Risky or Not?

A short podcast about everyday risks from germs

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DALLΒ·E image text: A stack of smooth cedar planks soaks in a stainless steel tub filled with water. In the background, fresh salmon fillets rest on a metal tray, ready for cooking. The warm wood tones contrast with the cool, clean kitchen setting, evoking preparation for cedar plank grilling.

812. Soaking Cedar Planks for Salmon in Room Temperature Water

August 18, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from soaking cedar planks to be used for cooking salmon in water at room temperature.

Dr. Don - not risky πŸ‘πŸΌ
Professor Ben - not risky πŸ‘πŸΌ

  • 670. Cooking Salmon on Moldy Cedar Planks β€” Risky or Not?
  • FDA Food Code | FDA
  • Food Code 2022 | FDA
  • Cutting Boards of Plastic and Wood Contaminated Experimentally with Bacteria - ScienceDirect
  • Touch the wood: Antimicrobial properties of wooden and other solid material surfaces differ between dry and moist contamination in public and laboratory exposure - ScienceDirect
  • Florida Chapter_64E_11.pdf
  • Washington State Retail Food Code
August 18, 2025 /Don Schaffner
Salmon, Cedar, Water, Wood

DALLΒ·E - A close-up view of an open grill with a piece of salmon resting on a wooden plank. The wooden plank is visibly aged and covered in patches of green mold

670. Cooking Salmon on Moldy Cedar Planks

September 20, 2024 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of eating salmon cooked on moldy cedar planks.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - not risky πŸ‘πŸΌ

  • Sprouts 3.5 X 7 Cedar Plank | Shop Online, Shopping List, Digital Coupons | Sprouts Farmers Market
  • The fate of mycotoxins during thermal food processing - Kabak - 2009 - Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture - Wiley Online Library
  • Stability of mycotoxins during food processing - ScienceDirect
  • Microbial Safety of Wood in Contact with Food: A Review - Aviat - 2016 - Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety - Wiley Online Library
September 20, 2024 /Don Schaffner
Mold, Wood, Grilling

489. Dim Sum from Bamboo Steamers

July 26, 2023 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of eating dim sum from bamboo steamer.

Dr. Don - not risky πŸ‘πŸΌ
Professor Ben - not risky πŸ‘πŸΌ

  • Dim sum - Wikipedia
  • National Outbreak Reporting System (NORS) Dashboard | CDC
  • After the pandemic left them empty, dim sum restaurants are bustling once again : NPR
  • No need to clean bamboo steamer
  • Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Dim Sum Chain in Shanghai – Thatsmags.com
  • Wang Chung - Everybody Have Fun Tonight - YouTube
  • Nearly 100 People Sickened After Attending Philadelphia Banquet | Food Safety News
  • IAFP meeting Tampa 2017
July 26, 2023 /Don Schaffner
Dim sum, Physical hazard, Wood, Cross-contamination
207.png

207. Using Sticks for Roasting Marshmallows

October 06, 2021 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of using sticks for roasting marshmallows.

Dr. Don - not risky πŸ‘πŸΌ

Professor Ben - not risky πŸ‘πŸΌ

  • Merch β€” Risky or Not?
  • Food Safety Talk 246: Use Clean Sticks β€” Food Safety Talk
  • Safe Plates Food Safety (@safeplatesfsic) TikTok | Watch Safe Plates Food Safety's Newest TikTok Videos
  • Fate of Listeria monocytogenes in Fresh Apples and Caramel Apples - PubMed
  • Appendix E: Water Activity Values of Select Food Ingredients and Products - Water Activity in Foods - Wiley Online Library
October 06, 2021 /Don Schaffner
Marshmallows, Sticks, Wood
wooden cutting board.jpg

50: Reusing Wood in the Kitchen

October 05, 2020 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of reusing wood in the kitchen.

Dr. Don - not risky πŸ‘πŸΌ
Professor Ben - not risky πŸ‘πŸΌ

  • Fast Facts About Cutting Boards and Food Safety in Your Kitchen | NC State News
  • Which is Safer? Wood vs. Plastic Cutting Boards | Homegrown | NC State University
  • Bacterial Adherence and Viability on Cutting Board Surfaces
October 05, 2020 /Don Schaffner
Wood, Cutting boards

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