![Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizers, Washing Your Hands, and How To Actually Prevent Diseases | Episode 50 image](https://media.zencastr.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=640,quality=85/image-files/63ebd70817021c4ca7e6f696/9318ec21-1c36-4ac2-95de-e6d247c89fd2.jpg)
In this episode of Don’t Eat Poop!, our food safety industry veterans Francine L. Shaw and Matt Regusci come together to talk about hand washing and why relying solely on alcohol-based hand sanitizers does not cut it, especially in the produce and food industries.
They debunk some misconceptions about using alcohol-based hand sanitizers as the primary hand-cleaning method and warn of its risks. These sanitizers are ineffective against some diseases, most notably the Norovirus.
They explore solutions and alternatives that can be more effective, such as Hypochlorous Acid (HOCl), and emphasize the importance of training and education to guarantee food safety.
Lastly, they dive right into some very unusual TikTok content: a guy who is “eating raw chicken every day until I get a tummy ache,” which sounds more like a foodborne illness-diarrhea diet instead.
In this episode:
💩 [00:58] The incredible experience of interviewing so many amazing people at the Food Safety Consortium
💩 [06:08] PSA: do NOT drink alcohol-based hand sanitizers
💩 [07:35] The misconception about alcohol-based hand sanitizers being enough
💩 [13:09] The importance of training and education in food safety
💩 [15:22] The risks of heavily relying on hand sanitizers for food safety
💩 [16:58] Norovirus: its “fun” symptoms and what actually kills it
💩 [21:17] The potential of hypochlorous acid in food safety
💩 [23:21] Why isn’t HOCl being widely used when it’s safer and so effective?
💩 [29:11] Don’t do this at home! Our reaction to the Raw Chicken Experiment guy
Disclaimer: Episode title and content do not constitute legal or health advice.
Resources from this episode
Check out Cori Muse’s post that Matt and Francine hijacked on LinkedIn here.
Access Neal Wieselman’s article, The Science of Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizers and Norovirus, here.
If you’re curious, you can find Francine’s post to Matt about the guy who is “eating raw chicken every day until I get a tummy ache” here.
Noteworthy quotes from this episode
“There's so many products I think should be on the market that would help save lives that just aren't for some weird reasons. And I don't understand it.” – Matthew Regusci
“I guess they think because they have sand sanitizer, it's not a problem. It doesn't work like that.” – 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!
We'd love to hear from you!
Connect with Francine, Matt, and the "Don't Eat Poop!" show on LinkedIn!
Share your thoughts and feedback on the show, and feel free to offer any topics you would like to hear discussed.
Check out Francine's book Who Watches the Kitchen? on
![A Look at the FDA’s Reorganization Plan and Some Food Safety Mythbusting | Episode 69 image](https://media.zencastr.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=90,quality=85/image-files/63ebd70817021c4ca7e6f696/9c37ab52-8a26-4728-8513-69db597dd983.jpg)
![Lab-Grown Meat: The Pros & Cons and What to Expect | Episode 67 image](https://media.zencastr.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=90,quality=85/image-files/63ebd70817021c4ca7e6f696/d0dd3a7c-b55a-4763-8d90-08e421336bc9.jpg)
![Conference Updates from the Food Safety Summit and the National Restaurant Association Show | Episode 66 image](https://media.zencastr.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=90,quality=85/image-files/63ebd70817021c4ca7e6f696/c11386b9-b99d-4840-a3ed-87a0c5b7978f.jpg)
![A Better Way to Do Supply Chain Management with Sara Jane Bellocchi from TraceGains | Episode 65 image](https://media.zencastr.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=90,quality=85/image-files/63ebd70817021c4ca7e6f696/227184f6-0946-4664-b83a-84730fff5182.jpg)
![Paper, Spreadsheets, and the Need to Raise the Bar with David Hatch of Neogen | Episode 64 image](https://media.zencastr.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=90,quality=85/image-files/63ebd70817021c4ca7e6f696/3a687690-4432-4270-bc25-eb3c797a1143.jpg)
![The Future of the Fast Food Industry and Robot Food Safety | Episode 63 image](https://media.zencastr.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=90,quality=85/image-files/63ebd70817021c4ca7e6f696/881c035e-0aac-45aa-b03a-5af5ed667a1e.jpg)
![Food Safety Gets the Short End of the Stick (Again) | Episode 62 image](https://media.zencastr.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=90,quality=85/image-files/63ebd70817021c4ca7e6f696/a7f45d7e-ff87-4148-8d67-b8e056bc65cc.jpg)
![Food Safety Culture and The Next Big Food Safety Crisis | Episode 60 image](https://media.zencastr.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=90,quality=85/image-files/63ebd70817021c4ca7e6f696/3aa371ae-caf4-4391-98a8-bd27297313f3.jpg)
![Insights into the Food Safety Consortium with RJ Palermo, Sales Director of Food Safety Tech | Episode 59 image](https://media.zencastr.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=90,quality=85/image-files/63ebd70817021c4ca7e6f696/6af1353f-6525-4b11-b771-2c87e49d0a93.jpg)
![Diving Back Into Food Allergies: Important Data, Recent Deaths, and Hidden Dangers | Episode 58 image](https://media.zencastr.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=90,quality=85/image-files/63ebd70817021c4ca7e6f696/99fd5acf-49d0-43a7-a62c-d4cfdd0756c3.jpg)
![The Glove Food Safety Gap: Raising Disposable Glove Standards with Steve Ardagh, CEO and Founder of Eagle Protect | Episode 57 image](https://media.zencastr.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=90,quality=85/image-files/63ebd70817021c4ca7e6f696/aede9679-ab4c-45d1-82b1-5dd66bce5791.jpg)
![The Truth About Single-Use Gloves: Are They Actually Helping? | Episode 56 image](https://media.zencastr.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=90,quality=85/image-files/63ebd70817021c4ca7e6f696/366801d6-1202-46ee-b65a-c8c756984734.jpg)
![Making Food Safe For Everyone (Not Just Some) with Betsy Craig, CEO and Founder of MenuTrinfo® | Episode 55 image](https://media.zencastr.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=90,quality=85/image-files/63ebd70817021c4ca7e6f696/ce5b1124-d997-41f4-9bfc-dac30e3911f5.jpg)
![Salmon in the Dishwasher: Finally Understand the Inside Joke and Why That’s Not a Good Idea | Episode 54 image](https://media.zencastr.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=90,quality=85/image-files/63ebd70817021c4ca7e6f696/08f69727-48cd-45af-98f2-b4cdd6d96282.jpg)
![Good Job! You’re Fired. Food Safety: The Industry You Can Lose Your Job by Doing It Too Well | Episode 53 image](https://media.zencastr.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=90,quality=85/image-files/63ebd70817021c4ca7e6f696/9318ec21-1c36-4ac2-95de-e6d247c89fd2.jpg)
![Happy 1 Year Anniversary! The End of a Year, the Beginning of Another | Episode 52 image](https://media.zencastr.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=90,quality=85/image-files/63ebd70817021c4ca7e6f696/9318ec21-1c36-4ac2-95de-e6d247c89fd2.jpg)
![Stanley Cups vs. Cinnamon Applesauce: Which Is More Likely To Give You Lead Poisoning? | Episode 51 image](https://media.zencastr.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=90,quality=85/image-files/63ebd70817021c4ca7e6f696/9318ec21-1c36-4ac2-95de-e6d247c89fd2.jpg)
![How to Actually Make a Difference with Seasoned Industry Veteran Jorge Hernandez | Episode 49 image](https://media.zencastr.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=90,quality=85/image-files/63ebd70817021c4ca7e6f696/9318ec21-1c36-4ac2-95de-e6d247c89fd2.jpg)