Don't Eat Poop! A Food Safety Podcast

🍽️ Francine and Matt are building a global, fun, and inclusive Food Safety Family! From the C-suite to the kitchen, they’re making safe food the norm everywhere.
👉 Follow Francine and Matt on LinkedIn for more food safety insights and updates.

If you thought chicken was the “safe” option on the menu, this episode of Don’t Eat Poop! might ruffle your feathers. 
Matt and Francine dig into a bizarre (and under-the-radar) food safety incident out of Spain, where children developed allergic-like reactions not from allergens, but from biogenic amines formed due to poor cold chain management. 
This episode is a must-listen for anyone in restaurant food safety, food safety training, or navigating food safety regulations. We break down the science, the risks, and what this means for foodborne illness prevention worldwide.

In this episode:
00:00:00 Get to Know Your Food Safety Podcast Hosts
00:11:00 Biogenic Amine Outbreak in Spain
00:14:47 Poor Cold Chain Management in Foodservice
00:17:56 Why Symptoms Looked Like Allergies
00:21:10 Temperature Control Matters

Disclaimer: Episode title and content do not constitute legal or health advice.
Resources from this episode
Take a look at the articles mentioned in this episode:
Spanish scientists investigate outbreaks affecting children
Report of the Scientific Committee of the Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (AESAN) on the risk of food poisoning due to the presence of biogenic amines in meals made from chicken meat consumed by children under 3 years of age

Noteworthy quotes from this episode
“This is a food safety issue that can happen with a break in the cold chain.” – Matt Regusci
“ Spoiled-smelling meat is not the only concern. Not all bad meat stinks.” – 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!
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?
🎙️ 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.
_______
Produced by Ideablossoms

🍽️ Francine and Matt are building a global, fun, and inclusive Food Safety Family! From the C-suite to the kitchen, they’re making safe food the norm everywhere.
👉 Follow Francine and Matt on LinkedIn for more food safety insights and updates.

What do mangoes, government redactions, and conspiracy-level blacked-out reports have in common? 

In this episode of Don’t Eat Poop!, Matt and Francine peel back the layers (and redact absolutely nothing) on a bizarre FDA Salmonella mango investigation that’s about as useful as a blank HACCP plan.

From laughably censored outbreak reports to serious concerns about food safety compliance, conflicts of interest, and transparency failures, this episode dives deep into the cracks in our food safety systems. If you’ve ever wondered how the industry is supposed to improve when critical data is hidden, or how advisory committees operate without clear disclosure rules, this one’s for you.

Spoiler alert: You can’t fix what you can’t see. And right now? There’s a lot we’re not seeing.

In this episode:
00:00:00 Food Safety Podcast Recap
00:08:22 Redacted FDA Salmonella Mango Report
00:13:04 FDA Conflict of Interest Failures
00:20:42 Still No FDA Conflict-of-interest Policy
00:23:01 Real Accountability in Food Safety Regulations

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

Resources from this episode
Take a look at the articles we discuss in this episode:
Why does a FDA Salmonella Mango Report look like a page out of the Epstein Files?
GAO says FDA needs to give attention to conflict of interest policies
Check out our episode with Rick Biros: 15 Years of Food Safety Tech: Food Safety Compliance vs Reality with Rick Biros | Episode 161

Noteworthy quotes from this episode
“The files for the FDA look similar to the Epstein files, and the GAO is asking FDA, whatcha gonna do about conflicts of interest?” – Matt Regusci

“This is like policies and procedures. If you're not gonna implement them, don't write them.” – 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!

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?

🎙️ 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.
_______
Produced by Ideablossoms

🍽️ Francine and Matt are building a global, fun, and inclusive Food Safety Family! From the C-suite to the kitchen, they’re making safe food the norm everywhere.
👉 Follow Francine and Matt on LinkedIn for more food safety insights and updates.

What happens when your sweet treat doubles as a pharmaceutical experiment? 

In this wildly bizarre (but very real) episode of Don’t Eat Poop!, our hosts Matt and Francine unwrap a shocking chocolate recall involving undeclared active drug ingredients. This episode explores the intersection of food safety compliance, food fraud, and the risks of buying “mystery” products online. It’s funny, it’s alarming, and it’s a crystal-clear reminder that when it comes to food safety regulations, you really don’t know what you’re getting unless proper controls are in place.

In this episode:
00:00:00 “Aphrodisiac Chocolate” Recalled
00:04:36 Health Risks Explained
00:09:09 Undeclared Substances in Supplements and Sports Products
00:14:17 Food Fraud and Dosage Confusion

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

Resources from this episode
Check out the article we’re talking about in this episode: Chocolate products recalled because of undeclared male enhancement drugs

Have a listen to the episodes we mentioned in this episode:
Insects & Lab-Grown Meat: The Future of Food Safety Compliance | Episode 160
The Celsius Recall and the Risks of Finding Alcohol in Non-Alcoholic Beverages | Episode 132

Noteworthy quotes from this episode
“There's so many things that are wrong with this because you're consuming a drug disguised as a candy and you don't know the dosage.” – Matt Regusci

“Most people don't understand that a lot of that stuff is not FDA-approved. They assume because they can buy it, it's safe.” – 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!

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?

🎙️ 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.
_______
Produced by Ideablossoms

🍽️ Francine and Matt are building a global, fun, and inclusive Food Safety Family! From the C-suite to the kitchen, they’re making safe food the norm everywhere.
👉 Follow Francine and Matt on LinkedIn for more food safety insights and updates.

In this eye-opening (and slightly stomach-turning) episode of Don’t Eat Poop!, our hosts Matt and Francine dive headfirst into a real-life case of botulism caused by fermented fish and why “gut health trends” can go dangerously wrong.

What started as a health-conscious bite of fermented “swordfish” turned into a near-death experience for a 24-year-old woman, highlighting critical gaps in foodborne illness prevention and consumer awareness.

From ancient food preservation methods to modern-day food safety compliance, this episode explores how traditional practices can clash with today’s expectations and why HACCP principles aren’t just for professionals anymore.

Spoiler: if it smells like death, maybe don’t eat it.

In this episode:
00:00:00 Botulism from Homemade Fermented Swordfish
00:04:05 Escalating Symptoms: Difficulty Swallowing, Paralysis
00:07:00 What Fermented “Swordfish” Actually Is
00:12:24 Cultural Food and Food Safety
00:19:15 Safe Alternatives for Gut Health

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

Resources from this episode
Food Safety Compliance in Home Kitchens: The Hidden Risks of Social Media Food Businesses | Episode 162

How to Clean Your Refrigerator Properly: This is Food Safety at Home | Episode 159

Noteworthy quotes from this episode
“If your choices are occasionally getting foodborne illness or starving to death, I will choose the former over the latter, but if I'm not starving, I'm not going to choose option number one.” – Matt Regusci

“There are people who, if they do live, they don't completely recover from botulism. You live with lifelong ramifications from this illness.” – 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!

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?

🎙️ 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.
_______
Produced by Ideablossoms

🍽️ Francine and Matt are building a global, fun, and inclusive Food Safety Family! From the C-suite to the kitchen, they’re making safe food the norm everywhere.
👉 Follow Francine and Matt on LinkedIn for more food safety insights and updates.

If you’ve ever been tempted by homemade dumplings on Facebook Marketplace or the viral “pink sauce” on TikTok, this episode might make you pause mid-scroll. 

In this eye-opening (and slightly terrifying) episode of Don’t Eat Poop!, our hosts Matt and Francine dig into the booming world of home-based food businesses and the massive food safety compliance gaps lurking behind those mouthwatering posts. From underground meal prep hustles to kids selling home-cooked food at school, this episode blends humor with hard truths about food safety regulations, HACCP principles, and the real risks of buying food from strangers online.

In this episode:

00:00:00 Buying Unregulated Food From Facebook Marketplace
00:06:58 Knowing Your Food Source Matters
00:08:58 Dutch Home Caterer Survey Shocker
00:13:10 Food Safety on Social Media

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

Resources from this episode
Take a look at the Food Safety News article we discussed in this episode: Home-based cooks lack awareness of food safety rules

Noteworthy quotes from this episode
“There are regulations, but if the entrepreneurs don't know that there are regulations and are just operating under the radar, then there aren't regulations.” – Matt Regusci

“So many people assume if you can buy it, it's safe.” – 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!

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?

🎙️ 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.
_______
Produced by Ideablossoms