Many of us may be guilty of leaving leftover pasta or rice sitting out on the counter for a little too long.

But did you know that something seemingly harmless as overnight leftovers could make you seriously ill?

According to emergency medicine physician Dr Joe Whittington, food like pasta and rice should never be left out at room temperature for more than two hours as it could make you very sick.

'Do not make food put it in a container and leave it on your counter for a week,' Dr Whittington said.

An emergency doctor revealed that food should not be left out for more than two hours at room temperature. Image source: topntp26 on Freepik.

The culprit behind these types of foodborne illnesses is often a bacteria called Bacillus cereus, a spore-forming bacteria that is toxic and may cause vomiting and diarrhoea.

It is widely present in pasta and raw rice, and some spores are known to stay even after the food is cooked.

A study by a scientist from McGill University revealed that the bacteria can double in amount within 20 minutes if food is kept at 30 degrees Celsius, and the only way to avoid the risk of being ill is by eating food as quickly as possible after it is cooked.

If this is not possible, it was suggested to keep hot food above 60 degrees Celsius and cold food at 5 degrees Celsius below.

Find out how you can reduce the risk of ingesting the bacteria below:

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Symptoms reportedly show within one to sixteen hours after consumption of the contaminated food.

While most healthy people recover within one to two days, it can be more severe for those with weak immune systems.

It was noted that food with a higher risk of contamination includes pre-cooked starchy meals such as rice, pasta, and cereals.

Sadly, for others, Bacillus cereus food poisoning was more than a cautionary tale.

The tragic death of a 20-year-old Belgian college student made rounds on social media recently after the circumstances surrounding his passing were revealed through a study.

The student fell seriously ill and later died after consuming spaghetti that had been left out in the open for five days.

The man’s known symptoms were a headache, vomiting, and nausea.

An autopsy revealed his cause of death to be multiple organ failure.

Many were shocked by the advice, with one saying: 'Two hours? I cook rice in a cooker and eat that for days!'

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

Others were horrified by the revelation.

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

While another user shared: 'My coworker used 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.'

Key Takeaways

• An emergency medicine doctor warns that leaving starchy foods like rice and pasta out on a counter at room temperature for more than two hours could cause food poisoning due to Bacillus cereus bacteria.
  
• This bacteria, present in raw rice and pasta, forms spores that produce toxins causing vomiting and diarrhoea, and some spores remain even after these foods are cooked.
  
• Foods at higher risk of contamination include pre-cooked starchy foods like rice, pasta and cereals.
  

Members, what are your thoughts on this story? Is two hours too short? Let us know in the comments below!

 

[Littleboy8]

Many of us may be guilty of leaving leftover pasta or rice sitting out on the counter for a little too long.

But did you know that something seemingly harmless as overnight leftovers could make you seriously ill?

According to emergency medicine physician Dr Joe Whittington, food like pasta and rice should never be left out at room temperature for more than two hours as it could make you very sick.

'Do not make food put it in a container and leave it on your counter for a week,' Dr Whittington said.

View attachment 33392

An emergency doctor revealed that food should not be left out for more than two hours at room temperature. Image source: topntp26 on Freepik.

The culprit behind these types of foodborne illnesses is often a bacteria called Bacillus cereus, a spore-forming bacteria that is toxic and may cause vomiting and diarrhoea.

It is widely present in pasta and raw rice, and some spores are known to stay even after the food is cooked.

A study by a scientist from McGill University revealed that the bacteria can double in amount within 20 minutes if food is kept at 30 degrees Celsius, and the only way to avoid the risk of being ill is by eating food as quickly as possible after it is cooked.

If this is not possible, it was suggested to keep hot food above 60 degrees Celsius and cold food at 5 degrees Celsius below.

Find out how you can reduce the risk of ingesting the bacteria below:

View attachment 33432​

Symptoms reportedly show within one to sixteen hours after consumption of the contaminated food.

While most healthy people recover within one to two days, it can be more severe for those with weak immune systems.

It was noted that food with a higher risk of contamination includes pre-cooked starchy meals such as rice, pasta, and cereals.

Sadly, for others, Bacillus cereus food poisoning was more than a cautionary tale.

The tragic death of a 20-year-old Belgian college student made rounds on social media recently after the circumstances surrounding his passing were revealed through a study.

The student fell seriously ill and later died after consuming spaghetti that had been left out in the open for five days.

The man’s known symptoms were a headache, vomiting, and nausea.

An autopsy revealed his cause of death to be multiple organ failure.

Many were shocked by the advice, with one saying: 'Two hours? I cook rice in a cooker and eat that for days!'

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

Others were horrified by the revelation.

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

While another user shared: 'My coworker used 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.'

Key Takeaways

• An emergency medicine doctor warns that leaving starchy foods like rice and pasta out on a counter at room temperature for more than two hours could cause food poisoning due to Bacillus cereus bacteria.
• This bacteria, present in raw rice and pasta, forms spores that produce toxins causing vomiting and diarrhoea, and some spores remain even after these foods are cooked.
• Foods at higher risk of contamination include pre-cooked starchy foods like rice, pasta and cereals.

Members, what are your thoughts on this story? Is two hours too short? Let us know in the comments below!

Who in there right mind leaves food out overnight you’d have to be bonkers.you deserve food poisoning if you do.

 

[Nichola]

God in Heaven, who would eat cooked spaghetti left out for FIVE DAYS?

 

[Littleboy8]

God in Heaven, who would eat cooked spaghetti left out for FIVE DAYS?

An idiot

 

[novezar]

When I was an apprentice butcher, '60 onwards, some of the practices then, if continued to this day, more than likely half the population would probably "kick the bucket". Everyone had "Strong Constitutions" in those yesteryears & days.