
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)

E880 - Improperly Stored 44 Year Old Wine
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of consuming 44 year old wine stored upright. Dr. Don - not risky ๐๐ผ Professor Ben - not risky ๐๐ผ Compounds causing cork taint and the factors affecting their transfer from natural cork closures to wine โ a review - SEFTON - 2005 - Australian Journal of Grape and Wine Research - Wiley Online Library Should I be concerned about wine bottles stored upright in a wine shop or restaurant? Chambord (liqueur) - Wikipedia Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Cork Taint | Wine Enthusiast Magazine 1979 Jim Beam Snow Goose AND Blue Goose Dec...
Published: Jan 23, 2026Duration: 11:24

E879 - Homemade Egg Nog Over 2 Years Old
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of drinking homemade egg nog over 2 years old- Dr. Don - not risky ๐๐ผ Professor Ben - not risky ๐๐ผ Eggnog - Wikipedia 238. Raw Egg Eggnog Refrigerated for 6 Months โ Risky or Not? TAINTED EGGNOG FATAL TO 4 RESIDENTS OF A COUNTY NURSING HOME IN JERSEY - The New York Times Survival of pathogenic microorganisms in an egg-nog-like product containing 7% ethanol - ScienceDirect
Published: Jan 21, 2026Duration: 14:26

E878 - Not UV Sterilizing Coffee Scoop After Use
ย Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of not UV sterilizing coffee scoop after use. Dr. Don - not risky ๐๐ผ Professor Ben - not risky ๐๐ผ 5 Best UV Phone Sanitizers Cleaning your iPhone - Apple Support Do Not Use Ultraviolet (UV) Wands That Give Off Unsafe Levels of Radiation: FDA Safety Communication | FDA Nightsleeper - Wikipedia
Published: Jan 19, 2026Duration: 13:00

E877 - One Liter of Water From an "Uncontrolled" Sintra Portugal Water Fountain
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from drinking water from an "uncontrolled" Sintra Portugal water fountain. Dr. Don - risky โฃ๏ธ Professor Ben - risky โฃ๏ธ Fountain on Google Maps Energy Drink | 2:1 Fructose | Great Tasting Energy Nutrition | HIGH5 water - Risky or Not? Water ๐ง drinking from faucets? : r/PortugalExpats Google Translate - รกgua nรฃo controlada Water supply and sanitation in Portugal - Wikipedia Sintra Fountains - Tourist Guide Environmental Toxicology II - C. A. Brebbia, M. Zamorano - Google Books Explore Sintra's Beautiful Fountains: History & Landmarks
Published: Jan 16, 2026Duration: 17:56

E876 - Continuously Reusing an Unwashed French Press for Coffee and Tea
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from continuously reusing an unwashed french press for coffee and tea. Dr. Don - not risky ๐๐ผ Professor Ben - not risky ๐๐ผ 208. Not Washing Coffee Making Devices โ Risky or Not? 37: Tea at Room Temperature โ Risky or Not? Determination of potentially mycotoxigenic fungi in coffee (Coffea arabica L.) from Nayarit - PMC Mycotoxins in Coffee - ScienceDirect
Published: Jan 14, 2026Duration: 14:02

E875 - OneTrueJustin's Parents Half Eaten Banana
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from leaving a half a cut banana at room temperature for 24 hours. Dr. Don - risky โฃ๏ธ Professor Ben - risky โฃ๏ธ 14: Budnik's Banana โ Risky or Not? Justin Ekins on X: "@bugcounter @benjaminchapman My parents routinely leave half-eaten bananas in the bowl for later consumption. Is this risky? Assume 24 hours between splitting and eating the second half. https://t.co/76VwOdFD39" / X Banana peel: a possible source of infection in the treatment of nipple fissures - PubMed
Published: Jan 12, 2026Duration: 7:45

E874 - Dry Canning Potatoes
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from pressure canning cooked potatoes without added water. Dr. Don - risky โฃ๏ธย Professor Ben - risky โฃ๏ธ Potato Facebook Reel Resources: USDA Complete Guide to Home Canning | National Center for Home Food Preservation "Dry Canning" Isn't Canning - National Center for Home Food Preservation Potatoes, White โ Cubed or Whole - National Center for Home Food Preservation National Botulism Surveillance Summary, 2021 | Botulism | CDC How to Can Dry Packed Potatoes: Step-by-Step Guide | The Canning Diva The Original Canning Rebels | Facebook Facebook certificate of analysis
Published: Jan 9, 2026Duration: 27:38

E873 - Leftover Conveyer Belt Sushi
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating leftover conveyer belt sushi. Dr. Don - not risky ๐๐ผ Professor Ben - not risky ๐๐ผ Conveyor Belt Sushi in Japan Conveyor belt sushi - Wikipedia Arrests made after wave of 'sushi terrorism' upends Japan's restaurant industry | Japan | The Guardian Florida Department of Health - Time as a Public Health Control Procedures
Published: Jan 7, 2026Duration: 18:21

E872 - Medium Rare Chicken
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating medium rare (not ground) chicken. Dr. Don - not risky ๐๐ผ Professor Ben - not risky ๐๐ผ Archive: National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF) | Food Safety and Inspection Service Response to the Questions Posed by the Food Safety and Inspection Service Regarding Consumer Guidelines for the Safe Cooking of Poultry Products - ScienceDirect No FODMAP Chicken Paillard - FODMAP Everyday
Published: Jan 5, 2026Duration: 15:51

E871 - Eating 1 or 2 Bites of Undercooked Ground Pork
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from eating 1 or 2 bites of undercooked ground pork. Dr. Don - not risky ๐๐ผย Professor Ben - not risky ๐๐ผ ย Meta Platforms - Wikipedia Cook to a Safe Minimum Internal Temperature | FoodSafety.gov What foodborne organisms are in pork? WHO and FAO published a report ranking foodborne viruses | Food Safety News Microbiological risk assessment of viruses in foods Part 1: Food attribution, analytical methods and indicators Presence of hepatitis E virus in commercially available pork products - PubMed
Published: Jan 2, 2026Duration: 15:05

E870 - A Smoothie Made With a Cordless Drill
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from making a smoothie using a cordless drill. Dr. Don - not risky ๐๐ผย Professor Ben - not risky ๐๐ผ ย Amazon.com: KatchOn, 2026 Glasses New Year Eve - Pack of 12 | Happy New Year Eyeglasses 2026 for New Years Eve Party Supplies 2026 | NYE Party Glasses | Happy New Years Decorations 2026 | NYE Decorations 2026 : Home & Kitchen Fans of Mr. Monk Group | Natalie making a smoothie with a power drill | Facebook Natalie Makes A Smoothie With A Power Drill | Monk - YouTube Mr. Monk Is on the Run (Part One) | Monk Wiki | Fandom Milwaukee 1 in. X 6 in. L...
Published: Dec 31, 2025Duration: 10:53

E869 - Moldy Clay
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from moldy clay. Dr. Don - not risky ๐๐ผย Professor Ben - not risky ๐๐ผ ย Moldy Clay Instagram Dogen's Genjokoan Moldy clay? : r/Pottery Toxic mold in clay? - Clay and Glaze Chemistry - Ceramic Arts Daily Community Ceramics | Office of Environmental Health and Safety
Published: Dec 29, 2025Duration: 12:06

E868 - Homemade Caramel Sauce Left Out Over Night
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from leaving homemade caramel sauce out over night. Dr. Don - not risky ๐๐ผย Professor Ben - not risky ๐๐ผ ย David Mitchell (comedian) - Wikipedia Great White North - YouTube Mayor Clint Eastwood | Carmel-by-the-Sea, California Sweetened Condensed Milk Caramel Recipe Shelf stable caramel sauce : r/foodscience Water activity and its relevance Hit Somebody! (The Hockey Song) - YouTube
Published: Dec 26, 2025Duration: 12:18

E867 - Using Tongs
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from using tongs to pick up food. Fedica text: Dr. Don - not risky ๐๐ผย Professor Ben - not risky ๐๐ผ Post by @bharrap.bsky.social โ Bluesky
Published: Dec 24, 2025Duration: 16:00

E866 - Thawing Chicken With an Aquarium Pump
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of using an aquarium pump to circulate the water to aid in thawing a chicken in a cooler of water. Fedica text: Dr. Don - not risky ๐๐ผย Professor Ben - not risky ๐๐ผ Alton Brown Aquarium Pump thawing Instagram 86. Thawing Poultry at Room Temperature โ Risky or Not? Quick food thawing with running water versus a recirculating faucet: Comparison of time to thaw and use of water and energy - ScienceDirect
Published: Dec 22, 2025Duration: 12:45

E865 - Cleaning a Food Thermometer With Just Water
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of cleaning a food thermometer with just water. Dr. Don - not risky ๐๐ผ Professor Ben - not risky ๐๐ผ Cleaning and Other Control and Validation Strategies To Prevent Allergen Cross-Contact in Food-Processing Operations - ScienceDirect Evaluation of the potential for electronic thermometers to contribute to spread of healthcare-associated pathogens - ScienceDirect
Published: Dec 19, 2025Duration: 13:28

E864 - Tap Water From a Sketchy Bathroom Sink
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from drinking tapwater from a bathroom sink where the bathroom smells like a bathroom. Fedica text: Dr. Don - not risky ๐๐ผ Professor Ben - not risky ๐๐ผ Arc - Robot or Not? #310 - The Incomparable Water Quality : r/Brooklyn The toilet at NYC club CBGB - by Chris Stein : r/UtterlyUniquePhotos CBGB - Wikipedia Cat's Cradle | Live Music and Concerts | Carrboro, NC
Published: Dec 17, 2025Duration: 10:25

E863 - Taking a Pill Dropped in the Bathroom Sink
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from taking a pill dropped in the bathroom sink for less than five seconds. Dr. Don - not risky ๐๐ผ Professor Ben - not risky ๐๐ผ Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) - Mayo Clinic Rutgers Researchers Debunk 'Five-Second Rule': Eating Food off the Floor Isn't Safe | Rutgers University SINKSHROOM Ultra Revolutionary Bathroom Sink Dog, Cat & Small Pet Drain Protector, Stainless Steel - Chewy.com SinkShroom Chrome Stainless Steel Drain Protector Mfr# SSULTR321 - Ace Hardware Some realtors no longer using "master" to describe bedrooms and bathrooms - CBS News Bathro...
Published: Dec 15, 2025Duration: 17:56

E862 - Wearing "New" Clothes Without Washing
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of wearing "new" (to you) clothes without washing first. Dr. Don - not risky ๐๐ผ Professor Ben - not risky ๐๐ผ Robot or Not? - a podcast from The Incomparable Ep. 604: "Unintentionalย Curator" - Roderick on the Line - Merlin Mann Potential Skin Pathogens on Second Hand Clothes and the Effectiveness of Disinfection Methods - Semantic Scholar "Public Health Implications of Retailer Resale of Returned Textile Clot" by Antonette M. A. Francis-Shearer Contaminated clothing of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) carriers is a potential source of transmission - ScienceDirect Second-Hand C...
Published: Dec 12, 2025Duration: 22:49

E861 - Russel's 120 ยฐF Prime Rib
Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from Russel's 120 ยฐF prime rib recipe, which is a follow up to episode 854, Chef John's Perfect Prime Rib. Dr. Don - risky โฃ๏ธ Professor Ben - risky โฃ๏ธ 854. Chef John's Perfect Prime Rib โ Risky or Not? Conference for Food Protection, Inc - Issues 2025-III-33 Raw Animal Foods Come-Up-Time (CUT) Conference for Food Protection, Inc - Biennial Meeting Materials 2025 Council III Issues Packet sent to Assembly of Delegates.pdf - Google Drive Conference for Food Protection, Inc - Guides CFP Guidance Documents for Safe Handling and Cooking of Roaster Pigs 10-25-21. Mi...
Published: Dec 10, 2025Duration: 21:40