A Morel Dilemma: Bonus — Calling in The CDC

In this bonus episode, we go deeper into the public health machinery behind a mass poisoning investigation.

Dr. Michael Yeh, a medical toxicologist at the CDC’s National Center for Environmental Health, explains how the CDC gets pulled into unusual outbreaks, how poison centers and health departments help spot early signals, and what happens once a local cluster starts looking like something bigger.

We also explore several real-world investigations, from lead-contaminated applesauce to synthetic cannabinoid poisonings to Diamond Shruumz chocolate products, and ask a practical question: when something strange is happening, who do you call?

This is a behind-the-scenes look at the systems, people, and detective work that help identify poisoning outbreaks before they spread.