Student’s tragic demise over spoiled food resurfaces online
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For those looking to quickly whip up something delicious with minimal fuss, leftovers are often seen as the go-to option.
But recently, news on a truly shocking case of food poisoning has resurfaced that serves as an important reminder of just how dangerous reheated leftovers can potentially be.
The story of a 20-year-old college student who died after eating five-day-old, reheated pasta has resurfaced on the internet, and it’s leaving many concerned.
The incident occurred in Belgium way back in 2008, when the student fell ill after consuming spaghetti that had been left on the kitchen counter for five days before he decided to make it a meal.
He reportedly added a new tomato sauce to the reheated pasta, which gave the dish an 'unusual' taste, but it didn’t seem to alarm him. He went ahead and ate the spaghetti anyway.
But his decision proved to be a fatal one.
According to the Journal of Clinical Microbiology, the young man’s symptoms included headache, abdominal pain, and nausea.
A post-mortem revealed AJ’s cause of death was organ failure due to bacteria known as Bacillus cereus, which is commonly found in the environment.
So, what can we learn from this unfortunate case?
Reheating food can be notoriously dangerous, and that's an important fact to keep in mind.
Leftovers, in particular, can be an easier solution than a freshly cooked meal, but—as AJ’s case so sadly illustrates—it's important to be aware of the risks that come with eating them, such as the presence of bacteria.
Fortunately, there are steps we can take to reduce the risk of food poisoning by:
1. Cooking food thoroughly and serving it immediately or keeping it hot (60°C or hotter) before serving.
2. Cooling 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.
3. Ensuring your fridge is 5°C or colder.
4. Keeping leftovers in the fridge (or freezer) and disposing of refrigerated leftovers if not eaten within 3-4 days (or within 1 day for vulnerable people).
5. Washing your hands with soap and drying them before preparing and eating food.
6. Keeping your kitchen and equipment clean.
It's also essential to properly store food. Bacillus cereus, for instance, is often found in cooked rice left out at room temperature.
Although alternatives to leftovers like store-bought or prepared meals are becoming increasingly popular, please take the cautionary advice of this tragic case into account when re-cooking food.
Using the steps outlined above, you can avoid the risk of food poisoning—and hopefully, more tragedies like AJ's will be avoided in the future.
Do you have any advice on how to store leftovers properly? Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
But recently, news on a truly shocking case of food poisoning has resurfaced that serves as an important reminder of just how dangerous reheated leftovers can potentially be.
The story of a 20-year-old college student who died after eating five-day-old, reheated pasta has resurfaced on the internet, and it’s leaving many concerned.
The incident occurred in Belgium way back in 2008, when the student fell ill after consuming spaghetti that had been left on the kitchen counter for five days before he decided to make it a meal.
Leftovers have a higher chance of developing bacteria when stored improperly. Credit: Shutterstock
He reportedly added a new tomato sauce to the reheated pasta, which gave the dish an 'unusual' taste, but it didn’t seem to alarm him. He went ahead and ate the spaghetti anyway.
But his decision proved to be a fatal one.
According to the Journal of Clinical Microbiology, the young man’s symptoms included headache, abdominal pain, and nausea.
A post-mortem revealed AJ’s cause of death was organ failure due to bacteria known as Bacillus cereus, which is commonly found in the environment.
Reheating food can be notoriously dangerous, and that's an important fact to keep in mind.
Leftovers, in particular, can be an easier solution than a freshly cooked meal, but—as AJ’s case so sadly illustrates—it's important to be aware of the risks that come with eating them, such as the presence of bacteria.
Fortunately, there are steps we can take to reduce the risk of food poisoning by:
1. Cooking food thoroughly and serving it immediately or keeping it hot (60°C or hotter) before serving.
2. Cooling 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.
3. Ensuring your fridge is 5°C or colder.
4. Keeping leftovers in the fridge (or freezer) and disposing of refrigerated leftovers if not eaten within 3-4 days (or within 1 day for vulnerable people).
5. Washing your hands with soap and drying them before preparing and eating food.
6. Keeping your kitchen and equipment clean.
Proper food storage protects you from unwanted bacteria that could potentially cause harm. Credit: Shutterstock
It's also essential to properly store food. Bacillus cereus, for instance, is often found in cooked rice left out at room temperature.
Although alternatives to leftovers like store-bought or prepared meals are becoming increasingly popular, please take the cautionary advice of this tragic case into account when re-cooking food.
Do you have any advice on how to store leftovers properly? Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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