Whoops! The Celsius Recall and the Very Real Risks of Finding Alcohol in Non-Alcoholic Beverages | Episode 132
Get ready for an intensely personal, raw, and possibly uncomfortable episode of Don’t Eat Poop! Warning: In case alcoholism is a sensitive topic for you, proceed with caution.In the face of a recent Celsius Astro Vibe energy drink recall due to a mix-up at the factory, which resulted in High Noon vodka seltzer alcohol inside Celsius cans, our hosts Matt and Francine are approaching this recall in a different way.To better illustrate how serious this mishap is and its possible consequences, Matt opens up on his complicated decades-long journey with alcoholism and how he's finally managed to recover from it in the past two and a half years.Tune in for this brave story and more information on this possibly disastrous recall.In this episode:💩 [03:00] Matt's early introduction to alcohol💩 [04:06] From his teenage years all the way to COVID💩 [05:44] When Matt's addiction to alcohol got really bad💩 [09:45] The breaking point and Matt's hard road to sobriety💩 [18:13] The physical aspects behind addiction💩 [21:10] The feelings that come up in the process of recovery💩 [24:59] The mistakenly alcoholic Celsius Astro Vibe recall💩 [25:49] The risks if these mislabeled cans fall into kids' hands💩 [27:00] Understand High Noon's monumentally terrible whoops💩 [30:58] The seeming lack of quality control in these factories💩 [32:12] Energy drinks and their differences💩 [34:53] The recent diet Coke and regular Coke mix-upDisclaimer: Episode title and content do not constitute legal or health advice.Resources from this episodeListen to the song Paralyzed by NF.Learn more about Alcoholics Anonymous and find the one nearest to you at aa.org.Check out the NBC article Matt refers to when talking about the Celsius recall.Noteworthy quotes from this episode“ An alcoholic who is in recovery, getting a drink that has alcohol in it, and they don't know, that could be very bad. Will it kill them? No, that one alcohol drink is not going to kill them. Will it kill them because they start drinking again, and then everything goes down? Potentially.” – Matt Regusci“ Sometimes I wonder if some of these places even have quality control. I don't know. They have to, at some level, but you have to wonder.” – 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!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._______Produced by Ideablossoms
--------
37:22
--------
37:22
How a Little Sunlight in Your Milk is Going to Profoundly Change the Dairy Industry with Bob Comstock, CEO of Tamarack Biotics | Episode 131
In episode 127 of Don’t Eat Poop!, our hosts Matt and Francine talked about a technological breakthrough that could zap the pathogens out of raw milk while preserving its beneficial components.Well, in this episode they are joined by the man behind it all, Bob Comstock, the Founder and CEO of Tamarack Biotics, the company that's developed this UV-based pasteurization process.Tune in to discover how this technology makes nutritious and safe milk, how it will replace thermal treatments, and how it's already making its way to the rest of the world.In this episode:💩 [01:11] Meet Bob Comstock and his journey with Tamarack Biotics💩 [02:57] How this UV-based technology makes milk safe💩 [06:44] The differences in milk after different treatments💩 [08:51] Improving milk's bioavailability and restoring immune function💩 [11:10] The 3 reasons this technology will change everything💩 [11:44] The FDA and the history of making milk safe💩 [12:47] How TruActive kills only the pathogens and leaves the rest💩 [15:40] Solving the biggest challenge in processing milk with heat💩 [16:40] Replacing heat with UV without changing dairy infrastructure💩 [19:00] Why the FDA is slowing down the adoption of this technology💩 [23:00] How UV-treated milk can prevent children from developing allergies💩 [25:07] This is already making its way to the rest of the world💩 [26:05] Making infant formula better and more nutritious💩 [29:33] Why plant-based milks can't compare with the real thing💩 [31:29] How this technology will affect the raw milk industry💩 [35:39] The groundbreaking approval from the FDA and the global rollout💩 [37:35] Research centers for dairy, food technology, and nutrition 💩 [40:16] The very real dangers of raw milk (take care of your cats)Disclaimer: Episode title and content do not constitute legal or health advice.Resources from this episodeCatch up with the episode where we first talked about Bob Comstock and his innovative technology, Episode 127 | Zapping Pathogens Could Be a Breakthrough For Making Raw Milk Safe.Learn more about Tamarack Biotics here.Catch up with one of the podcast's best episodes on raw milk: Episode 22 | Is It Safe to Drink Raw Milk? Food Safety Specialists Break It Down.Noteworthy quotes from this episode“This approval we got from the FDA was groundbreaking. It's opening an enormous door because they've affirmed that we're legal pasteurization of milk and that we're actually safer than heat. It's not a compromise in safety that some people might think from an alternative to heat, but it's safer.” – Bob ComstockWe 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 Bob, 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._______Produced by Ideablossoms
--------
43:48
--------
43:48
Confidence in U.S. Food Safety Hits an All-Time Low | Episode 130
In this episode of Don’t Eat Poop!, our hosts Matt and Francine are diving into the 2025 IFIC Food and Health Survey, a robust study that reveals confidence in U.S. food safety has hit an all-time low.Tune in for their analysis on the big shifts that have happened in consumer opinions and concerns over the past few years, and their opinion on what this means for food suppliers going forward.Keep in mind that there is a lot of their trademark humor throughout the episode. Don't always take things at face value, unless they're actual stats. Beware!In this episode:💩 [01:18] Matt's going from 11 to 12 forever kiddos💩 [07:32] Francine's health scare (don't worry, she's alright now)💩 [09:55] Confidence in U.S. food safety has hit an all-time low💩 [12:00] How different generations relate to the safety of their food💩 [15:43] Why overall confidence dropped so much so fast💩 [17:46] The pressure is on for food suppliers to catch up 💩 [19:55] The shift in consumers' major concerns around the U.S. food supply💩 [24:17] Consumers are becoming more worried about foodborne illnesses💩 [28:50] Growing concern over heavy metals, chemicals, and food dyes💩 [33:52] Americans' views on the safety of imported food💩 [37:21] Key results from the 2025 IFIC Food and Health SurveyDisclaimer: Episode title and content do not constitute legal or health advice.Resources from this episodeCheck out the Food Safety News article our hosts are talking about, Confidence in U.S. food safety hits an all-time low.Learn more about the Clean Label Project Certification at cleanlabelproject.org.Catch up on our previous episode for more on the Shakes Outbreak, Episode 129 | A Recap of 2025’s Major Outbreaks (So Far) with Bill Marler.Catch up on the episode where we talked about what MAHA is trying to push, Episode 125 | FDA Spikes the Ball and Claims Success.Watch Emmy award-winning documentary, Poisoned: The Dirty Truth About Your Food.Learn all about the WanaBana Cinnamon Applesauce Pouches Lead and Chromium Poisoning Outbreak with Episode 51.Noteworthy quotes from this episode“The food industry is going to have to shift. It just is. It's not a, if it's going to, it's a when it's going to because it won't be able to compete with other companies that address these issues. It just won't.” – Matt Regusci“ I don't think even three years ago that [...] people were aware of foodborne illnesses so much. Yeah, they existed. But [...] I don't think it was something that was really even thought about. Which makes me believe that things like Poisoned and the podcasts that are out there talking about these things are helping.” – 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!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._______Produced by Ideablossoms
--------
40:34
--------
40:34
A Recap of 2025’s Major Outbreaks (So Far) with Bill Marler | Episode 129
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 2025 (so far), those who aren't doing what they're supposed to, and how we can push for changes towards food safety.Buckle up because not only are there many, but they're very frustrating ones.We'll revisit the Boar's Head Outbreak as new violations have been found in other plants, and the company is reopening the plant from the outbreak. We'll tackle the Darwin Dog Food case, which has been linked to a four-year-old child who became infected with E. coli O157:H7 and developed HUS, as well as the Listeria Shake Outbreak in long-term care facilities, with 14 dead.In this episode:💩 [01:11] Sexy tractors and feeling politically out of place💩 [04:07] Do the Boar's Head executives even care?💩 [08:06] What Boar's Head is doing and what they should've done instead💩 [16:15] The frustrating E. coli-contaminated Darwin Dog Food case💩 [18:53] FDA's failure to enforce a product recall from Darwin💩 [24:14] How Bill is finally getting justice for the Shake Outbreak victims💩 [29:42] How companies can save lives by testing their products💩 [33:29] When authorities redact documents and withhold critical information 💩 [37:58] The Romaine Lettuce outbreak that remains a "mystery"💩 [42:49] How Bill Marler is unfortunately having to do the FDA and CDC's jobs💩 [50:04] The incredible success of the fight against E. coli in hamburgers💩 [55:04] Addressing the Poisoned documentary skepticsDisclaimer: Episode title and content do not constitute legal or health advice.Resources from this episodeRead the Marler Blog post with the 35 pages of non-conformances on Boar's Head's plants.Read about the frustrating E. coli-contaminated Darwin Dog Food case.Read about the Listeria Shake Outbreak in long-term care facilities.Here's the video with the keynote speaker saying we should "Put Bill Marler out of business".Watch Bill Marler and Darin Detwiler’s Emmy award-winning documentary, Poisoned: The Dirty Truth About Your Food.Read about the multi-state E. coli outbreak where the FDA and CDC chose to Romaine Silent.Catch up with past Bill Marler episodes:Episode 17Episode 18Bonus EpisodeEpisode 92Episode 100Noteworthy quotes from this episode“ I don't know why FDA won't name the romaine lettuce guys, even though they did when the same guys were growing onions. I don't have a good answer to that question other than I just think it sadly, undercuts the authority of public health, that they seem to be an honest broker in the process. It breaks my heart.” – 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!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._______Produced by Ideablossoms
--------
59:24
--------
59:24
5 Food Safety Truths Everyone Should Know (Starting with Decaf) | Episode 128
Think you know food safety? Think again. In this special highlight episode of Don’t Eat Poop, we’re rewinding to some of the most surprising facts we’ve ever shared on the show — the kind that can change the way you shop, cook, and eat.From chemical-laced decaf to disgusting yet FDA-approved gloves, these are real, documented truths that every food lover (and every food safety professional) should know… but most don’t.In this episode:💩 [01:43] Why some decaf coffee may contain industrial solvents — and what you should choose instead (yes, there is a safe option)💩 [04:40] The surprising truth about mayonnaise storage 💩 [06:52] Why washing this food does more harm than good 💩 [12:41] The big myth about “killing all bacteria” in fresh produce facilities and why washing produce at home won’t save you💩 [20:08] The dirty truth about disposable gloves (including the pathogens and contaminants found right out of the box)Disclaimer: Episode title and content do not constitute legal or health advice.Resources & ReferencesClean Label Project: Decaf Coffee Contaminants White PaperEpisode 111 | What They Don’t Tell You About Decaf Coffee That You Should Absolutely KnowEpisode 99 | 20 Food Items You Don’t Actually Need to RefrigerateEpisode 73 | Don’t Wash Your Chicken, SeriouslyEpisode 69 | A Look at the FDA’s Reorganization Plan and Some Food Safety MythbustingEpisode 115 | Gloves: Risks and Solutions for the Most Overlooked Zone 1 Food Safety Item with Steve Ardagh, CEO & Founder of Eagle ProtectNoteworthy quotes from this episode“Methylene Chloride is an active ingredient in paint thinner that was recently banned by the EPA. So you could not use this product to scrape paint off your walls. It's too dangerous for that, but to throw into some coffee beans to get rid of caffeine? No problem?!” – Matt Regusci“We know from independent research that in tests done on 2,800 new and unused gloves from 26 different brands, over 260 different viable pathogens were found. Listeria, E. coli, Salmonella. Name it, it was there. ” – 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!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._______Produced by Ideablossoms
Tune in every Tuesday for a brand new episode of Don't Eat Poop! A Food Safety Podcast. Join Francine L. Shaw, the savvy CEO of Savvy Food Safety, and Matthew Regusci, compliance connoisseur and founder of Fostering Compliance, as they serve up the latest in food safety with a side of laughter.
Explore the ins and outs of food systems, responsible food practices, and food safety regulations. Stay informed about food safety awareness and the not-so-occasional food recall. Delve deep into the complexities of the food supply chain with our dynamic duo, who blend expert insights with a pinch of food safety humor. Whether you're knee-deep in the food safety industry or just passionate about what's on your plate, this podcast promises a fresh take on staying safe while eating well.
Expect candid conversations, personal anecdotes, and occasional guest appearances that spice up the discussion. Shaw and Regusci bring their combined decades of experience to the table, making each episode as informative as it is entertaining. From industry trends to must-know food safety news and regulations, they've got your back (and your lunch).
In essence, Don't Eat Poop! A Food Safety Podcast is not just about imparting information; it's about fostering a culture of food safety. By shedding light on the intricacies of the food supply chain and the latest food safety news, it aims to promote awareness and encourage responsible food practices among consumers and industry professionals alike.
When it comes to food safety, knowledge is power, and a good laugh is the best seasoning. At the heart of every episode is one golden rule: Don't Eat Poop!