Canada - Wikipedia
  • Toe Beans Cat Cafe - Eat, Drink, Adopt, Repeat
  • Food | Toe Beans Cat Cafe - Eat, Drink, Adopt, Repeat
  • Zoonotic Disease: What Can I Catch from My Cat? | Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine
  • cat - Risky or Not?
  • Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit
  • Merch — Risky or Not?
July 24, 2024 /Don Schaffner
Cats, Restaurant

DALL·E - A queasy-looking person sitting in a restaurant window. The person has a pale face, a hand on their stomach, and a worried expression. The restaurant window displays and inspection certificate with a big letter C.

630. Eating at a New York City Restaurant With a "C" Rating

June 19, 2024 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of eating at a New York City restaurant with a "C" rating.

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

  • Gallaghers Steakhouse has been a staple of New York’s Theater District since 1927. Some believe, to this day, it rivals other famous New… | Instagram
  • Restaurant Grading System - Hunter College NYC Food Policy Center
  • ABCEats-Restaurants
  • John Roderick (@johnroderick) • Instagram photos and videos
June 19, 2024 /Don Schaffner
Restaurant, Restaurant ratings

456. Pepper Shakers at a Restaurant

May 10, 2023 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of using a pepper shaker at a restaurant.

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

  • 449. Pepper Mill Over a Pot — Risky or Not?
  • Why You Shouldn't Use the Pepper Shakers at a Restaurant | The Healthy
  • Dirty Restaurant Secrets the Kitchen Crew Won't Tell You
  • Restaurant Safety Boosted With New Sani Shaker No-Contact Salt & Pepper Shakers
  • Here's the Dirtiest Thing on Restaurant Tables | Reader's Digest
May 10, 2023 /Don Schaffner
Pepper, Cross-contamination, Restaurant, SAlt

431. DALL·E 2023-03-12 A dark Waffle House restaurant with two people inside during a power outage in the style of Edward Hopper

431. Eating at a Restaurant Operating Without Power

March 13, 2023 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of eating in a restaurant without power.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️

  • Waffle House - Good Food Fast
  • Nashville restaurant owner says power outage costing him business
  • FATTOUSH CAFE - 1716 Charlotte Ave, Nashville, Tennessee - 104 Photos & 169 Reviews - Middle Eastern - Restaurant Reviews - Phone Number - Menu - Yelp
  • Fattoush Cafe - Menu - Nashville
  • https://www.orangecountync.gov/DocumentCenter/View/17418/2017-FoodCodeAdoption-Summary-of-Changes-FINAL-WITH-EDITS-2021?bidId=
  • Emergency Action Plan for Retail Food Establishment | Conference-Developed Guides and Documents | Conference for Food Protection
  • ‎www.foodprotect.org/media/guide/Emergency%20Action%20Plan%20for%20Retail%20food%20Est.pdf
  • Power Outage Guidance for Food Establishments | Washington State Department of Health
  • 5: Doner Kebab — Risky or Not?
March 13, 2023 /Don Schaffner
Restaurant, Time temperature control for safety

286. Eating in a Restaurant Built on a Graveyard

April 08, 2022 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of eating in a restaurant built on a graveyard.

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

  • 101 Indian Street Food Dishes to Eat Before You Die - YouTube
  • The New Lucky Restaurant – Ahmedabad, India - Gastro Obscura
  • The New Lucky Restaurant in India Has Tables Set up Around Graves
  • New Lucky Restaurant Ahmedabad Gujarat I Lucky restaurant | Times of India Travel
  • Can you have a picnic in a cemetery? Historic American tradition explained
  • Remembering When Americans Picnicked in Cemeteries - Gastro Obscura
  • 218. Returning Food Trucks to Use After Holding COVID-19 Bodies — Risky or Not?
  • Returning Refrigerated Transport Vehicles and Refrigerated Storage Units to Food Uses After Using Them to Preserve Human Remains During the COVID-19 Pandemic | FDA
April 08, 2022 /Don Schaffner
Graveyard, Restaurant

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