Épisodes

  • Produce Safety Starts with Creating a Culture of Food Safety with Humberto Maldonado from Organically Grown Co. | Episode 150

    Produce Safety Starts with Creating a Culture of Food Safety with Humberto Maldonado from Organically Grown Co. | Episode 150
    Jan 20 2026

    🍽️ 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 episode of Don’t Eat Poop!, our hosts Matt and Francine are joined by produce safety veteran Humberto Maldonado, the Director of Safety and Compliance at Organically Grown Company, straight from the Food Safety Consortium 2025.


    Humberto shares lessons from his 20+ years in produce safety. Starting out with the 2003 Hepatitis A green onion outbreak at the beginning of his food safety career, to his time at Driscoll's Mexico navigating auditors and growers, and his newer role.


    Get ready for an episode packed with food safety wisdom and practical ways to build a culture of food safety from the field all the way to the C-suite.


    In this episode:


    0:00:00 Audits and certifications at Driscoll's Mexico

    0:10:29 The 2003 Hepatitis A outbreak in green onions

    0:16:17 Beyond audits to a good culture of food safety

    0:25:48 Humberto's work at Organically Grown Company

    0:29:57 Food safety culture from field to C-suite


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


    Resources from this episode

    Read about the 2003 Hepatitis A Outbreak Associated with Green Onions here.


    Learn more about the Organically Grown Company.


    Noteworthy quotes from this episode

    “One of the pushbacks I always received was, 'This is too complex for the growers to understand. This is too complex for the harvest crew people to understand.' That's not true. We are the ones making things complex. You can explain complex things in a simple way, so keep it simple.” – Humberto Maldonado


    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 Humberto, 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
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    35 min
  • Is FSMA 204 On Its Way Out? We Were Optimistic, But It's Time to Be Realistic | Episode 149

    Is FSMA 204 On Its Way Out? We Were Optimistic, But It's Time to Be Realistic | Episode 149
    Jan 13 2026

    🍽️ 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 episode of Don’t Eat Poop!, our hosts Matt and Francine are talking about some even more frustrating news on the FDA's traceability rule, FSMA 204.


    Back in April of 2025, the implementation of the rule was pushed off yet again, giving the food industry 2.5 years to become fully compliant.


    Everything changed after the longest government shutdown in US history, though, because the new funding bill blocks FMSA 204. That's, unfortunately, expected, since some of the senators who ended the stalemate received funds from food industry lobbyists.

    Tune in for a breakdown of the current situation with US food traceability.


    In this episode:


    0:00:00 Food traceability policies are being gutted

    0:11:17 Who's behind the death of FSMA 204 and why

    0:17:54 Why food traceability is extremely complicated

    0:23:38 Politicians, integrity, and helping people

    0:30:27 What will happen with FSMA 204

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


    Resources from this episode

    Read the Marler Blog article Matt and Francine refer to in this episode.


    Listen to Episode 148, where we talk about the huge increase in hospitalizations and deaths from foodborne illness.


    Catch up with Episode 109 from April 2025, where we questioned whether or not FSMA 204 would ever actually be implemented.


    Noteworthy quotes from this episode

    “ I think [FSMA 204 is] dead. I think there's going to be some companies that are going to do it, but without the government's push to do this, it will not happen across the board, which means it won't happen.” – Matt Regusci


    “ So, let me tell you what I love about this. The National Restaurant Association, they make all their money promoting and advocating for food safety. That's how they earned all that money that they donated to lobby against it.” – 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
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    35 min
  • The Concerning Increase in Hospitalizations and Deaths from Foodborne Illnesses in 2024 | Episode 148

    The Concerning Increase in Hospitalizations and Deaths from Foodborne Illnesses in 2024 | Episode 148
    Jan 6 2026
    🍽️ 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 episode of Don’t Eat Poop!, our hosts Matt and Francine are looking back before they look forward in this new year.They are unpacking an article from February 2025 that shares some worrisome stats about foodborne illness, outbreaks, hospitalizations, and deaths from contaminated food in 2024, all of which increased significantly from the previous year.In this episode:0:00:00 When distances are relative0:07:07 A recap of food recalls in 20240:13:43 Key findings on foodborne illnesses0:18:06 If you don't test for it, it's not thereTune back in next week for the episode where our hosts talk about the article on how the government is looking to shut down some key food safety acts and rules.Disclaimer: Episode title and content do not constitute legal or health advice.Resources from this episodeRead the Food for Thought 2025 article Matt and Francine refer to in this episode.Correction: chickens fly at 175 birds per minute, not 175 miles per hour, in US poultry processing plants. You can learn more about these worrisome speeds on Episode 110.As for the acceptable levels of Salmonella in poultry, you can check out Episode 144.For a Recap of 2024’s Major Outbreaks with Bill Marler, listen to Episode 92, and for one of the major outbreaks from the first half of 2025, catch up with Episode 129.Hear more about what it's like to get listeria and survive it in the gut-wrenching Episode 122.Learn the basics of the ByHeart Infant Botulism Outbreak linked to their baby formula, check out Episode 147.Noteworthy quotes from this episode“ If we're looking at why 13 [outbreaks] accounted for 98% of the hospitalizations and deaths. It's because 22% of the recalls came from Listeria. That is crazy.” – Matt Regusci“ It's mind-boggling that they are shutting down food safety programs one after another, agencies, and just different things throughout the course of the year, and foodborne illnesses are increasing.” – 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?🎙️ 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
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    20 min
  • The Heartbreaking ByHeart Infant Botulism Outbreak and What the Food Industry Can Do to Prevent Them | Episode 147

    The Heartbreaking ByHeart Infant Botulism Outbreak and What the Food Industry Can Do to Prevent Them | Episode 147
    Dec 30 2025

    🍽️ 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 episode of Don’t Eat Poop!, our hosts Matt and Francine are unpacking what's shaping up to be one of the worst outbreaks of 2025: the ByHeart Infant Botulism Outbreak linked to their baby formula, previously Clean Label Project (CLP) certified.


    There have been other cases over the years, and, unfortunately, this just happens to be the most recent one. We need to find a way to curb this.


    That's why our hosts are sharing not only the details of this international outbreak, but also possible solutions and straightforward practices that food producers can implement to effectively prevent outbreaks.


    In this episode:


    0:01:07 What CLP does and doesn't test for and why

    0:10:48 How Matt helped companies through outbreaks

    0:15:27 How the industry can truly prevent outbreaks

    0:23:23 How to ensure your product is pathogen-free

    0:26:42 Why baby formula standards must be stricter

    0:39:30 One of the worst outbreaks of 2025


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

    Resources from this episode

    Learn all about Clean Label Project in our interview with Jaclyn Bowen, the previous Executive Director, in Episode 101.


    Stay up-to-date on this outbreak here.


    Read Bill Marler's article on Operation Stork Speed.


    Noteworthy quotes from this episode

    “ The only 100% way that you are not going to get somebody pregnant or an STD is: don't have sex. For the advice for the industry, the only way to be 100% sure that you are not going to have pathogens in your product is to test them all. ” – Matt Regusci


    “ This isn't the only case. [...] This just happens to be the most current. Now we're giving [babies] poisoned food, and it's the only food they're receiving. It's detrimental, and we need to find a way to curb this.” – 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
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    42 min
  • Seriously, Don’t Kill Your Loved Ones During the Holidays | Episode 146

    Seriously, Don’t Kill Your Loved Ones During the Holidays | Episode 146
    Dec 23 2025

    🍽️ 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 episode of Don’t Eat Poop!, our hosts Matt and Francine are once again trying to convince you not to kill your loved ones over the holidays.


    Since last year's episode may not have been enough, they're back this year with ways to protect your family from foodborne illness this holiday season.


    Tune in to a chaotic episode that's full of life and gratitude, our hosts' unique sense of humor in full force, a boatload of pre-travel anxiety, and some crazy food safety stories.


    Disclaimer: If you're a social worker working with CPS or foster care and you end up listening to this, please do not take what Matt's saying at face value. He is indeed joking and/or being sarcastic.


    In this episode:


    0:00:00 Holiday plans and flying with a family of 15

    0:11:14 A rough year and a shout-out from Francine

    0:13:05 Thermometers, wipes, and sleeping aids

    0:17:02 Holiday food safety fails and how to avoid them


    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!


    Want to read the story about the turkey that flew during Thanksgiving and other captivating, crazy food safety stories? Make sure to check out Francine's book Who Watches the Kitchen?


    Read our complete guide on How to Not Kill Your Family Over the Holidays.


    Noteworthy quotes from this episode

    “ I bet that stuffing was absolutely amazing, sitting there permeating in all the juices overnight. [...] So, you taste all the other flavors, but not salmonella. You taste all the other flavors coming back up again after you get salmonella.” – Matt Regusci


    “ I got the flu a lot at Thanksgiving when I was a kid. [...] When I say the flu, we all know the flu now isn't vomiting and diarrhea.” – 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
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    35 min
  • The DIRECT Act: Is Allowing Meat and Poultry to Be Sold Across State Lines Direct-to-Consumers Online a Good Idea? | Episode 145

    The DIRECT Act: Is Allowing Meat and Poultry to Be Sold Across State Lines Direct-to-Consumers Online a Good Idea? | Episode 145
    Dec 16 2025
    🍽️ 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 episode of Don’t Eat Poop!, our hosts Matt and Francine are talking about a bill introduced to the Senate earlier this year, the “Direct Interstate Retail Exemption for Certain Transactions Act of 2025.”This DIRECT Act would allow direct-to-consumer online sales of state-inspected meat and poultry across state lines.Tune in as our hosts unpack the proposed legislative changes, the potential benefits, and what it would mean for the USDA, as well as the possible food safety risks, traceability issues, and other challenges.In this episode:0:06:17 Breaking down the DIRECT Act0:14:33 Will traceability get better?0:17:37 USDA vs. State inspections and exemptions0:23:33 Will enforcement be stronger?27:05 The big issue with the current consolidation30:5 Where our meat imports come fromDisclaimer: Episode title and content do not constitute legal or health advice.Resources from this episodeRead the Food Safety News article Matt and Francine refer to in this episode.Hear the new and exciting things over at Food Safety News on Episode 143.Catch up with the Pre-Made Pasta Meals Listeria outbreak with Episode 141.Learn all about how fast the chickens fly at a poultry plant with Episode 110, as well as how upset the poultry industry is over a salmonella-filled report with Episode 144.Noteworthy quotes from this episode“This is a chink against not just the USDA's armor of the monopoly, but it's also a chink against the top meat producers in their monopoly armor. They don't want small meat companies competing against them. Not at all.” – Matt Regusci“ I'm all about helping the smaller farmers, the smaller businesses. I am all about doing whatever we can do to support them. I live in an area that that is what we are. But we need to make sure that we do it safely.” – 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?🎙️ 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
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    38 min
  • Apparently, a Little Salmonella in Poultry is Okay. But Should It Really Be? | Episode 144

    Apparently, a Little Salmonella in Poultry is Okay. But Should It Really Be? | Episode 144
    Dec 9 2025

    🍽️ 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 episode of Don’t Eat Poop!, our hosts Matt and Francine are, unfortunately, talking once more about poultry and salmonella.


    They are unpacking the concerning Farm Forward Salmonella and Foodborne Disease Report released in October 2025. The results showed elevated levels of salmonella contamination in grocery store poultry samples.


    Tune in to discover why poultry-related salmonella infections persist in the US, including how USDA standards fall short, the industry pushback, and what can be done to reverse this situation.


    In this episode:


    0:00:00 The report that found salmonella in poultry

    0:09:47 The unmet USDA salmonella contamination limits

    0:11:58 How poultry should follow other industries' standards

    0:17:56 Lessons from the US beef industry and the EU

    0:22:09 The safe temperature to cook poultry

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


    Resources from this episode

    Read the LA Times article Matt and Francine refer to in this episode and the original Farm Forward Report.


    Francine's LinkedIn Post with a picture of turkey packaging that showed improper handling procedures.


    Just in case you need a refresher on how to safely handle poultry, catch up with Episode 73 | Don’t Wash Your Chicken, Seriously.


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


    Noteworthy quotes from this episode

    “ While I'm not for ending commercial chicken farming, I am for ending salmonella in one-third or over 400,000 of the cases annually in consumers. You can be for commercial farming and also against poisoning people.” – Matt Regusci


    “ For the industry to take this attitude is just, I believe, irresponsible on their part. It shows, in my opinion, just a total lack of disregard for consumers because they've got the ability to correct it. They're choosing not to [deal with salmonella].” – 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
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    24 min
  • Breaking News About Food Safety News with Bill Marler, the Sponsor, and Peter Gustafson, the Fractional Executive Director | Episode 143

    Breaking News About Food Safety News with Bill Marler, the Sponsor, and Peter Gustafson, the Fractional Executive Director | Episode 143
    Dec 1 2025
    🍽️ 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 episode of Don’t Eat Poop!, our hosts Matt and Francine are joined by two special guests: Bill Marler, who you already know as the nation's leading foodborne illness attorney, and his wonderful son-in-law, Peter Gustafson.But this isn't a family reunion; they are here to share some very exciting news about Food Safety News (FSN), the online newspaper that has been keeping everyone who cares about the safety of our food supply informed about critical food safety concerns for the past 16 years.For all those years, Bill alone funded the publication, but that is not sustainable. Thankfully, Peter recently joined the team as a Fractional Executive Director of FSN, and they're figuring out how to change that.Tune in to discover the future of FSN and the changes that will allow it to not only outlast Bill, but to take the food safety journalism we know and love to the next level.In this episode:0:05:58 The history and evolution of FSN0:11:47 The importance of making FSN self-sustaining0:19:48 The 1st solution: Google Ads and nonprofit status0:22:50 The age of AI and the need for a new solution0:26:27 What the new FSN+ membership will look like0:31:43 Becoming sustainable to go above and beyondResources from this episodeBe one of the first to become an FSN+ member and lock in the founding member pricing at foodsafetynews.com/membership. Read some deep Bill Marler angst in the Marler Blog.Read Francine's opinion pieces in Food Safety News through the years.Check out the Food Safety News Merch Store.Catch up with past Bill Marler Don't Eat Poop! episodes:Episode 17Episode 18Bonus EpisodeEpisode 92Episode 100Episode 129Noteworthy quotes from this episode“ It's not a desire to cut back. It's a desire to build. It's a desire to make something sustainable, better, and more useful for the food safety public.” – Bill Marler“I think this year we're averaging just over 400,000 page views per month, whereas last year we averaged 1.6 million pages per month [...] So as you can imagine, that [FSN's ad] revenue came down quite a bit.” – Peter GustafsonWe 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 Bill, Peter, 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
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    44 min