Ben and Don kick things off with a quick discussion about Ben's trip to USDA for a National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF) meeting the latest updates from the. They riff on how these guidelines set the gold standard for food safety across federal agencies as well as how the food industry looks at emerging food safety issues. From there, they share a virtual tour of the USDA’s iconic South and Jamie L. Whitten buildings—a quick stroll down memory lane, including a few constructive critiques on bureaucratic décor. Switching gears, they dive into the recent Emmy win for Poisoned, the documentary on foodborne illness where FST friend Bill Marler is a main character (and Ben make's a cameo). The discussion shifts to disaster preparation and recovery, specifically related to Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina, touching on how floods and power outages affect food safety. Rounding out the episode is an exploration of the recent Salmonella outbreak linked to eggs, flour and pathogenic E. coli and Listeria in Boar's Head liverwurst.