In this episode of Don’t Eat Poop!, our favorite food safety specialists Matt and Francine are talking about the not-so exciting topic of lead poisoning. With the recent Cinnamon Applesauce Pouches Lead and Chromium Poisoning Outbreak, and the media speculation about Stanley cups containing lead and their safety, this is a very necessary discussion.

They debunk the concerns around the Stanley cups and get to the bottom of what’s behind the lead poisoning linked to the cinnamon applesauce pouches: food fraud.

Tune in to learn about the symptoms of lead poisoning (some are similar to flu and cold symptoms so beware!), the true nature of food recalls (you should always be vigilant of what you buy), and how serious outbreaks like this can be avoided.

They also delve into the importance of providing the correct food allergen information on labels and social media’s impact on people’s food safety perceptions.

In this episode:

💩 [02:48] The Stanley Cup craze and the concerns around the cups causing lead poisoning

💩 [11:42] The seriousness of the Cinnamon Applesauce Pouches Lead and Chromium Poisoning Outbreak

💩 [15:15] The symptoms and long-term issues linked to lead poisoning

💩 [19:50] Other recently recalled supposedly healthy snacks

💩 [22:56] The importance of including food allergen information on labels

💩 [24:34] The duty to properly verify your suppliers and learn about food fraud risks

💩 [29:08] Social media and the skewed public perception of foodborne illnesses

💩 [35:07] Interacting with our audience and the challenges of dealing with trolls

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

Resources from this episode

The Quaker Recall of certain granola bars and granola cereals because of potential Salmonella contamination, see this post.

Learn more about the Clean Label Project here.

Francine’s LinkedIn post about the broccoli salad without food allergen information.

To learn more about the story of the girl who passed after eating an unmarked allergen cookie with peanuts in it, check out this post.

Here’s the Food Safety News’s The Litigated Dish: Can foodborne illnesses cause death? article.

Our most controversial Don’t Eat Poop! Episode to date: Body Fluids in Kids’ School Lunches! Eww… | Episode 41.

Noteworthy quotes from this episode

“My job is not to make people believe that they are going to die of foodborne illness if they just 100 percent don't believe it. My job is to get people who actually believe it to do the right thing.” – Matthew Regusci

“It's just so scary when you start to think about the fact that so many people just don't know. We need to do better. As a country we need to do better.” – Francine L Shaw

We hope you enjoy this episode!

If you're passionate about maintaining the highest standards in food safety, this podcast is for you. Tune in to the "Don't Eat Poop" podcast for the latest food recalls, engaging conversations around food safety awareness, expert advice, food systems, news from the food supply chain, and actionable tips for responsible food safety practices. And of course, some food safety humor. Develop the knowledge and skills you need to protect yourself and others from foodborne illnesses.

Connect with Francine, Matt, Jonathan, and the "Don't Eat Poop!" show on LinkedIn!

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Check out Francine's book Who Watches the Kitchen? on Amazon!

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Produced by Ideablossoms