Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of cutting mold off hard cheese.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼 Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

• Formation of Aflatoxin in Cheddar Cheese by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus - ScienceDirect

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risk of methanol hand sanitizer.

Dr. Don - risky ☣️

Professor Ben - risky ☣️

• FDA updates on hand sanitizers consumers should not use | FDA
• Serious Adverse Health Events, Including Death, Associated with Ingesting Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizers Containing Methanol — Arizona and New Mexico, May–June 2020 | MMWR
• 8 People in U.S. Have Died After Ingesting Hand Sanitizer Containing ‘Toxic’ Methanol
• Toxicity of Methyl alcohol (Methanol) Following Skin Absorption and Inhalation | Industrial & Engineering Chemistry
• The hidden danger of hand sanitizer | MDedge Psychiatry

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of using bar soap

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼

Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

• Washing with contaminated bar soap is unlikely to transfer bacteria

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of eating at a restaurant in times of COVID-19

Dr. Don - risky ☣️ Professor Ben - risky ☣️

• Raleigh restaurant professionally cleaned after coronavirus patient ate there :: WRAL.com
• Considerations for Restaurants and Bars | COVID-19 | CDC

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from dried pig eat pet treats to pet owners. Dr. Don - risky ☣️ Professor Ben - risky ☣️

• Outbreak of Multidrug-Resistant Salmonella Infections Linked to Contact with Pig Ear Pet Treats | Outbreak of Salmonella Infections Linked to Pet Treats | July 2019 | Salmonella | CDC
• The Occurrence and Anti‐microbial Susceptibility of Salmonellae Isolated from Commercially Available Pig Ear Pet Treats - Finley - 2008 - Zoonoses and Public Health - Wiley Online Library

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from vaping in light of recent CDC reports.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼 Professor Ben - risky ☣️

• Update: Demographic, Product, and Substance-Use Characteristics of Hospitalized Patients in a Nationwide Outbreak of E-cigarette, or Vaping, Product Use–Associated Lung Injuries — United States, December 2019 | MMWR
• Outbreak of Lung Injury Associated with the Use of E-Cigarette, or Vaping, Products | Electronic Cigarettes | Smoking & Tobacco Use | CDC

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the microbiological risks from puppies.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼 Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

• Outbreak of Multidrug-resistant Campylobacter Infections Linked to Contact with Pet Store Puppies | Multidrug-resistant Campylobacter Infections Linked to Contact with Pet Store Puppies | December 2019 | Campylobacter | CDC

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from the immunocompromised handling devices like iPhones.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼 Professor Ben - risky ☣️

• (2) Todd Vaziri on Twitter: “@bugcounter I have a friend with a kid who is in chemo, and is wondering what is the best way to sanitize iPhones and electronics? My initial thought is the glass/metal of a bare iPhone is relatively easy to clean… but the plastic/rubber cases are much harder.” / Twitter
• Your Cell Phone Is 10 Times Dirtier Than a Toilet Seat | Time
• Why your cellphone has more germs than a toilet | College of Agriculture and Life Sciences | The University of Arizona
• Why your cellphone has more germs than a toilet - TODAY Health

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks from leaving your refrigerator open for two hours.

Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼 Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

• (2) Justin on Twitter: “@bugcounter someone left the door to our fridge open since 12:00 or 12:30. It is now 2:00 when we discovered the open door and the thermometer reads 50 degrees. Throw out all the food, or shut the fridge door and continue with our lives?” / Twitter
• ComBase
• Food Safety During Power Outage | FoodSafety.gov

Dr. Don and Professor Ben talk about the risks of eating five year old candy canes. Dr. Don - not risky 👍🏼 Professor Ben - not risky 👍🏼

• (1) Julie Libarkin on Twitter: “I like candy canes as decorations this time of year. I save them - some are probably 5 years old. All in nice plastic. Very important question from someone not raised w candy canes: Can I still eat them? #candy” / Twitter
• Water activity in candy and confectionery | METER
• Moisture and shelf life in sugar confections. - PubMed - NCBI