Don't Eat Poop! A Food Safety Podcast

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 holidaysDisclaimer: Episode title and content do not constitute legal or health advice.Resources from this episodeTo 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 ShawWe 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! _______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 highlightsDisclaimer: Episode title and content do not constitute legal or health advice.Resources from this episodeCatch 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 DwyerWe 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! _______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 liverwurstDisclaimer: Episode title and content do not constitute legal or health advice.Resources from this episodeRead 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 LiverwurstWe 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! _______Produced by Ideablossoms

In this episode of Don’t Eat Poop!, our hosts Matt and Francine are joined by Bill Marler, the nation's leading foodborne illness attorney, to discuss some of the major outbreaks of 2024 (so far) and there are many.According to Matt, it feels like the industry, in terms of a lot of amazing brands, decided to throw their brands into a dumpster, put gasoline on it, and light a fricking match over the last six months.They talk about the Boar’s Head Listeria outbreak, the McDonald's Quarter Pounders E. coli O157:H7 outbreak, and the Grimmway Farms carrots E. coli O121:H19 outbreak. As well as some you probably haven’t heard of like the Andre’s Banquet Center E. coli O157:H7 outbreak, the Wolverine Packing Co. E. coli O157:H7 outbreak, and the Montana Wagyu Beef E. coli O157:H7 outbreak.In this episode:💩 [02:09] Diving deep into one outbreak or talking about them all?💩 [03:26] The many major outbreaks of 2024💩 [05:27] Stories of grief from Bill’s clients💩 [08:36] Boar’s Head Listeria outbreak💩 [10:59] McDonald's Quarter Pounders E. coli O157:H7 outbreak💩 [12:35] Food safety in the board of directors💩 [14:06] McDonald’s poor response to their outbreak💩 [18:18] Chi-Chi’s 2003 Hepatitis A outbreak💩 [19:22] How companies respond to outbreaks💩 [20:44] Iwaspoisoned.com and Bill’s strong ethics💩 [21:57] The cost of food safety headlines for McDonald’s💩 [22:57] Grimmway Farms carrots E. coli O121:H19 outbreak💩 [29:14] The resurgence of undercooked E. coli-laced hamburger outbreaks💩 [33:55] Where food safety liability lies💩 [35:18] How to calibrate a thermometer💩 [36:24] Every outbreak could and should have been prevented💩 [38:28] The one who holds the industry accountable💩 [39:51] “Get the F out of the FDA” shirts and Thanksgiving wishesDisclaimer: Episode title and content do not constitute legal or health advice.Resources from this episodeRead Dr. Darin Detwiler’s article Matt mentioned Anticipating the inevitable: Predicting the next major food safety failure.Visit Bill Marler’s blog at marlerblog.com.Watch this short video about one of the victims of the 2011 Listeria outbreak posted by Marler Clark.Check out the post by Patrick Quade, founder of Iwaspoisoned.com, about The Cost of Food Safety Headlines: 2024 McDonald's Edition.Catch up with past Bill Marler episodes:Episode 17 | This Legendary Food Safety Attorney Has Made An Offer You Can't RefuseEpisode 18 | Bill Marler: The Attorney Behind The $15.6 Million Settlement from Jack in the Box Following Their Infamous 1992-1993 e. Coli OutbreakBonus Episode | Breaking News: What's Going on with Boar's Head? The Latest of This Listeria Outbreak with Bill MarlerNoteworthy quotes from this episode“We all are going to die. I get it. I think the thing that drives me the craziest about death in food cases is people live their entire lives, and then all of a sudden, they eat something, and it kills them, or it kills their child, kills their spouse. It's just not the way it's supposed to be.” – Bill MarlerWe 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 Bill,  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! _______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 inspectorsDisclaimer: Episode title and content do not constitute legal or health advice.Resources from this episodeRead 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 WhiteWe 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! _______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 2024Disclaimer: Episode title and content do not constitute legal or health advice.Resources from this episodeLearn 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 MandernachWe 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! _______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 glovesDisclaimer: Episode title and content do not constitute legal or health advice.Resources from this episodeStay 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 ShawWe 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! _______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 laneDisclaimer: Episode title and content do not constitute legal or health advice.Resources from this episodeCatch 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 infectionsMcDonald’s says Taylor Farms supplied onions linked to deadly E. coli outbreakMore patients identified in outbreak traced to McDonald’s; Taylor Farms recalls onionsColorado and McDonald’s officials say hamburger was not a source of E. coli outbreakNoteworthy 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 ShawWe 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! _______Produced by Ideablossoms

In this episode of Don’t Eat Poop!, our hosts Matt and Francine are joined by Doug Farquhar, the Director of Government Affairs of the National Environmental Health Association, at the 2024 FDA Retail Food Seminar & IEHA Annual Education Conference.Doug is on a mission to encourage US states to adopt more recent versions of the FDA Food Code (only 4 states have adopted the most recent version so far) but this gets really tricky because of federalism.Tune in as he sheds some light on just how independent every single state, county, and municipality is from the federal government and what that ultimately means for US food safety.In this episode:💩 [01:32] Doug’s career in environmental health💩 [03:30] Food safety in national brands versus mom-and-pops💩 [07:53] The impact of not doing food safety💩 [10:41] State and local issues with guidance from the federal government💩 [12:45] Issues when it comes to meat💩 [14:49] Cottage food laws: it all depends on where you are💩 [17:23] The frustrating predicament American food trucks face💩 [20:10] Selling food on the Internet and food fraud💩 [21:19] Peanut butter, Nutella, Vegemite, and world trade💩 [25:54] Codex Alimentarius and selling overseas💩 [27:10] The Food Code and why its evolution is necessary💩 [30:44] When the media doesn’t know what they’re talking about💩 [34:56] Very outdated CDC food safety data💩 [37:20] Food Code adoption throughout the US💩 [40:07] Regulation adoption within different states💩 [41:45] Cannabis legalization in AlabamaDisclaimer: Episode title and content do not constitute legal or health advice.Noteworthy quotes from this episode“It's very interesting because it's very complicated and the way we do it in this country, as I said, is a federalist system. The locals, the states, the federal government, they all have to work together, but really the authority, you can do whatever you want to inside your state, inside your jurisdiction, as long as you don't conflict with what the FDA is doing.” – Doug FarquharWe 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 Doug, 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! _______Produced by Ideablossoms

In this episode of Don’t Eat Poop!, our hosts Matt and Francine are sharing with you the Ask Us Anything! LinkedIn Live they did on Sep 25, 2024, during Food Safety Awareness & Education Month.This event was unscripted and they answered questions as they came, and there were some amazing ones. They covered the need (or not) for new regulations, the differences between the EU and the US regulations, the future of food safety especially the role of AI in that, and much more.There was even a special appearance of Francine’s famous tiara, so tune in for a light episode that’s also packed with great information.In this episode:💩 [02:46] What are the best ways to engage in social media as a consultant?💩 [04:36] What new regulations do you see coming from the recent outbreaks?💩 [10:11] Do you think retailers hold enough responsibility in ensuring consumers don't get a hold of contaminated products?💩 [15:44] With the difference between the EU food standards and US standards do you ever see the US catching up to their level of regulations?💩 [17:40] I don’t have the resources to visit all of my hundreds of suppliers so how do I choose which ones to visit?💩 [20:08] What technologies/innovations do you see making the biggest impact in food safety in the next 3 years?💩 [24:23] Do you see audits being performed by robots utilizing AI with our known shortage of auditors?💩 [33:54] Do you see cannabis adopting the audit schemes used in food safety or are they currently being audited by SQF, BRCG & GFSI?💩 [34:56] Book giveaway and Francine’s Goddess of Food Safety tiaraDisclaimer: Episode title and content do not constitute legal or health advice.Resources from this episodeCatch up with the LinkedIn Live in video format here.Learn more about the Book Giveaway and how you can win a copy of Francine’s book “Who Watches the Kitchen” at Elena Montoya’s post.Check out the Goddess of Food Safety Award and crown Francine received from Saldesia Corporation here.Noteworthy quotes from this episode“We have to adopt technology based upon its ability to get the job done, and get the job done right, and get the job done safely, versus just adopting technology for technology's sake, which I think sometimes we end up doing.” – Matthew Regusci“There's a definite shortage of audits. We need to find a way to make sure that the auditors that are doing these audits are actually qualified to do the audits. And we're not just sending people out there to mark off a checklist and be paid to mark off that checklist.” – Francine L ShawWe 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! _______Produced by Ideablossoms