Overview

We all save leftovers—especially rice and pasta—for the next day. But if we don’t store these starchy dishes properly, they can become dangerous. In 2008, a tragic case in Belgium showed just how risky this can be. A 20-year-old man ate spaghetti that had stayed at room temperature for five days. He reheated it, ate it, and soon began vomiting and experiencing diarrhoea and other severe symptoms. The next morning, his parents found him dead. Doctors confirmed that food poisoning from Bacillus cereus, a harmful bacterium, caused his death.

What Is Fried Rice Syndrome?

“Fried rice syndrome” describes food poisoning caused by Bacillus cereus, a bacterium that grows in cooked rice, pasta, potatoes, and other starchy foods when people leave them at room temperature. It multiplies quickly and releases toxins that cause nausea, vomiting, and, in rare cases, death. USDA experts have found this bacterium in cooked meat, soups, pastries, custards, salads, and even herbs.

Doctor’s Warning

American emergency doctor Joe Whittington shared an important message on TikTok. He used a phrase doctors frlearn in medical school—”Reheat rice? Be serious!”—to highlight the risks of eating rice or pasta left out too long. He warned that people should not leave cooked rice or pasta at room temperature for more than two hours. In very hot weather (above 32°C or 90°F), they should refrigerate it within one hour to avoid food poisoning.

How to Safely Store Leftovers

• Refrigerate rice and pasta within 1–2 hours of cooking.

• Use shallow containers to cool food quickly.

• Reheat to 75°C (165°F) to kill bacteria.

• When in doubt, throw it out. It’s safer to waste food than risk illness.

Proper food storage saves lives. Handle leftovers with care—your health depends on it.

Source: The Times of India