When your cucumbers keep ending up on outbreak lists, it’s time to ask: what the actual food safety fail is going on?
In this episode of Don’t Eat Poop!, our hosts Matt and Francine dig into the repeat salmonella outbreaks linked to Bedner Growers - and why the phrase “voluntary recall” should still raise your eyebrows.
They dissect how the contamination trail is traced, what might really be behind recurring farm-based outbreaks, and why cross-contamination is everyone’s problem. Whether you're running a farm, a food service kitchen, or just trying to avoid the “poop” in your produce, this one’s a wake-up call.
In this episode:
💩 [03:02] The shift from consumer ignorance to awareness of food safety
💩 [05:32] Bedner Growers: One salmonella outbreak is bad–two is a pattern
💩 [08:02] How tracebacks work
💩 [12:35] Epidemiology 101: What did you eat... a week ago?
💩 [17:16] Farming and food safety: Where does Salmonella come from?
💩 [20:59] Most farms don’t survive a salmonella outbreak
💩 [25:54] Ripple effects: How one farm’s mistake can tank a whole commodity
💩 [32:24] Lessons from Jack in the Box, Chipotle, and other infamous outbreaks
💩 [35:35] Food safety and insurance companies
Disclaimer: Episode title and content do not constitute legal or health advice.
Resources from this episode
Check out the Food Safety News article our hosts are talking about, Bedner cucumbers are back, making people sick once again.
Noteworthy quotes from this episode
“ You can't taste [salmonella], you can't see it, you can't smell it. It's invisible to the naked eye, but not invisible to the human body system.” – Matt Regusci
“All foodborne illnesses are preventable. You get them from eating something that's contaminated. Are we ever going to eliminate all of them? No. But they're all preventable.” – 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? 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
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
Ridiculous History
History is beautiful, brutal and, often, ridiculous. Join Ben Bowlin and Noel Brown as they dive into some of the weirdest stories from across the span of human civilization in Ridiculous History, a podcast by iHeartRadio.