
Risky or Not?
byDon Schaffner and Ben Chapman
HealthFitnessScienceLife
Risky or Not is a short podcast from Professor Ben Chapman from North Carolina State University, and Dr. Don Schaffner from Rutgers University. Dr. Don and Professor Chapman promise to do their best not to waffle, dither, dissemble or equivocate, and to give straight up answers about whether something is risky or not.
Episodes(40 episodes)
Episode 958
Eating Lettuce in Michigan Right Now
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating lettuce in Michigan right now Dr. Don - not risky ๐๐ผ Professor Ben - not risky ๐๐ผ Where People Got Sick: Cyclospora Outbreak, July 2026 | Cyclosporiasis | CDC Investigation of 5-State Outbreak of Cyclospora Illnesses: Iceberg Lettuce (July 2026) | FDA Cyclospora Outbreak 2026: FAQs for Consumers | IFPA Cyclospora Outbreak Linked to Iceberg Lettuce in 5 States | Cyclosporiasis | CDC Flooding occurs on M-39 and I-94 in Detroit and I-75 in Southgate First Lawsuit in 2026 Multistate Cyclospora Outbreak Filed Against Taco Bell Operator in Ohio Federal Court Investigations of Foodborne Illness Outbreaks | FDA CDC, FDA lin...
Published: Jul 24, 2026Duration: 23m 31s
Episode 957
957. Reheating Refrigerated Cooked Frozen Vegetables
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from reheating refrigerated cooked frozen vegetables (when the package says not to). Dr. Don - not risky ๐๐ผ Professor Ben - not risky ๐๐ผ Study Highlights Importance of Cooking Non-Ready-to-Eat Frozen Vegetables, Fruits and Herbs Prior to | Food Safety Authority of Ireland National Microbiological Survey and Consumer Habits in relation to Frozen Vegetables, Fruits and Herbs (19NS6) An Assessment of Listeriosis Risk Associated with a Contaminated Production Lot of Frozen Vegetables Consumed Under Alternative Consumer Handling Scenarios - ScienceDirect
Published: Jul 22, 2026Duration: 11m 51s
Episode 956
956. Drinking From a Bathroom Sink Water Fountain at the Louvre
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from drinking from a bathroom sink water fountain at the Louvre. Dr. Don - not risky ๐๐ผ Professor Ben - not risky ๐๐ผ What is FFA | National FFA Organization Visitor amenities - Everything you need to enjoy the Louvre in the best conditions You can drink the water! - Review of Louvre Museum, Paris, France - Tripadvisor The Louvre (and a Short Rant About Water) โ Bookpackersโข Water Fountain Hygiene | Parks and Recreation - YouTube Bathroom Sink Faucet with Water Fountain & Pull Out Sprayer โ NMC Decor Drinking fountain installed into bathroom sink...
Published: Jul 20, 2026Duration: 16m 57s
Episode 955
955. Aspirin Canning
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of aspirin canning. Dr. Don - risky โฃ๏ธ Professor Ben - risky โฃ๏ธ Carla Schwan | UGA FACS Home - IAFNS Vegetables and Fruits FAQs - National Center for Home Food Preservation Aspirin - Wikipedia Canning With Aspirin Instead of Sugar โ Front page story โ Finding Eliza Regional Variations in Home Canning Practices and the Risk of Foodborne Botulism in the Republic of Georgia, 2003 - ScienceDirect Use of Aspirin (Salicylic acid) as food preservative - good or bad? : r/foodscience Evaluation of the effect of acetylsalicylic acid on Clostridium botulinum growth and t...
Published: Jul 17, 2026Duration: 18m 42s
Episode 954
Making Your Own Maple Syrup
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from making your own maple syrup. Dr. Don - not risky ๐๐ผ Professor Ben - not risky ๐๐ผ Jason Hlywka | LinkedIn Home - IAFNS 8 Candy Temperature Stages (with Chart) - WebstaurantStore The Sticky (TV Series 2024) - IMDb Maple Sugaring Tips for Beginners and Backyard Maple Sugar Producers Maple Food Safety Planning Resource Hub - Cooperative Extension: Maple Syrup Production Great Canadian Maple Syrup Heist - Wikipedia
Published: Jul 15, 2026Duration: 13m 21s
Episode 953
Herpes Spit Sandwich
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating a sandwich contaminated with spit from someone with oral herpes. Dr. Don - risky โฃ๏ธ Professor Ben - risky โฃ๏ธ Arby's customer claims sandwich came with vile surprise and lasting consequences | Fox News About Genital Herpes | Genital Herpes | CDC The possibility of spreading herpes simplex virus type 1 via food handling and sharing - PubMed Julie Jean | LinkedIn IAFP Announces 2025 Award Recipients - International Association for Food Protection Maurice Weber Laboratorian Award - International Association for Food Protection
Published: Jul 13, 2026Duration: 11m 6s
Episode 952
Smash Tacos
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating smash tacos. Dr. Don - not risky ๐๐ผ Professor Ben - not risky ๐๐ผ Burger Menu: Delivery, Takeout & Pickup | Smashburgerยฎ Smash Burger Tacos โ Blackstone Products Smash Burger Tacos | Blackstone Griddles - YouTube Dinah E. Gore Teaching and Research Kitchens | Agricultural and Human Sciences Chemicals in Meat Cooked at High Temperatures and Cancer Risk - NCI Joeย Jackson โ Cancer Lyrics | Genius Lyrics Rheostatics โ My First Rock Concert Lyrics | Genius Lyrics Wendel Clark - Wikipedia Wendell Pierce - Wikipedia Spamalot - Wikipedia Rheostatics Concert Setlist at Massey Hall, Toronto on March 30,
Published: Jul 10, 2026Duration: 21m 22s
951. Eating Boiled Fresh Tortellini From a Package With a Few Mold Spots
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating boiled fresh tortellini from a package with a few mold spots. Dr. Don - risky โฃ๏ธ Professor Ben - risky โฃ๏ธ Aldi's Best New Products Of 2026 (So Far) Extension of the shelf-life of fresh pasta using modified atmosphere packaging and bioprotective cultures - PMC Outbreak Investigation of Listeria monocytogenes: Prepared Pasta Meals (June 2025) | FDA
Published: Jul 8, 2026Duration: 9m 23s
Episode 950
950. Takeout Chicken Tikka Masala Splashed With Hot Tub Water
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating chicken tikka masala splashed with hot tub water. Dr. Don - not risky ๐๐ผ Professor Ben - not risky ๐๐ผ Home Pool and Hot Tub Water Treatment and Testing | Healthy Swimming | CDC Outbreaks Associated with Treated Recreational Water โ United States, 2015โ2019 - PMC
Published: Jul 6, 2026Duration: 8m 10s
Episode 949
Launching the "Good" Fireworks in Your Driveway
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from launching the "good" fireworks in your driveway. Dr. Don - risky โฃ๏ธ Professor Ben - risky โฃ๏ธ Farm Film Report2 - YouTube Fireworks Safety Tips - National Safety Council Fireworks | CPSC.gov JPP reflects on Fourth of July accident that changed his life - ESPN
Published: Jul 3, 2026Duration: 12m 56s
Episode 948
Feeding Lunchmeat to a Baby
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from feeding lunchmeat to a baby. Dr. Don - risky โฃ๏ธ Professor Ben - risky โฃ๏ธ๐จ๐ฆ Nanaimo bar - Wikipedia 2008 Canadian listeriosis outbreak - Wikipedia People at Increased Risk for Listeria Infection | Listeria Infection | CDC Evolution of the immune system in humans from infancy to old age - PMC Foods and Drinks to Avoid or Limit | Infant and Toddler Nutrition | CDC Urban Dictionary: giver FUBAR (film) - Wikipedia
Published: Jul 1, 2026Duration: 13m 42s
Episode 947
Pick Your Own Berries During a Norovirus Spike in June 2026
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 ๐๐ผ Professor Ben - not risky ๐๐ผ 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
Published: Jun 29, 2026Duration: 8m 4s
Episode 946
Yesterday's French Toast That Sat Out for 3 Hours Before Refrigeration
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 ๐๐ผ Professor Ben - not risky ๐๐ผ Europeans Finally Understand Why Americans Are Overweight ๐คฃ - YouTube USDA Commercial Item Description Griddle Breads, Shelf Stable and Heat and Serve, Frozen (Waffles, Pancakes, French Toast, Belgian Waffles) www.ChemistryIsLife.com - The Chemistry of French Toast
Published: Jun 26, 2026Duration: 10m 49s
Episode 945
Frozen Ham From 1992
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from him that's been in the freezer since 1992. Dr. Don - not risky ๐๐ผ Professor Ben - not risky ๐๐ผ 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
Published: Jun 24, 2026Duration: 8m 31s
Episode 944
Infinite Sichuan Pickles
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from a continuous homemade sichuan pickle fermenter Dr. Don - not risky ๐๐ผ Professor Ben - not risky ๐๐ผ Haroldina: "@bugcounter I mean, come on. Tโฆ" - Mastodon Cody Don Reeder - I made a sichuan Infinite pickle jar with twoโฆ | Facebook 198. Endless Pickles โ Risky or Not? Pao cai - Wikipedia USDA ARS Online Magazine Vol. 62, No. 6 7 dead, 103 sickened in Sapporo Japan with E. coliโฆ | Marler Clark A large outbreak of enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157, caused by low-salt pickled Napa cabbage in nursing homes, Japan, 2012 - PMC Development of an effective trea...
Published: Jun 22, 2026Duration: 15m 30s
Episode 943
Eating Food Cooked on a Restaurant Grill That Employees Have Used for Sex
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 ๐๐ผ Professor Ben - not risky ๐๐ผ Don't Get The Grilled Cheese
Published: Jun 19, 2026Duration: 7m 10s
Episode 942
Meal Kit Chicken Prepared Four Days After Arrival
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 ๐๐ผ Professor Ben - not risky ๐๐ผ How long does the food stay fresh once I receive it? โ Blue Apron Support Food Safety Tips for Home Meal Delivery Kits | Homegrown| NC State University Online Purveyors of Raw Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Products: Delivery Policies and Available Consumer Food Safety Information
Published: Jun 17, 2026Duration: 8m 8s
Episode 941
Screwworm Infected Beef
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating beef from a screwworm infected cow. Dr. Don - not risky ๐๐ผ Professor Ben - not risky ๐๐ผ USDA Confirms New World Screwworm in Texas Texas A&M AgriLife responds after New World screwworm found in Texas โ Texas A&M Stories New World screwworm detection in Texas highlights improved tools but ongoing cattle management challenges - Brownfield Ag News New World screwworm: rare human case identified in United States after travel from El Salvador | CNN About New World Screwworm | New World Screwworm | CDC
Published: Jun 15, 2026Duration: 10m 33s
Episode 940
Rockpot
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from using a Rockpot. Dr. Don - risky โฃ๏ธ Professor Ben - risky โฃ๏ธ Official Carolina Hurricanes Website | Carolina Hurricanes Michael: "@bugcounter I watched this shoโฆ" - mas.to We got gifted a Rockpot and have had so much fun using it! - YouTube Social Media Analytics and Publishing - Fedica I'm looking forward to being part of the New Jersey FoodTech conference this year! For more details check out these cool images. Sharp Dressed Man - Wikipedia RockPot |The Portable Slow-Cooker. No Propane. No Electricity. Rockpot Recipe Collection...
Published: Jun 12, 2026Duration: 26m 3s
Episode 939
Chicken Stock Out Overnight, Pressure Cooked Again for 30 Minutes
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 โฃ๏ธ Professor Ben - risky โฃ๏ธ Pressure cooker - Wikipedia Home canning - Wikipedia Frequently Asked Questions โ Instant Pot Free Shipping! Farberware 6-Quart Aluminum Stovetop Pressure Cooker 15 PSI for Faster Nutrient Retention - Walmart.com 42: Reboiling Soup โ Risky or Not? Thermal inactivation of Bacillus cereus spores during cooking of rice to ensure later safety of boudin - ScienceDirect Inactivation of Bacillus cereus spores by high hydrostatic pressure at different te...
Published: Jun 10, 2026Duration: 16m 19s