Risky or Not?

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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 do their best not to waffle, dither, dissemble or equivocate, and to give straight up answers about whether something is risky or not.

Don Schaffner and Ben Chapman


    • May 20, 2026 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekdays NEW EPISODES
    • 13m AVG DURATION
    • 1,171 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Risky or Not?

    930. Nine Day Old Pease Porridge

    Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2026 12:42


    Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating pease porridge in the pot, nine days old. Dr. Don - risky ☣️ Professor Ben - risky ☣️ Pease pudding - Wikipedia 249. Bringing Frozen Unrefrigerated Peameal Bacon Across the Border — Risky or Not? Growth of Bacillus cereus in fermenting tempeh made from various beans and its inhibition by Lactobacillus plantarum - PubMed Tyndallization - Wikipedia Fractional sterilization" or "intermittent processing - Healthy Canning in Partnership with Facebook Group Canning for beginners, safely by the book The Journal of Hygiene - Google Books

    929. Car Ranch

    Play Episode Listen Later May 18, 2026 16:07


    Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of eating ranch dressing stored in a warm car for an extended period of time. Dr. Don - not risky

    928. Keeping Your Shampoo Bottle on the Floor of the Shower

    Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2026 14:40


    Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from keeping your shampoo bottle on the floor of the shower. Dr. Don - not risky

    927. Making Stock With Chewed or Licked Chicken Bones (Normal Style)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2026 11:22


    Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating stock made from chewed or licked chicken bones, where are the chicken has been eaten "normal style". Dr. Don - not risky

    926. Touching Your Phone in the Middle of Prepping Dinner

    Play Episode Listen Later May 11, 2026 13:53


    Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from touching your phone in the middle of prepping dinner. Dr. Don - not risky

    925. Eating Someone Else's Leftover Popcorn at the Movies

    Play Episode Listen Later May 8, 2026 11:30


    Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating someone else's leftover popcorn at the movies. Dr. Don - not risky

    924. Drinking a Bottle of Wine That Has Been Stuffed in a Thief's Trousers

    Play Episode Listen Later May 6, 2026 11:21


    Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from drinking a bottle of wine that has been stuffed in a thief's trousers. Dr. Don - not risky

    923. 20 year old Cheez-Its

    Play Episode Listen Later May 4, 2026 13:28


    Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of consuming ~20 year old Cheez-Its. Dr. Don - not risky

    922. Thawing Frozen Fish in a Plastic Bag in a Fithy Sink

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2026 10:55


    Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks thawing frozen fish in a plastic bag in a fithy sink. Dr. Don - not risky

    921. Cottage Cheese With Bubbles In

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 29, 2026 13:28


    Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating cottage cheese that shows visible bubbles when opened. Dr. Don - not risky

    920. Eating Easter Eggs Dyed in the Toilet Bowl

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 27, 2026 10:36


    Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating Easter eggs dyed in the toilet bowl Dr. Don - not risky

    919. Homemade Unrefrigerated Hot Sauce From Heavy Metal Band at Their Merch Table

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2026 18:02


    Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from consuming homemade unrefrigerated hot sauce purchased from a heavy metal band at their merch table. Listen for Ben's asterisk. Dr. Don - not risky

    918. Naked Fruit on the Seat of a Grocery Cart

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2026 19:02


    Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from placing a fresh fruit on the seat of a grocery cart without a bag. Dr. Don - not risky

    917. Making Butter While Running

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 20, 2026 11:50


    Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of making butter while running. Dr. Don - not risky

    916. Tasting the Sauce Before the Meat Is Cooked

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2026 9:36


    Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of tasting the sauce before the meat is cooked. Dr. Don - not risky

    915. Letting Patrons Use the Handwash Sink in a Sushi Restaurant Kitchen

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 15, 2026 20:11


    Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks associated with letting patrons use the handwash sink in a sushi restaurant kitchen. Dr. Don - not risky

    914. Using Toaster After Splashing Raw Chicken Juice Inside if You Are Immunocompromised

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 13, 2026 13:29


    Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from using toaster after splashing raw chicken juice inside if you are immunocompromised. Dr. Don - not risky

    913. Using the Top Paper Plate

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2026 13:11


    Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from using the top paper plate in a package of plates. Dr. Don - not risky

    912. Only Rinsing a Plastic Microwave Food Cover

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2026 13:43


    Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of using a plastic microwave food cover that you only rinse and do not wash. Dr. Don - not risky

    911. Mixing People and Giardia Infected Dog Dishes in the Dishwater

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 6, 2026 10:59


    Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from mixing dishes from people and from Giardia infected dogs in the dishwater. Dr. Don - not risky

    910. Eating at a Two Star Michelin Restaurant With a One Star Hygiene Rating

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2026 12:14


    Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating at a two star Michelin restaurant with a one star hygiene rating Dr. Don - not risky

    909. Bulging Yogurt at Elevation

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2026 9:21


    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

    908. Using Butter Rubbed on a Dirty Pan

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 30, 2026 13:13


    Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from using butter that was rubbed on a dirty pan. Dr. Don - not risky

    907. Vegetables Grown in Soil with Composted Botulinum Toxin

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2026 23:43


    Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating vegetables grown in soil with composted botulinum toxin. Dr. Don - risky ☣️ Professor Ben - not risky

    906. White Castle Burgers in a Cooler for 12 Hours

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 25, 2026 20:44


    Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of eating White Castle burgers in a cooler for 12 hours. Dr. Don - risky ☣️ Professor Ben - risky ☣️ White Castle (restaurant) - Wikipedia Menu | Krystal Restaurants Wilson, North Carolina - Wikipedia Like a Local: Wilson | Our State Conetoe, North Carolina - Wikipedia Wendell, North Carolina - Wikipedia Wendell Pierce - Wikipedia SQFI | SQF Unites 2026 ComBase Home USDA FSIS C. perfringens Risk Assessment Executive Summary Incidence of Clostridium perfringens in Commercially Produced Cured Raw Meat Product Mixtures and Behavior in Cooked Products during Chilling and Refrigerated Storage - ScienceDirect We tried White Castle from an airport vending machine. It was bleak. - The Washington Post Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle - Wikipedia

    905. Eating With Poopy Fingernail Hands

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 23, 2026 10:27


    Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating with poopy fingernail hands. Dr. Don - not risky

    904. Dishwasher Hot Dogs

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2026 8:53


    Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from making hot dogs in your dishwasher. Dr. Don - not risky

    903. Three Month Old Compound Butter

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2026 12:48


    Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from three month old refrigerated compound butter. Dr. Don - not risky

    902. Overalls in Mrs. Murphy's Chowder

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 16, 2026 13:07


    Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from the Overalls in Mrs. Murphy's Chowder. Dr. Don - not risky

    901. Coffee Made in a Coffee Maker Used to "Wash" Underwear

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2026 13:22


    Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of drinking coffee from a coffee pot used to wash underware. Dr. Don - not risky

    900. Dried Garlic in Cold Process Soap

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2026 21:38


    Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of making garlic soap. Dr. Don - not risky

    899. Wine From Grapes Grazed by Goats

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 9, 2026 11:18


    Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from drinking wine from grapes grazed by goats. Dr. Don - not risky

    898. Flipping Veggie Wings With Unwashed Hands

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 6, 2026 9:03


    Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from flipping veggie wings with unwashed hands. Fedica text: Dr. Don - not risky

    897. Cooked Brown Rice Infested With Pantry Moths

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2026 12:52


    Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating eating cooked brown rice infested with pantry moths. Dr. Don - not risky

    896. Not Washing a Cats Water Bowl for a Week

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2026 14:50


    Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from not washing a pets water bowl for a week. Dr. Don - not risky

    895. Caramel Apple That's Been Shipped Priority Mail

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2026 13:45


    Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating a candied or caramel apple that's been shipped priority mail. Dr. Don - risky ☣️ Professor Ben - risky ☣️ Growth of Listeria monocytogenes within a Caramel-Coated Apple Microenvironment | mBio Fate of Listeria monocytogenes in Fresh Apples and Caramel Apples - ScienceDirect Multistate Outbreak of Listeriosis Linked to Commercially Produced, Prepackaged Caramel Apples Made from Bidart Bros. Apples | Listeria | CDC Listeria and candied and caramel-coated apples | UMN Extension Gourmet Candy Apples | Kandy Apples by K | Raleigh

    894. Pizza Sold by a Person That Broke Into the Restaurant

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2026 17:43


    Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from Eating pizza sold by a person that broke into a pizza restaurant. Dr. Don - not risky

    893. Eating an Opened Two-Year-Old 5-Pound Gummy Bear

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 23, 2026 11:43


    Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating an opened two-year-old 5-pound gummy bear Dr. Don - not risky

    892. Food From a Distribution Center With a Class II Recall

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 20, 2026 13:27


    Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from food from a distribution center with a class II recall Dr. Don - not risky

    891. Using Fresh Garlic in Sous Vide Cooking

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 18, 2026 12:24


    Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of using fresh garlic in sous vide cooking. Dr. Don - not risky

    890. Hairy Bikers Poached Eggs in Dirty Water

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 16, 2026 8:09


    Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of using the Hairy Bikers egg poaching method. Dr. Don - not risky

    889. Re-Using Chocolate From a Chocolate Fondue Fountain

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2026 14:11


    Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from re-using chocolate from a chocolate fondue fountain. Dr. Don - not risky

    888. Using Smell to Determine When a Food Is Safely Cooked

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 11, 2026 14:33


    Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of using smell to determine when a food is safely cooked. Dr. Don - risky ☣️ Professor Ben - risky ☣️ Super Disco Breakin' (Remastered 2009) - YouTube Global study of variability in olfactory sensitivity - PubMed I can smell the moment food is done cooking : r/Cooking High Fidelity (film) - Wikipedia

    887. Four Year Expired Beef Jerky From a Safe at the Bottom of the Ocean

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2026 8:18


    Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating four year expired beef jerky from a safe at the bottom of the ocean. Dr. Don - not risky

    886. Attending a Pickle Party

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 6, 2026 13:44


    Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from attending a pickle party. Dr. Don - not risky

    885. Snowcream

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 4, 2026 13:02


    Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from snowcream. Dr. Don - not risky

    884. Using a Screen Porch as a Refrigerator in December in Upstate New York

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 2, 2026 15:45


    Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from using a screen porch as a refrigerator in December in upstate New York. Dr. Don - not risky

    883. Eggnog in a Plastic Wine Bottle

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 30, 2026 12:48


    Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eggnog commercially sold in a plastic wine bottle. Dr. Don - not risky

    882. Ice From the Automatic Ice Maker in a Home Freezer

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2026 11:37


    Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from a home automatic ice maker ice. Dr. Don - not risky

    881. 40 Year Old Dry Aged Coffee

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 26, 2026 11:22


    Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of consuming 40 year old dry aged coffee. Dr. Don - not risky

    880. Improperly Stored 44 Year Old Wine

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 23, 2026 11:24


    Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of consuming 44 year old wine stored upright. Dr. Don - not risky

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