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

In this episode of Don’t Eat Poop!, our hosts Matt and Francine are joined by FDA Retail Food Specialist Carolyn White at the 2024 FDA Retail Food Seminar & IEHA Annual Education Conference.

No one is happy to see a health inspector, right? Well, today’s guest will help reframe that point of view as she shows that a health inspector is NOT the enemy but a resource.

She shares some essential FDA resources available for retail food safety both for regulators and operators.

In true Don’t Eat Poop! fashion, they dive deep into the issue of Norovirus including all the projectile vomiting that goes with it. They also share great stories of being in food retail.

In this episode:

💩 [01:35] Carolyn White and her role as FDA Retail Food Specialist

💩 [03:21] The power of Carolyn’s background

💩 [05:11] Working with different rules in different places

💩 [05:56] A day in the life of an FDA Retail Food Specialist

💩 [06:37] The importance of the Annexes in the Food Code

💩 [10:09] Free tools and resources for regulators and operators

💩 [12:36] Norovirus and the difficulty of preventing its spread

💩 [16:09] An FDA Retail Food Specialist’s role in an outbreak situation

💩 [17:19] How local regulatory programs are making a difference

💩 [21:22] Regulators and operators share the same goals

💩 [24:52] No conversation is off-limits for folks in retail food

💩 [26:45] The importance of health inspectors

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

Resources from this episode

Read Francine’s recent article for QA Magazine Sanitation Supplement: The Essentials of Sanitation in Food Facilities.

Check out the FDA Employee Health Policy Tool Carolyn mentioned.

Meet Vomiting Larry and get a visual representation of vomit spray.

Noteworthy quotes from this episode

“For our industry stakeholders, we talk a lot about food safety management systems and are we putting in a culture of food safety into our establishment, whether you have a 4 million dollar budget or a 40 dollar budget, right? The importance of that food safety culture.” – Carolyn White

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 Carolyn, 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 Steven Mandernach, Executive Director at the Association of Food and Drug Officials, straight from the Food Safety Consortium 2024.

“I never thought of it that way” is something you’ll catch yourself saying throughout this episode full of gems.

Prepare yourself to better understand the harsh realities of being a food inspector, the consequences of the planned budgetary cuts by the FDA to food inspections, how food e-commerce could be better regulated, and more.

In this episode:

💩 [01:07] AFDO and what it does for state and local regulators

💩 [03:31] Understand the FDA Reorganization Plan and its impacts

💩 [08:06] Rethinking the requirements for food inspectors

💩 [10:40] Just-in-time training and specialization

💩 [14:15] FDA information sharing challenges

💩 [17:15] The realities of food inspector salaries

💩 [18:42] A hopeful solution for the information sharing issues

💩 [20:50] When state departments step in for USDA and FDA

💩 [25:45] The food safety challenges of food e-commerce

💩 [32:01] AFDO and lobbying

💩 [33:26] What to do when going through difficult budget times

💩 [34:55] The contracting system between the states and the FDA

💩 [38:17] The FDA’s sometimes questionable risk analysis

💩 [40:23] The sheer deficit of food inspectors

💩 [43:38] Get the F out of the FDA

💩 [45:39] How the reorg is going so far

💩 [47:31] The FDA’s dilemma: a public health or regulatory organization?

💩 [49:45] What’s good about the Food Safety Consortium 2024

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

Resources from this episode

Learn more about AFDO at afdo.org.

Noteworthy quotes from this episode

“So, if I were a commissioner right now of the Food and Drug Administration, I hope they realize this is your last chance to fix food. If you don't do it, a single food agency is next. I mean, I really don't think you get another bite at the apple, you've had all of them now.” – Steven Mandernach

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 Steven, 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 have just gotten back from the Food Safety Consortium 2024 and they’re sharing everything while it’s still fresh in their minds.

You will hear all about their experience and their biggest takeaways. You will also be in the know about the amazing interviews they have coming your way.

So, don’t miss this event recap!

In this episode:

💩 [01:32] An exciting start to the Food Safety Consortium 2024

💩 [04:19] The best networking event in food safety

💩 [07:29] The difference being in Washington D.C. made

💩 [09:11] The interviews they did and that are coming your way

💩 [11:11] The Women in Food Safety networking event

💩 [13:35] The sense of community around industry colleagues

💩 [15:34] The missed opportunities of our legal system

💩 [16:47] What you can expect in the upcoming episodes

💩 [17:36] A taste of fame

💩 [18:48] Matt’s and Francine’s biggest takeaways from the Consortium

💩 [21:32] Food safety concerns aren’t the same all over the world

💩 [23:47] Concerns about the FDA’s Reorganization Plan

💩 [25:00] The right reason for wearing black gloves

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

Resources from this episode

Stay up to date on all things Food Safety Consortium for next year’s edition here.

Catch up on our interview with Rick Biros, the organizer of the Food Safety Consortium, on last year’s edition, Episode 37 | Integrating Cannabis into The World of Food Safety with Rick Biros.

Learn more about Women in Food Safety.

Catch up on the episode about the FDA’s plans to cut food funding to the states, Episode 69 | A Look at the FDA’s Reorganization Plan and Some Food Safety Mythbusting.

Noteworthy quotes from this episode

“Really, truly the Food Safety Consortium is the best networking event that I have ever been to.” – Matthew Regusci

“Corporate culture has got to change before we can change food safety culture and that's where we need to start. I know that's where the difference is going to be made.” – 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 talking about the hot topic of the past few weeks: the deadly McDonald’s E. Coli outbreak.

This is a multistate outbreak with cases in 13 states and one death so far. Tune in to learn more about the facts surrounding the outbreak as well as Matt’s and Francine’s expert opinions on the situation.

They’ll also address the food safety controversy around Donald Trump’s publicity stunt at a McDonald’s on October 20, 2024.

In this episode:

💩 [03:15] The current McDonald’s E. Coli outbreak

💩 [05:10] The source of the outbreak and what we should worry about

💩 [09:09] The incredible shift that happened over a generation

💩 [11:11] The process to confirm the outbreak source

💩 [12:28] When the issue is most likely in the supply chain

💩 [17:09] Food safety facts about Trump’s publicity stunt at McDonald’s

💩 [24:27] Trip down fast food memory lane

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

Resources from this episode

Catch up with our talk with Tia and Jill from Catalyst LLC. in Episode 36 | Food Safety Talk with Tia Glave and Jill Stuber from Catalyst.

Check out Burger King’s vintage commercial Francine mentions, Have It Your Way.

Food Safety News articles on this Outbreak (up until October 28, 2024):

• McDonald’s linked to deadly outbreak of E. coli infections
• McDonald’s says Taylor Farms supplied onions linked to deadly E. coli outbreak
• More patients identified in outbreak traced to McDonald’s; Taylor Farms recalls onions
• Colorado and McDonald’s officials say hamburger was not a source of E. coli outbreak

Noteworthy quotes from this episode

“I've been in these Taylor Farms facilities, their sanitization routine is amazing. So, if they had a bad batch of E. Coli laced onions that went through the facility, the chances of that E. Coli being still in that facility, either on the belts, on the machines, or in anything is close to zero. They're not clean, they are sanitized.” – Matthew Regusci

“You can't go into a McDonald's and say, ‘I want a rare burger’. It isn't going to happen. They're not going to give you a rare burger. Policies and procedures that they have in place for cooking those burgers are pretty intense. You might get a burnt one, but the odds of getting a rare one are pretty slim.” – 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