In this episode of Don’t Eat Poop!, our hosts Matt and Francine are joined by Jaclyn Bowen, the Executive Director of the Clean Label Project. Food toxicology is the next frontier of food safety, and it’s not just coming, it's already here.

That’s why we need to change and expand the definition of food safety from only protecting consumers from microbial and pathogen contaminants, to also minimizing our exposure to dangerous environmental contaminants and toxins in everyday consumer products.

Tune in to discover how Jaclyn Bowen and the Clan Label Project are bringing about this change, as well as what you need to know about heavy metals, pesticide residues, and packaging migration issues.

In this episode:

💩 [01:53] Meet Jaclyn Bowen from the Clean Label Project

💩 [03:22] The new frontier of food safety

💩 [04:40] Why Jaclyn got into food toxicology

💩 [06:24] Heavy metals are a problem, even if they’re naturally occurring

💩 [10:47] How best to inform consumers and provide trust in the food system

💩 [13:56] The realities of modern food safety pressures in a global society

💩 [15:56] Putting the proverbial regulatory cart in front of the science horse

💩 [18:01] California’s AB 899: what’s good and what could improve

💩 [21:41] Gerber’s Hawaiian Delight and other baby food (for adults too)

💩 [25:03] Heavy metals in protein powder and supplement regulations

💩 [29:55] The challenges of getting enough protein and some solutions

💩 [33:37] Complementing a healthy lifestyle with supplements

💩 [35:50] CLP’s call to action for consumers to make brands accountable

💩 [37:46] How heavy metal testing works and how shockingly cheap it is

💩 [40:54] Testing for 500 different pesticides for less than $400

💩 [41:56] COAs might be making brands more lenient

💩 [43:17] Ingredients that present a higher heavy metal risk

💩 [44:07] Levels of detection versus levels of quantification

💩 [46:59] Why brands aren’t investing in testing and how to change that

💩 [51:28] Where baby food suppliers that didn’t pass muster are going

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

Resources from this episode

Learn more about the Clean Label Project at cleanlabelproject.org. 

Read Clean Label Project’s White Paper on Protein Powder.

If you want to learn more about the Cinnamon Applesauce Pouches Lead and Chromium Poisoning Outbreak mentioned in this episode, catch up with Episode 51 | Stanley Cups vs. Cinnamon Applesauce: Which Is More Likely To Give You Lead Poisoning?

Noteworthy quotes from this episode

“ Trust [your suppliers] but verify. You don't have to have [a Clean Label Project] certification but recognize that the future of food safety is food toxicology. Heavy metals, pesticide residues, packaging migration issues are a modern food safety problem. And independent of CLP, it's a matter of doing your diligence in order to minimize the introduction of these contaminants for my family, as well as yours.” – Jaclyn Bowen

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!

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

We'd love to hear from you!

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

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

🎙️ BE A GUEST ON DON’T EAT POOP!

Fill out this form to tell us more about yourself. We’ll reach out via email within 30 days with next steps if you’re selected.

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Please take a few seconds to leave us a rating and review on the podcast app of your choice. Each review helps us reach more listeners and spread this food safety message. 

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In this episode of Don’t Eat Poop!, our hosts Matt and Francine are celebrating their 100th episode and 2 years of the podcast. Incredible, right?

This means that this isn’t just your regular old episode. To make this milestone extra special, they decided to switch things up and invited the incredible Bill Marler, the nation's leading foodborne illness attorney and regular guest on the podcast, to interview THEM!

Tune in for a very special episode and celebration.

In this episode:

💩 [01:16] How the idea for the episode came about

💩 [03:18] Bill’s appreciation for the Don’t Eat Poop! podcast

💩 [04:38] How Francine became a go-to voice in food safety

💩 [08:40] The two men who changed the trajectory of Francine’s career

💩 [11:40] How food safety went from just a job to a true passion for Matt

💩 [14:56] The importance of being able to fire or be fired by clients in food safety

💩 [17:46] The Don’t Eat Poop! Podcast origin story

💩 [19:00] How the podcast grew over the last 100 episodes

💩 [22:08] How Matt and Francine fell into interviewing guests

💩 [24:13] The hard but really important stories that need to be told

💩 [28:07] The letter from a widow of Boar’s Head Listeria liverwurst episode

💩 [30:48] The moment when Bill truly realized how important this work is

💩 [34:14] Food Safety News: its origin, incredible growth, and how it works

💩 [37:25] The future of Food Safety News

💩 [40:37] When Francine first got to write an article for Food Safety News

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

Resources from this episode

Catch up with past Bill Marler episodes:

• Episode 17
• Episode 18
• Bonus Episode
• Episode 92

Watch Bill Marler and Darin Detwiler’s Emmy award-winning documentary, Poisoned: The Dirty Truth About Your Food.

Listen to the episode where Matt and Francine get choked up by a Letter from a Widow of Boar’s Head Listeria Liverwurst | Episode 93.

Watch stories of foodborne illness victims represented by Marler Clark on their Vimeo channel.

Catch up with our Dr. Darin Detwiler episodes:

• The 1st interview on the podcast: Episode 13
• Episode 43
• Episode 81

Check out Francine’s episode on Hal King’s Food Safety Unwrapped podcast.

Noteworthy quotes from this episode

“ I'm very cognizant now of how I speak to people, what I say to people. And I know that it may change their path because those conversations very much changed my trajectory.” – Francine L Shaw

“ I think the ability to talk about food safety and the impacts on humans is just really important. And I think not only do you guys do that, but you also bring in perspective of the companies that are making mistakes and the companies that are doing a good job. I think the more people that talk about it, the more people will learn about it. It's a good thing. So, I thank you for you guys for doing this.” – Bill Marler

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!

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

We'd love to hear from you!

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

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

🎙️ BE A GUEST ON DON’T EAT POOP!

Fill out this form to tell us more about yourself. We’ll reach out via email within 30 days with next steps if you’re selected.

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Please take a few seconds to leave us a rating and review on the podcast app of your choice. Each review helps us reach more listeners and spread this food safety message. 

Thank you for your support. Stay safe, and remember, don't eat poop!

In this episode of Don’t Eat Poop!, our hosts Matt and Francine are going through the things we put in our refrigerator that don’t actually need to be in there.

Prepare to be surprised about some of the 20 food items they cover. We for sure thought they had to be refrigerated, but it turns out they don’t.

In other cases, you’ll discover that putting these items in the refrigerator is not only unnecessary but can actually lower the quality of the product, so that’s a big no-no.

This episode is for you, Lynn.

In this episode:

💩 [01:19] Here we are at episode 99. Wow!

💩 [04:11] A recap of the holidays and the passing of dear ones

💩 [06:36] The inspiration for today’s episode

💩 [10:02] #1 Ketchup and #2 potatoes

💩 [12:41] #3 Mayonnaise (you heard that right) and #4 mustard

💩 [16:13] #5 Soy sauce and Worcestershire sauce

💩 [17:28] #6 Tomatoes and #7 hot sauce

💩 [21:59] The long-lasting consequences of working in a restaurant

💩 [25:43] #8 Avocados and #9 fresh basil

💩 [27:31] #10 Stone fruit and buying in bulk

💩 [29:31] Potatoes and acrylamide

💩 [30:20] #11 Nuts and #12 chocolate (Francine’s favorite)

💩 [34:55] #13 Coffee and the cry once mentality

💩 [38:09] #14 Apples and apple trivia

💩 [41:32] #15 Nutella and peanut butter and #16 honey

💩 [42:39] #17 Cucumbers and #18 citrus fruit

💩 [43:12] #19 Fresh peppers, #20 onions, and crying

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

Resources from this episode

Read the article Matt and Francine used for this episode in full here.

Noteworthy quotes from this episode

“ Benjamin Franklin is quoted for saying, ‘God loves us because he gave us beer.’ I actually think that we know God loves us because he gave us coffee and tea.” – Matthew Regusci

“ Ironically, when you work in a restaurant, you eat a lot of room-temperature food. You eat a lot of food standing up. You learn how to eat very fast. You're always the first one done eating at the table, clearing away the dishes before anybody else is done eating. Everybody gets really annoyed with you.” – 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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LEAVE A RATING & REVIEW!

Please take a few seconds to leave us a rating and review on the podcast app of your choice. Each review helps us reach more listeners and spread this food safety message. 

Thank you for your support. Stay safe, and remember, don't eat poop!

In this episode of Don’t Eat Poop!, our hosts Matt and Francine are joined by Sharon Beals from SKKB LLC, straight from the Food Safety Consortium 2024.

Sharon truly cares about this work of keeping food safe. She has more than 40 years of experience in food safety, quality, and regulatory compliance, and during that time held senior-level roles across foodservice and manufacturing companies, and today she’s sharing her expertise with us.

Tune in to find out the lessons Sharon has learned throughout her career and that will help us keep food safe. They’ll talk through a culture of doing things right (even when no one is watching), the biggest food safety challenge of the next 20 years, and more.

In this episode:

💩 [01:10] Meet Sharon and her pu pu platter career

💩 [03:25] We need more people like Bob Jackson in our plants

💩 [06:26] A culture of doing the right thing

💩 [07:44] How to get people to always do the right thing

💩 [09:24] The need for a change in mindset in the industry

💩 [12:16] The two most dangerous phrases in the food business

💩 [13:25] We, in the food industry, need to learn from each other

💩 [15:04] The biggest changes in food safety during Sharon’s career

💩 [15:59] The biggest challenge for the next 20 years

💩 [18:37] The importance of having a cross-functional team

💩 [19:15] Always dealing with the crisis du jour

💩 [20:57] Supporting instead of criticizing those involved in an outbreak

💩 [22:40] Being in the industry for the right reasons

💩 [25:24] Preaching to the choir and the stories that need to be told

💩 [29:40] Our workforce should reflect our population

💩 [32:35] Learning from past food safety crises

💩 [35:18] What’s good and bad 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 SKKB LLC at skkbllc.com.

Get a hold of Sharon at [email protected]. 

Catch up with Matt and Francine’s conversation with Deborah Blum, Episode 85 | The Road to Food Safety with Deborah Blum, Award-Winning Author of “The Poison Squad”.

Listen to Matt and Francine’s conversation with Steve Mandernach, Episode 90 | Rethinking How Things Are Done to Solve Food Safety Problems with Steven Mandernach from AFDO.

Noteworthy quotes from this episode

“ Don't get me started on food safety culture. Because you cannot have any niche culture – food safety, quality, personal safety, any of them – if you don't have a company culture of doing the right thing. It's not sustainable.” – Sharon Beals

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 Sharon, 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

LEAVE A RATING & REVIEW!

Please take a few seconds to leave us a rating and review on the podcast app of your choice. Each review helps us reach more listeners and spread this food safety message. 

Thank you for your support. Stay safe, and remember, don't eat poop!

In this episode of Don’t Eat Poop!, our hosts Matt and Francine are joined by Andrew Kennedy from iFoodDS, straight from the Food Safety Consortium 2024.

Andrew worked in the FDA and was one of the key people involved in writing the FDA's Traceability Rule FSMA 204, and in this episode he is sharing some insights into the process.

He also talks about his time working for the FDA during the COVID pandemic, what he learned about food supply chain management (especially when things go wrong), and his current work facilitating the implementation of the traceability rule through iFoodDS, the leader in food supply chain software.

In this episode:

💩 [01:04] Andy, a long-awaited guest

💩 [03:33] Where the idea for New Era Partners came from

💩 [06:10] From traceability company founder to working in the FDA

💩 [09:17] FDA’s food supply chain management initiatives during COVID

💩 [14:11] How the food supply chain really works when it breaks

💩 [16:30] From the iterative development model to “you have one shot”

💩 [20:26] The importance of having 360º feedback from different sources

💩 [22:25] What does Andy prefer: government or private sector?

💩 [23:57] Implementing FDA's Traceability Rule FSMA 204

💩 [26:32] The current challenge to implementing FSMA 204

💩 [32:02] What’s good and bad 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 iFoodDS, the leader in food supply chain software, at ifoodds.com. 

Want to know more about the FDA's Traceability Rule FSMA 204? You can find all the information you need here.

Noteworthy quotes from this episode

“ What I found out [when working on the FDA Traceability Rule] was how passionate people are about traceability. Which I didn't fully appreciate until we went through that process just how many people are invested in the effort around creating a traceability rule. And so that kind of opened my eyes like, Oh, this is a big deal.” – Andrew Kennedy

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 Andrew, 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

LEAVE A RATING & REVIEW!

Please take a few seconds to leave us a rating and review on the podcast app of your choice. Each review helps us reach more listeners and spread this food safety message. 

Thank you for your support. Stay safe, and remember, don't eat poop!

In this episode of Don’t Eat Poop!, our hosts Matt and Francine are wrapping up the year by discussing the produce industry and how the shocking number of produce recalls in 2024 clearly shows that what they’re doing is far from working.

They talk about this year’s outbreaks and explore new food-safe technologies that can address the problem, such as Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) and electric shocks, which can kill foodborne pathogens.

They also share some insights into the podcast and some of the amazing results from one more year of Don’t Eat Poop!

In this episode:

💩 [01:08] The upcoming 100th episode

💩 [02:09] Wearing poop-free disposable gloves and setting an example

💩 [05:09] Francine’s poopy salad dilemma

💩 [09:21] 2024’s worst outbreak

💩 [09:55] We never know the real numbers of an outbreak

💩 [12:09] Vendors must also be held accountable for outbreaks

💩 [13:41] The importance of food safety compliance software

💩 [15:49] The current lettuce E. coli outbreak

💩 [16:46] What the produce industry is doing wrong

💩 [17:34] 2 new food-safe technologies that fully kill pathogens

💩 [19:33] Francine, the youngest old person out there

💩 [21:42] Salad ingredients that have been recalled in 2024

💩 [25:18] Coming up with content for Don’t Eat Poop!

💩 [26:21] Concerns from when Matt and Francine started the podcast

💩 [30:02] Some amazing results from one more year of Don’t Eat Poop!

💩 [31:35] The poop-free salad might have to wait

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

Resources from this episode

Learn more about poop-free gloves by catching up with our episode with Steve Ardagh: Episode 57 | The Glove Food Safety Gap: Raising Disposable Glove Standards with Steve Ardagh, CEO and Founder of Eagle Protect.

Check out Francine’s LinkedIn post about her poopy salad dilemma.

Catch up with the episode we recorded earlier this year about when and where the next major food safety outbreak would be: Episode 60 | Food Safety Culture and The Next Big Food Safety Crisis.

Learn about Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) in this LinkedIn post by Francine.

Want to know more about barfly7777? Catch up on Episode 46 | Do You Know How to Get Rid of Salmonella? And How About An Airplane Bathroom Garlic Shrimp to Go?.

Noteworthy quotes from this episode

“ There's a lot of people in the industry that make a lot of money because they actually don't care.” – Matthew Regusci

“ There's nobody better to help the industry than the people that do what we do because we understand both sides of it. There are just a lot of issues right now.” – 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! 

_______

Produced by Ideablossoms

LEAVE A RATING & REVIEW!

Please take a few seconds to leave us a rating and review on the podcast app of your choice. Each review helps us reach more listeners and spread this food safety message. 

Thank you for your support. Stay safe, and remember, don't eat poop!

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! 

_______

Produced by Ideablossoms

LEAVE A RATING & REVIEW!

Please take a few seconds to leave us a rating and review on the podcast app of your choice. Each review helps us reach more listeners and spread this food safety message. 

Thank you for your support. Stay safe, and remember, don't eat poop!

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!
_______
Produced by Ideablossoms

LEAVE A RATING & REVIEW!

Please take a few seconds to leave us a rating and review on the podcast app of your choice. Each review helps us reach more listeners and spread this food safety message. 

Thank you for your support. Stay safe, and remember, don't eat poop!

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! 

_______

Produced by Ideablossoms

LEAVE A RATING & REVIEW!

Please take a few seconds to leave us a rating and review on the podcast app of your choice. Each review helps us reach more listeners and spread this food safety message. 

Thank you for your support. Stay safe, and remember, don't eat poop!

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 wishes

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

Resources from this episode
Read 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 Refuse
• Episode 18 | Bill Marler: The Attorney Behind The $15.6 Million Settlement from Jack in the Box Following Their Infamous 1992-1993 e. Coli Outbreak
• Bonus Episode | Breaking News: What's Going on with Boar's Head? The Latest of This Listeria Outbreak with Bill Marler

Noteworthy 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 Marler

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