A short podcast about everyday risks from germs

ChatGPT image description: A person stands at the entrance to a berry-picking field holding a basket, facing a prominent warning sign that reads, “Norovirus is spiking in this area.” The sunny farm setting and cheerful berry-picking signage contrast with the health warning, creating a clear food-safety dilemma.

947. Pick Your Own Berries During a Norovirus Spike in June 2026

June 29, 2026 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating pick your own berries in an area during a norovirus spike in June 2026.

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

Outbreaks, occurrence, and control of norovirus and hepatitis a virus contamination in berries: A review - PubMed
Eurosurveillance | Large multistate outbreak of norovirus gastroenteritis associated with frozen strawberries, Germany, 2012
Farm to fork quantitative microbial risk assessment for norovirus on frozen strawberries - ScienceDirect
Inactivation of hepatitis A virus and norovirus on berries by broad-spectrum pulsed light - PubMed

ChatGPT image description: A plate of golden-brown French toast sits forgotten on a kitchen counter. Syrup has pooled around the slices, and the meal appears untouched. The ordinary home setting suggests it has been left at room temperature for several hours, creating a subtle food-safety concern.

946. Yesterday's French Toast That Sat Out for 3 Hours Before Refrigeration

June 26, 2026 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating French toast that was made yesterday and sat out for 3 hours before refrigeration.

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

945. Frozen Ham From 1992

June 24, 2026 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from him that's been in the freezer since 1992.

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

My dad bought this ham back in 1992. Its been in his freezer the whole time. He refuses to throw it out and says "its still good. Frozen meat doesnt go bad". : r/GrandmasPantry

944. Infinite Sichuan Pickles

June 22, 2026 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from a continuous homemade sichuan pickle fermenter.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼

Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

ChatGPT image description: Two restaurant employees stand in front of a commercial grill, looking embarrassed and slightly frazzled. Their uniforms are dusty and rumpled, hair is messy, and both wear uneasy expressions. Smoke rises from the grill behind them, suggesting a hectic kitchen mishap or an especially challenging shift.

943. Eating Food Cooked on a Restaurant Grill That Employees Have Used for Sex

June 19, 2026 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of eating food from a grill that had been previously used for sex.

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

Don't Get The Grilled Cheese

ChatGPT image description: A refrigerated meal kit labeled “Lemon Herb Chicken” sits prominently on a refrigerator shelf among fresh produce and food containers. Condensation dots the packaging, and a label indicates it is on day four of refrigerated storage, suggesting it is still within its intended use period.

942. Meal Kit Chicken Prepared Four Days After Arrival

June 17, 2026 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating meal kit chicken that's been in the refrigerator for four days

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

941. Screwworm Infected Beef

June 15, 2026 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating beef from a screwworm infected cow.

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

940. Rockpot

June 12, 2026 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from using a Rockpot.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️

ChatGPT image description: A large stainless steel pressure cooker filled with cloudy chicken stock sits forgotten on a kitchen counter overnight. The broth’s surface shows separated fat and residue, surrounded by ordinary kitchen items under warm indoor lighting, creating a subtle sense of food safety concern and neglect.

939. Chicken Stock Out Overnight, Pressure Cooked Again for 30 Minutes

June 10, 2026 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating chicken stock left on the counter overnight, and then pressure cooked again for 30 minutes.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️

ChatGPT image description: A pregnant woman stands in a bright home kitchen beside a glass dish of marinating raw chicken. Thoughtfully, she raises a marinade-covered finger toward her mouth while sunlight streams through the window, highlighting the cozy cooking scene and subtle food safety tension.

938. Licking the Chicken Marinade Spoon, While Pregnant

June 08, 2026 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from licking the chicken marinade spoon, while pregnant.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️

ChatGPT image description: A dried, days-old tea bag stands stiffly on a ceramic dish atop a speckled kitchen counter. The paper is wrinkled and stained brown from old tea, with the string and tag lying limp beside it. Soft kitchen lighting and blurred containers create a quiet, slightly neglected atmosphere.

937. Re-Using Teabags After Hours or Days

June 05, 2026 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from re-using teabags after hours or days.

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

ChatGPT image description: A bright pink bag of Nerds Gummy Clusters sits on a bathroom counter beside a sink, toothbrush, toiletries, and a lavender candle. The oddly placed candy contrasts with the clean, everyday bathroom setting, creating a humorous and slightly unsettling scene.

936. Keeping Candy in the Bathroom

June 03, 2026 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of keeping candy in the bathroom.

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

935. Licking Someone Else's Ear Wax Off Your Finger

June 01, 2026 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of licking someone else's ear wax off your finger

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

934. Racing a Bike Through Belgian Toothpaste

May 29, 2026 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from racing a bike through belgian toothpaste (i.e., mud).

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

ChatGPT image description: A horrified home cook realizes a bag of frozen mixed berries has been left out for two hours. Purple berry juice pools across the counter while a handwritten timing note and wall clock emphasize the mistake. The square image captures panic, thawing fruit, and a relatable kitchen food-safety dilemma.

933. Leaving Frozen Berries Out for 2 Hours, Refreezing and Reusing

May 27, 2026 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from leaving frozen berries out of refrigeration for 2 hours, refreezing and reusing later in a smoothie.

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