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How long can you leave pasta and rice out for before it makes you sick? I'm an emergency doctor - this is the food poisoning warning you need to know

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A doctor has revealed that leaving starchy foods like rice and pasta out on a counter at room temperature for as little as two hours could make you very sick.

Dr. Joe Whittington, an emergency medicine physician from the US, commented on a case where a 20-year-old student died of 'fried rice syndrome' after consuming leftover pasta that had been left out for five days.

The kind of food poisoning occurs due to Bacillus cereus - a spore forming bacteria that produces toxins that cause vomiting and diarrhoea. 

The bacteria is widely present in raw rice and pasta, and some spores remain even after the foods are cooked.

'Do not make food put it in a container and leave it on your counter for a week,' Dr Whittington warned off the back of the case.

'You should never eat pasta or rice that has been left at room temperature for more than two hours.'

Dr. Joe Whittington, an emergency medicine physician from the US, commented on a case where a 20-year-old student died of 'fried rice syndrome' after consuming leftover pasta that had been left out for five days

Dr. Joe Whittington, an emergency medicine physician from the US, commented on a case where a 20-year-old student died of 'fried rice syndrome' after consuming leftover pasta that had been left out for five days

A McGill University scientist revealed that a colony of the bacteria can double in size within 20 minutes if kept at 30C; the only way to reduce the chance of illness is by eating your food as quickly as possible after it is cooked. 

If you can't, they advise hot foods to be kept above 60C and cold foods below 5C. 

The Australian Food Standards Authority revealed that symptoms usually start one to 16 hours after eating contaminated food, but most with healthy immune systems should recover within 48 hours.

How can I reduce the risk of Bacillus cereus in my food?

1. Cook food thoroughly and serve it immediately or keep it hot (60C or hotter) before serving

2. Cool cooked food quickly if it is going to be used later:

  • put it in the fridge (or freezer) as soon as it stops steaming
  • divide large amounts of hot food into smaller containers to let it cool faster
  • make sure your fridge is 5C or colder

3. Keep leftovers in the fridge (or freezer) and dispose of refrigerated leftovers if not eaten within 3-4 days (or within 1 day for vulnerable people

4. Wash your hands with soap and dry them before preparing and eating food

5. Keep your kitchen and equipment clean

Source: Food Standards Authority

Foods at higher risk of contamination include pre-cooked starchy foods like rice, pasta and cereals.

Pre-cooked mixed dishes, especially spiced dishes, are also at risk.

While most people only have mild symptoms and recover quickly (within a day or less), people with weak immune systems can get seriously ill.

@drjoe_md

Fried Rice Syndrome is a type of food poisoning caused by the bacteria Bacillus cereus, often associated with improperly stored or reheated fried rice dishes. What’s the longest you’ve left out food that should have been refrigerated but still ate it? I want to know! #foodpoisoning #leftovers #pastalover #friedrice #healthydiet

♬ original sound - Dr. Joe, M.D. 🩺

Many were shocked and couldn't take the advice seriously. 

'Two hours? Bruh I cook rice in a cooker and eat that for days,' one said.

'I only refrain from eating the food if it starts to smell bad, two hours seem a bit excessive,' another added.

While others were horrified by the news. 

'I wouldn't eat ANYTHING cooked and left on the counter for a week! Not even overnight! Who does that?' one asked.

'My coworker use to make five sandwiches on Monday and leave them in a bag under her desk and eat them through the week. I couldn't believe it,' another shared.

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