A short podcast about everyday risks from germs

This image is generated from Don's Perfringens Predictor analysis.

906. White Castle Burgers in a Cooler for 12 Hours

March 25, 2026 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of eating White Castle burgers in a cooler for 12 hours.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️

Image description: Actual banana from Justin's post.

875. OneTrueJustin's Parents Half Eaten Banana

January 12, 2026 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from leaving a half a cut banana at room temperature for 24 hours.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️

ChatGPT image description: A single piece of sushi sits alone on a conveyor belt under a clear plastic dome. The fish looks dull and dried, the rice hardened. Around it, stacks of empty plates and blurred restaurant fixtures emphasize how long the sushi has been circling, forgotten.

873. Leftover Conveyer Belt Sushi

January 07, 2026 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating leftover conveyer belt sushi.

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

ChatGPT image description: A square close-up shows an opened metal can of caramel sauce left on a kitchen countertop. Thick amber caramel overflows the rim, dripping down the sides and pooling on the surface below. A spoon coated in caramel rests nearby, emphasizing the sticky, glossy texture.

868. Homemade Caramel Sauce Left Out Over Night

December 26, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from leaving homemade caramel sauce out over night.

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

ChatGPT image description: A black crockpot sits unplugged on a countertop, its white power cord coiled beside it. Inside, several chicken breasts rest in chunky red salsa. The scene looks still and slightly concerning, suggesting the food has been left at room temperature all day without cooking. Don's comment: Interesting plug design. Might not have helped to plug this one in.

858. Crockpot Chicken at Room Temperature "All Day"

December 03, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of holding raw chicken at room temperature "all day" before cooking.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️

Figure from Barbut et at., 1987 of hard cooked egg shelf life

825. Air Cooled Hard Boiled Eggs After a Week at Room Temperature

September 17, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating air cooled hard boiled eggs after a week at room temperature.

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

ChatGPT image text: In a warehouse store, a smiling employee in a red apron offers food samples while a serious professor in a white lab coat studies the setup, arms crossed.

823. Costco Free Food Samples

September 12, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from consuming Costco free food samples.

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

DALL·E image text: A ceramic bowl overflows with ripe, red raspberries, sitting on a sunlit kitchen counter. Soft daylight filters through a nearby window, casting a warm, nostalgic glow. The slightly worn surfaces and muted tones of the background contrast with the vivid freshness of the berries, suggesting they were recently picked and forgotten.

811. Raspberries at Room Temperature for About 28 Hours

August 15, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of leaving raspberries at room temperature for about 28 hours.

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

DALL·E image text: A golden-crusted loaf of sliced white bread sits on a pastel blue countertop in a cheerful 1950s kitchen, surrounded by mint-green tiles, yellow curtains, and red accents, all bathed in soft daylight, creating a warm, nostalgic atmosphere.

810. White Bread

August 13, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from white bread.

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

Six pieces of assorted sushi sit on a beige kitchen counter. The lighting is dim and moody, suggesting the sushi has been left out overnight. The rolls and nigiri look slightly dried, with a soft focus on the background showing tiled walls and part of a stainless steel utensil holder.

808. Sushi Left on the Counter Overnight

August 08, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating sushi left on the counter overnight.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️

805. Mamma Birding (Chewing Food for Other People)

August 01, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of eating food someone else has chewed and sent through the mail to you.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️

A man walks through a sunlit airport terminal holding a vintage suitcase that's popped open. A full wheel of Saint-Nectaire cheese is slipping out, partially exposed. He appears unaware, continuing forward casually. The scene blends travel routine with unexpected humor, set against a backdrop of windows and lounge seating.

803. Unpasteurized Suitcase Saint Nectaire Cheese

July 28, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of transporting unpasteurized Saint Nectaire Cheese from France to Canada

Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️

An open white cooler sits on the ground, filled with raw chicken pieces. A digital thermometer inserted into one piece reads 67°F. There’s no ice inside, and the cooler appears stained and weathered, suggesting it’s been sitting outdoors for a while during a camping trip.

796. Raw Chicken That Is at 67 °F After More Than 12 Hours

July 11, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of eating properly cooked chicken that warmed up to 67 °F after about 12 hours prior to cooking.

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

Audio Block

Double-click here to upload or link to a .mp3. Learn more

A fried egg sizzles in a cast iron skillet filled with dark bacon or sausage grease. The yolk is vibrant and intact, surrounded by bubbly whites. In the background, a small jar of congealed grease sits on a beige cloth, suggesting long-term room temperature storage.

795. Cooking in Bacon and/or Sausage Grease Stored Room Temperature for Up to 30 Days

July 09, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from cooking in bacon and/or sausage grease stored room temperature for up to 30 days.

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

A hotel breakfast buffet features a large stainless steel vat filled with lumpy oatmeal. A sign above reads “COMMUNITY VAT OF OATMEAL MADE EARLIER THAT DAY.” Surrounding the vat are stacked plates, bagels in a wire rack, glass cups, and coffee dispensers, creating a utilitarian yet oddly inviting scene.

794. Cold-Ish, Prepared Oatmeal From a Community Vat Made Earlier That Day

July 07, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks eating cold-ish, prepared oatmeal from a community vat made earlier that day.

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

A square image shows an opened glass jar of mayonnaise sitting on a wooden pantry shelf. The mayo appears discolored and crusty around the rim, suggesting spoilage. The dim lighting and aged wood add to the sense of neglect and food safety concern.

787. Mayonnaise From a Recently Opened Jar Kept in a Cabinet Less Than a Week

June 20, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from a jar of mayonnaise that was opened and then accidentally left at room temperature for less than a week

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

A clear glass holds partially melted ice water with a single penny resting atop the remaining ice. The ice forms a cloudy disk floating above the water line. The background is a neutral surface, emphasizing the simple, almost scientific feel of the composition.

775. Coin in Cup for Freezer Safety After Power Outages

May 23, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from using the coin in cup for freezer safety tip after power outages.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️

DALL·E image text: A glass bowl of overnight oats sits on a dark countertop, glowing ominously with green light. Wisps of toxic-looking green mist rise from the oats, surrounded by biohazard symbols, creating an eerie, dangerous atmosphere that hints at bacterial contamination.

766. Room Temperature Overnight Oats

May 02, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating overnight oats made a room temperature

Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️

This is a screen capture from the actual TikTok video.

759. Big Open Jar of Canned Peaches at Room Temperature

April 16, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating peaches from big open jar of canned peaches kept at room temperature.

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

A green juice bottle sits on a car seat, partially frozen with visible ice crystals. Frost covers the car windows, and condensation clings to the bottle. The early morning light casts a cold, bluish hue, emphasizing the chill of a winter night spent inside the vehicle.

751. Leaving Green Juice in the Car Overnight in the Winter

March 28, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from consuming Green Juice left in the car overnight in the winter.

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