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Risky or Not?

Don Schaffner and Ben Chapman

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.

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58 episodes
a few times a week
Avg 14 min
English

Episodes 58

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#960
July 29 · 9 min
960. Drinking Water from a Source that Failed to Maintain Treatment for Removing Bacteria
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from drinking water from a source that failed to maintain treatment for removing bacteria. Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼 Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼 Borough Public Notifications | Milltown, NJ
#959
July 27 · 11 min
959. Brushing Your Teeth With a Toothbrush That Was Not in a Toothbrush Protector
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from brushing your teeth with a toothbrush that was not in a toothbrush protector. Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼 Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼 524. Keeping Your Toothbrush Less Than 6 Feet From Your Toilet — Risky or Not? Amazon.com: Mspan Electric Toothbrush Head Cover: Sonic Toothbrush Cap Travel Protector Plastic Brush Pod Protection Clip Case Value Pack : Health & Household
#958
July 24 · 23 min
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 👍🏼 Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼 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 link Taco Bell lettuce supplier to multistate cyclosporiasis outbreak - The Washington Post Taylor Farms still linked to parasite outbreak despite false positive, FDA says - The Washington Post FDA says it's still investigating Taylor Farms in cyclosporiasis outbreak Taco Bell in Canada: Lettuce is safe to eat Farm linked to cyclospora stops sending lettuce to U.S. | CNN
#957
July 22 · 11 min
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 👍🏼 Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼 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 Response to the Questions Posed by the Food Safety and Inspection Service Regarding Consumer Guidelines for the Safe Cooking of Poultry Products
#956
July 20 · 16 min
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 👍🏼 Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼 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) — Bookpackers™ Water Fountain Hygiene | Parks and Recreation - YouTube Bathroom Sink Faucet with Water Fountain & Pull Out Sprayer – NMC Decor Drinking fountain installed into bathroom sink : r/mildlyinteresting
#955
July 17 · 18 min
955. Aspirin Canning
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of aspirin canning. Dr. Don - risky ☣️ Professor Ben - risky ☣️ Carla Schwan | UGA FACS Home - IAFNS Vegetables and Fruits FAQs - National Center for Home Food Preservation Aspirin - Wikipedia Canning With Aspirin Instead of Sugar – Front page story – 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 toxin production - PubMed Salicylic acids and pathogenic bacteria: new perspectives on an old compound
#954
July 15 · 13 min
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 👍🏼 Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼 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
#953
July 13 · 11 min
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 ☣️ Professor Ben - risky ☣️ 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
#952
July 10 · 21 min
952. Smash Tacos
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating smash tacos. Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼 Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼 Burger Menu: Delivery, Takeout & Pickup | Smashburger® Smash Burger Tacos – 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 Joe Jackson – Cancer Lyrics | Genius Lyrics Rheostatics – 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, 2007 | setlist.fm
July 8 · 9 min
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 ☣️ Professor Ben - risky ☣️ 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
#950
July 6 · 8 min
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 👍🏼 Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼 Home Pool and Hot Tub Water Treatment and Testing | Healthy Swimming | CDC Outbreaks Associated with Treated Recreational Water — United States, 2015–2019 - PMC
#949
July 3 · 12 min
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 ☣️ Professor Ben - risky ☣️ 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
#948
July 1 · 13 min
948. Feeding Lunchmeat to a Baby
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from feeding lunchmeat to a baby. Dr. Don - risky ☣️ Professor Ben - risky ☣️🇨🇦 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
#947
June 29 · 8 min
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 👍🏼 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
#946
June 26 · 10 min
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 👍🏼 Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼 Europeans Finally Understand Why Americans Are Overweight 🤣 - 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
#945
June 24 · 8 min
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 👍🏼 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
June 22 · 15 min
944. Infinite Sichuan Pickles
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from a continuous homemade sichuan pickle fermenter Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼 Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼 Haroldina: "@bugcounter I mean, come on. T…" - Mastodon Cody Don Reeder - I made a sichuan Infinite pickle jar with two… | Facebook 198. Endless Pickles — Risky or Not? Pao cai - Wikipedia USDA ARS Online Magazine Vol. 62, No. 6 7 dead, 103 sickened in Sapporo Japan with E. coli… | 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 treatment for A 5-log reduction of Escherichia coli in refrigerated pickle products - PubMed Preparing and Canning Fermented Foods and Pickled Vegetables
#943
June 19 · 7 min
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 👍🏼 Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼 Don't Get The Grilled Cheese

Showing 41–58 of 58 episodes