Risky or Not?

A short podcast about everyday risks from germs

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ChatGPT image description: A yogurt container sits atop a snowy mountain, its lid visibly swollen from altitude. Behind it, a playful yeti peeks from behind a snow-covered tree. Rugged peaks stretch into the distance under a bright blue sky, creating a whimsical scene blending food packaging physics with a mythical alpine setting.

909. Bulging Yogurt at Elevation

April 01, 2026 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from consuming yogurt that was bulging after transport to a higher elevation.

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

  • Inflated yogurt safe to eat? Bursted air out when opened, looks and smells fine : r/isthissafetoeat
  • If You See Bloated Food Packaging, This Is What It Means | Taste of Home
  • Dull Men's Club® | I live at 6400 feet elevation | Facebook
  • Is Food Safe If Its Package Is Bulging? | HuffPost Life
April 01, 2026 /Don Schaffner
Yogurt, Elevation, Bulging container

A man in a dark hoodie stands before an open refrigerator, cautiously sneaking a spoonful of cottage cheese straight from the container. The fridge glows with soft light, revealing milk, juice bottles, tomatoes, oranges, and lettuce. His wide eyes suggest he's hoping no one catches him in the act.

763. Yogurt or Cottage Cheese Directly Out of the Container

April 25, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from repeatedly eating yogurt or cottage cheese directly out of the container.

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

  • 47: Peanut Butter Fingering — Risky or Not?
  • Effect of Biting Before Dipping (Double‐Dipping) Chips on the Bacterial Population of the Dipping Solution
  • Listeria in the domestic environment | Emerald Insight
  • 316. Using Cups to Scoop Water Out of a Shared Bowl — Risky or Not?
  • Calcium - Cheese Science Toolkit
April 25, 2025 /Don Schaffner
Yogurt, Cottage cheese, Cross-contamination

762. Garlic Yogurt Dip 10 Days Post Making, Just Prior to Surgery

April 23, 2025 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating garlic yogurt dip 10 days post making, just prior to surgery.

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

  • Opinion on leveling kits ? : r/ToyotaTacoma
  • Garlic Aroma That Could Level Tacoma question : r/Zappa
  • BEST of Tacoma, WA Garlic Knots - Yelp
April 23, 2025 /Don Schaffner
Yogurt, Surgery, Garlic

The image depicts a doctor in a white coat and stethoscope, holding a container of expired pasteurized milk with a puzzled expression. Behind them, on a clean kitchen counter, lies an open yogurt-making manual alongside utensils, suggesting a potential plan to repurpose the milk creatively despite its expiration.

708. Expired Pasteurized Cows Milk Used for Yogurt

December 18, 2024 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from using expired pasteurized cows milk used for yogurt.

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

  • 563. Chris's Yogurt Without Heating — Risky or Not?
  • 128. Milk on the Counter Over Night — Risky or Not?
  • Foods Near the End of Their Shelf Life - Consumption Recommendations | Consumer Food Waste Community of Practice | Connect
  • Staphylococcus aureus Toxin Formation in Hydrated Batter Mixes
December 18, 2024 /Don Schaffner
Yogurt, Shelf life, Expiration dates, Use by dates, Milk

DALL·E - A grocery store refrigerated case filled with yogurt. The glass door is missing, and instead, two-thirds of the space is covered by a plastic bag that is waving.

650. Yogurt From a Grocery Store Fridge With No Door

August 05, 2024 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from yogurt purchased from a grocery store from a fridge with no door.

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

  • Risky or Not: Yogurt fridge with no door - Imgur
  • A Horse with No Name - Wikipedia
  • Behavior of Listeria monocytogenes in Skim Milk and in Yogurt Mix during Fermentation by Thermophilic Lactic Acid Bacteria - ScienceDirect
August 05, 2024 /Don Schaffner
Yogurt, Refrigeration, Grocery Store

DALL·E - a mad scientist making yogurt

563. Chris's Yogurt Without Heating

January 15, 2024 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of making yogurt at home without first heating the pasteurized milk.

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

  • Yogurt - Wikipedia
  • How To Make Yogurt at Home (Easy Step-by-Step Recipe) | The Kitchn
  • WSU Extension | Yogurt Made Simple
  • NC State Extension - Troubleshooting Yogurt
  • National Center for Home Food Preservation | Yogurt


January 15, 2024 /Don Schaffner
Yogurt, Milk

419 DALL·E 2023-02-07 12.44.04 - frozen peas, corn, carrots, bell pepper, and onion in yogurt with cumin and cayenne

419. Frozen Mixed Veggies in Yogurt

February 13, 2023 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of mixing uncooked, frozen vegetables into yogurt and storing for several days in your refrigerator.

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

  • 163. Corn and Peas Microwaved for 90 Seconds — Risky or Not?
  • Multistate Outbreak of Listeriosis Linked to Frozen Vegetables | Listeria | CDC
  • Frederick Breidt : USDA ARS


February 13, 2023 /Don Schaffner
Yogurt, Frozen vegetables, Listeria

309. Adding Milk to Yogurt to Make More Yogurt

June 01, 2022 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of making yogurt by adding milk to yogurt to make more yogurt.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼
Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼
Dr. and Mrs. Danyluk - not risky 👍🏼

  • Protested game - Wikipedia
  • Landon Conover #Vaccinated on Twitter: "I don't know if this is really a thing, but for me, the more important canonical question is: Adding milk to yogurt to make more yogurt, #RiskyOrNot? @bugcounter and @benjaminchapman" / Twitter
  • Yogurt, cultured fermented milk, and health: a systematic review | Nutrition Reviews | Oxford Academic
  • A 100-Year Review: Yogurt and other cultured dairy products - ScienceDirect
  • Creamy Homemade Yogurt Recipe - NYT Cooking
  • Modeling of the Competitive Growth of Listeria monocytogenes and Lactococcus lactis in Vegetable Broth | Applied and Environmental Microbiology
  • ComBase
June 01, 2022 /Don Schaffner
Yogurt, Milk, Fermentation, Lactic Acid Bacteria
166.png

166. All Day Room Temperature Yogurt

July 02, 2021 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of leaving a sealed container of yogurt out at room temperature all day.

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

  • An outbreak of foodborne botulism associated with contaminated hazelnut yoghurt.
  • Fruit on the Bottom Greek Yogurt | Mango Cup | Chobani®
  • Fred Rogers: Look for the Helpers - YouTube
July 02, 2021 /Don Schaffner
Yogurt, Room Temperature Storage
expired yogurt.png

100. Yogurt Past Its Best by Date

January 29, 2021 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of eating yogurt past its best by date.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼

Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

  • FoodKeeper App | FoodSafety.gov
  • Behavior of Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus in Yogurt Fermented with a Bacteriocin-Producing Thermophilic Starter | Journal of Food Protection | Allen Press
January 29, 2021 /Don Schaffner
Shelf-life, Yogurt

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