In this episode of Don’t Eat Poop!, our hosts Matt and Francine are sharing some food safety tips for safe holiday cooking.

There are a lot of holiday parties this time of year, and you don't want to spend most of the time on your knees in the bathroom with your head over the toilet.

So, tune in to learn how to protect yourself, your family, and your friends from foodborne illnesses this holiday season.

In this episode:

💩 [01:29] The need for food safety around the holidays

💩 [02:08] A career created out of vomit and diarrhea

💩 [03:28] The evolution of food safety training

💩 [12:59] The importance of being safe when cooking for others

💩 [16:23] How to not kill your loved ones during the holidays

💩 [17:13] Step 1: Clean and sanitize your kitchen

💩 [20:45] One thing you must not do

💩 [21:35] Step 2: Separate to avoid cross-contamination

💩 [25:27] Step 3: Use a thermometer to cook meat and poultry

💩 [25:57] How to calibrate your thermometer

💩 [27:00] How to thaw your turkey safely

💩 [28:07] Step 4: Storing, refrigerating, and reheating food guidelines

💩 [31:23] Quick reminder for happy holidays

Disclaimer: Episode title and content do not constitute legal or health advice.

Resources from this episode

To learn more about the woman who tried to kill her ex’s family with Beef Wellington, catch up with Episode 38 | Don’t Cook Salmon in the Dishwasher!

Noteworthy quotes from this episode

“Most people don't know about food safety. I think people know on the periphery about food safety, but most people think what they do is safe in their kitchen. A lot of that is not safe.” – Matthew Regusci

“ When you're with your extended family, you never know what type of immune system they really have. They could have cancer and not be telling you that they have cancer. So, we always need to be conscientious about their immune systems. So, it's important that we take all the precautions that we would take as if we worked in a restaurant.” – Francine L Shaw

We hope you enjoy this episode!

Remember to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast on your favorite podcast platform. Together, we can raise awareness and make a positive impact in the world of food safety!

We'd love to hear from you!

Connect with Francine, Matt, and the "Don't Eat Poop!" show on LinkedIn!

Share your thoughts and feedback on the show and feel free to offer any topics you would like to hear discussed.

Check out Francine's book Who Watches the Kitchen? on Amazon!

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Produced by Ideablossoms

In this episode of Don’t Eat Poop!, our hosts Matt and Francine are joined by Justin Dwyer, an Environmental Health Practitioner for Peoria City/County Health Department, straight from the 2024 FDA Retail Food Seminar & IEHA Annual Education Conference.

Justin shares a little bit about the different parts of his job: handling food recalls, doing lead abatement inspections, overseeing farmers' markets and the food that falls under the Illinois Cottage Food Act, making sure well water is safe, inspecting food establishments, and investigating foodborne illness and outbreaks.

Tune in for some great stories, tips, and the realities of the life of a health inspector.

In this episode:

💩 [01:10] Meet Justin Dwyer, who ran the 2024 IEHA Conference

💩 [02:38] The recall for the applesauce with lead

💩 [04:15] Lead abatement inspections for children with lead poisoning

💩 [07:22] Crazy farmers’ market inspection stories

💩 [12:35] Cottage food and food freedom laws and their benefits

💩 [18:35] Well water safety and controversial sun tea

💩 [22:26] The life of an inspector on a weekly basis

💩 [25:19] Handling foodborne illness complaints and outbreaks

💩 [29:02] A frustrating large outbreak investigation

💩 [36:58] 2024 IEHA Conference insights and highlights

Disclaimer: Episode title and content do not constitute legal or health advice.

Resources from this episode
Catch up with the episode about the lead in the applesauce: Episode 51 | Stanley Cups vs. Cinnamon Applesauce: Which Is More Likely To Give You Lead Poisoning?
Also catch up on our episode with Doug Farquhar where we talk about cottage food laws: Episode 87 | The Impacts of American Federalism on US Food Safety with Doug Farquhar.

Noteworthy quotes from this episode
“ The unfortunate thing is most foodborne illness complaints, we never find a true answer. And that's a simple fact, that's the retail side. Unlike industry, where you're going to be doing all your zone testing, and then you figure out exactly where it is, and you do all the recalls on all the product. Sometimes you don't ever truly know what happened.” – Justin Dwyer

We hope you enjoy this episode!
Remember to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast on your favorite podcast platform. Together, we can raise awareness and make a positive impact in the world of food safety!

We'd love to hear from you!

Connect with Justin, Francine, Matt, and the "Don't Eat Poop!" show on LinkedIn!

Share your thoughts and feedback on the show and feel free to offer any topics you would like to hear discussed.

Check out Francine's book Who Watches the Kitchen? on Amazon!
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Produced by Ideablossoms

In this episode of Don’t Eat Poop!, our hosts Matt and Francine are tying a knot in the Boar’s Head Listeria outbreak now that the outbreak has been deemed over by the CDC.

They share the final toll of the outbreak, discuss the reality of underreporting, and talk about its impacts.

They also share the very grave and necessary letter from one of Bill Marler’s, the nation's leading foodborne illness attorney, clients who lost her husband to a Boar’s Head Listeria-laced liverwurst sandwich.

Warning: this episode discusses grief and loss and recounts the death of a beloved husband. You might want to keep some tissues handy, this is a hard one.

In this episode:

💩 [01:17] Francine’s dedication to Don’t Eat Poop!

💩 [03:05] Tying a knot in the Boar’s Head Listeria outbreak

💩 [04:55] The impact of the outbreak on delis

💩 [06:05] The numbers are far greater than what’s reported

💩 [08:26] Letter from a widow of Boar’s Head Listeria liverwurst

Disclaimer: Episode title and content do not constitute legal or health advice.

Resources from this episode

Read the letter on Food Safety News, Words from a widow of Boar’s Head Listeria liverwurst.

Noteworthy quotes from this episode

“I never thought my husband would die eating a Liverwurst sandwich. (...) My question to Boar’s Head is, ‘Would you take poisoned meat home to your family and loved ones?’ We all know the answer! (...) I’m devastated, heartbroken, and I feel I will never be the same.” – a Widow of Boar’s Head Listeria Liverwurst

We hope you enjoy this episode!

Remember to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast on your favorite podcast platform. Together, we can raise awareness and make a positive impact in the world of food safety!

We'd love to hear from you!

Connect with Francine, Matt, and the "Don't Eat Poop!" show on LinkedIn!

Share your thoughts and feedback on the show and feel free to offer any topics you would like to hear discussed.

Check out Francine's book Who Watches the Kitchen? on Amazon!

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Produced by Ideablossoms