Food Safety Compliance in Home Kitchens: The Hidden Risks of Social Media Food Businesses | Episode 162

If you’ve ever been tempted by homemade dumplings on Facebook Marketplace or the viral “pink sauce” on TikTok, this episode might make you pause mid-scroll. 

In this eye-opening (and slightly terrifying) episode of Don’t Eat Poop!, our hosts Matt and Francine dig into the booming world of home-based food businesses and the massive food safety compliance gaps lurking behind those mouthwatering posts. From underground meal prep hustles to kids selling home-cooked food at school, this episode blends humor with hard truths about food safety regulations, HACCP principles, and the real risks of buying food from strangers online.

In this episode:

💩 [01:17] Buying unregulated food from Facebook Marketplace and TikTok

💩 [02:56] Matt’s childhood side hustle

💩 [06:59] From tamales to salsa: When “knowing your source” matters

💩 [08:56] Dutch survey shocker: 90% of home caterers don’t understand food safety regulations

💩 [13:10] Social media as a tool for food safety training (yes, really)

💩 [19:28] Final verdict: Buying food online? Proceed with caution

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

Resources from this episode

Take a look at the Food Safety News article we discussed in this episode: Home-based cooks lack awareness of food safety rules

Noteworthy quotes from this episode

“There are regulations, but if the entrepreneurs don’t know that there are regulations and are just operating under the radar, then there aren’t regulations.” – Matt Regusci

“So many people assume if you can buy it, it’s safe.” – Francine L Shaw

Connect with Francine, Matt, and the “Don’t Eat Poop!” show on LinkedIn! 

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