A short podcast about everyday risks from germs

Image description: the actual toothpaste in question

991. Toothpaste From Kristin's Split Toothpaste Tube

October 09, 2026 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from using toothpaste that came from a tube split during the packaging process.

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

Contents of toothpaste - safety implications - Australian Prescriber
US7135163B2 - Prevention of crystal formation in toothpaste - Google Patents
Antimicrobial Efficacy of Different Toothpastes and Mouthrinses: An In Vitro Study - PMC
Antimicrobial Effect of Newly Formulated Toothpastes and a Mouthrinse on Specific Microorganisms: An In Vitro Study - PMC

Image description: the actual bacon in question

990. Bacon With a Pinhole Leak in the Package

October 07, 2026 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating bacon with a pinhole leak in the package.

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

ChatGPT image description: A large serving of meat lovers lasagna sits on a white plate on a kitchen counter. Layers of pasta, tomato sauce, melted mozzarella, sausage, and pepperoni are visible. The Stouffer’s package stands behind it, suggesting the cooked lasagna has been left sitting at room temperature.

989. Eating Re-cooked Store Bought Lasagna Left Out Over Night

October 05, 2026 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of eating re-cooked store bought lasagna left out over night.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️

ChatGPT image description: Three medieval French soldiers prepare an absurd dish outdoors. One pours creamy soup over a squirrel into a bowl while another squirrel sits angrily in a wooden cage. Potatoes, leeks, onions, herbs, a mortar and pestle, and a large pot complete the comically elaborate “Vichy squirrel” preparation.

988. Consuming or Preparing Vichy Squirrel

October 02, 2026 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from consuming or preparing Vichy squirrel.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️

987. Ant Yogurt

September 30, 2026 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating ant yogurt.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️

986. Eating an Unopened Package of Live It Up® Super Greens That Was Recalled Due to Potential Salmonella Contamination

September 28, 2026 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating Super Greens recalled for Salmonella contamination.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️

ChatGPT: A man eagerly eyes a leftover slice of pizza on a recently abandoned restaurant table, clasping his hands with anticipation. Beside him, his wife gives him a stern, disapproving look, clearly unimpressed by his apparent plan to eat the previous diners’ leftovers.

985. Eating Untouched Leftovers From the Previous Patron at a Restaurant

September 25, 2026 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating apparently untouched leftovers from a previous patron at an outdoor restaurant.

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

ChatGPT image: A man sits on a couch beside a black-and-white dog. Holding a used tissue near the dog’s nose, he appears poised to wipe his own nose with it. The dog watches him intently, as if questioning his questionable hygiene decision.

984. Sharing a Tissue With a Dog

September 23, 2026 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from using a tissue used for a dog (but not for a big snot glob).

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

983. Reheating Milk From Nespresso Aeroccino Left in the Refrigerator for a Few Days

September 21, 2026 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from reheating milk from Nespresso Aeroccino left in the refrigerator for a few days.

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

ChatGPT image description: The three hosts of the Accidental Tech Podcast enjoy bowls of macaroni and cheese at a lively autumn football tailgate. Surrounded by fall foliage, grills, coolers, football gear, and playful tech-themed decorations, the scene combines their enthusiasm for technology, friendship, food, and football.

982. Casey's Leftover Tailgate Mac and Cheese

September 18, 2026 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating Casey's* Leftover Tailgate Mac and Cheese.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️

* who the hell is that guy in the middle of the image? No seriously, that's not Casey. I mean, the other two are recognizable as vaguely Marco and vaguely John, but that guy in the middle?

ChatGPT image description: A cork-sealed bottle of organic agave nectar sits unopened on a kitchen counter. The dark, aged nectar shows crystallization and residue inside the bottle. Its weathered label prominently displays a “Best By July 2012” date, emphasizing that the product is extremely expired.

981. Very Expired Agave Nectar, Unopened in a Cork-Sealed Bottle

September 16, 2026 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from consuming very expired agave nectar, unopened in a cork-sealed bottle.

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

ChatGPT image description: A bowl of Cajun red beans and sausage sits uncovered on a kitchen counter after being left out overnight. The thick bean mixture is surrounded by Louisiana-themed décor, including fleur-de-lis designs and a “N’Awlins” container.

980. Cooked Cajun Red Beans Left Out Overnight

September 14, 2026 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating cooked Cajun red beans left out overnight.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️

https://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/toasting_marshmallows.png

979. Cooking S'mores With Marshmallows Over a Burning Circuit Board

September 11, 2026 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks cooking s'mores with marshmallows over a burning circuit board.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️

ChatGPT image description: A man carefully deconstructs a wedge of iceberg lettuce, rinsing each leaf under running water. Individual leaves are laid out to dry before being meticulously reassembled into a wedge. Signs and labels emphasize the elaborate step-by-step washing process.

978. Not Breaking Apart Iceberg Lettuce to Wash Every Leaf

September 09, 2026 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from not breaking apart iceberg lettuce to wash every leaf.

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

ChatGPT image description: A clear plastic bag of boiled peanuts sits on a dark car seat in warm sunlight. The bag is damp with condensation and filled with dark, briny-looking peanut shells, suggesting it has been left unrefrigerated in the car for an extended period.

977. Boiled Peanuts Left in a Hot Car for Two Days

September 07, 2026 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating boiled peanuts left in a hot car for two days.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️

976. Butchering a Legally Hunted Bear in a Communal Residence Hall Kitchen

September 04, 2026 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks associated with butchering a legally hunted bear in a communal residence hall kitchen.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️
Professor Ben - risky ☣️

Image description: Actual image from the article

975. A Bottle of Guinness From a 162-Year-Old Shipwreck

September 02, 2026 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from drinking a really old bottle of Guinness found in a shipwreck.

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

ChatGPT image description: An open paperboard takeout container sits inside a car, filled with brown rice and mixed vegetables including broccoli, carrots, peppers, onions, and snap peas. The food appears slightly wilted and dried after sitting in the warm car for several hours.

974. Leftover Rice Transported Out of Temperature Control for About 5 Hours

August 31, 2026 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating brown rice held out of temperature control for about five hours.

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

Image description: Picture of the actual item

973. Out of Date $0.85 Jalapeno Snack From a Farmers Market

August 28, 2026 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks for eating an out of date discounted snack food purchased at a farmers market.

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

ChatGPT image description: A clear plastic container of corn chowder sits on a refrigerator shelf. The creamy soup contains visible corn and potato pieces and shows separation and discoloration on the surface, suggesting it has been stored for an extended period.

972. Corn Chowder in the Fridge for a Week

August 26, 2026 by Don Schaffner

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating corn chowder stored in the refrigerator for a week.

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