A doctor has revealed that leaving starchy foods such as rice and pasta out on a counter at room temperature for just two hours can make you very ill.
Dr. Joe Whittington, an emergency room doctor from the US, commented on a case in which a 20-year-old student died of ‘fried rice syndrome’ after consuming leftover pasta that had been left to sit for five days.
This type of food poisoning is caused by Bacillus cereus, a spore-forming bacterium that produces toxins that cause vomiting and diarrhea.
The bacteria is widespread in raw rice and pasta, and some spores remain even after the food has been cooked.
“Don’t make food, put it in a container and leave it on your counter for a week,” Dr. Whittington warned on the back of the case.
‘Never eat pasta or rice that has been left at room temperature for more than two hours.’
Dr. Joe Whittington, an emergency room doctor from the US, commented on a case where a 20-year-old student died of ‘fried rice syndrome’ after consuming leftover pasta left out for five days
a Scientist from McGill University revealed that a colony of the bacterium can double in size within 20 minutes if kept at 30°C; the only way to reduce the risk of illness is to eat your food as soon as possible after cooking.
If that is not possible, they recommend storing hot dishes above 60 degrees Celsius and cold dishes below 5 degrees Celsius.
The Australian Food Standards Authority revealed that symptoms usually begin one to 16 hours after eating contaminated food, but that most people with healthy immune systems should recover within 48 hours.
Foods at higher risk of contamination include pre-cooked starchy foods such as rice, pasta and breakfast cereals.
Pre-cooked mixed dishes, especially spicy dishes, are also at risk.
Although most people have only mild symptoms and recover quickly (within a day or less), people with weak immune systems can become seriously ill.
Many were shocked and could not take the advice seriously.
‘Two o’clock? Bruh, I cook rice in a stove and eat it for days,” someone said.
“I don’t eat the food until it stinks, two hours seems a bit excessive,” another added.
While others were shocked by the news.
“I wouldn’t eat anything that’s been cooked and sitting on the counter for a week!” Not even at night! Who does that?’ someone asked.
‘My colleague made five sandwiches on Monday, put them in a bag under her desk and ate them all week. I couldn’t believe it,” said another.