Can Leftover Rice Actually Give You Meals Poisoning?

Most individuals know that they need to keep away from consuming uncooked rooster, unrefrigerated mayonnaise, and even unwashed produce to stop meals poisoning. However even a cooked grain equivalent to rice may cause gastrointestinal points, and folks on-line are sharing their tales to warn others.

On TikTok, videos that present individuals falling sick after consuming leftover rice are making the rounds. These cautionary tales could also be leaving individuals questioning if consuming it’s actually that dangerous, or if it’s merely one other TikTok well being rumor.

One would possibly assume that leaving cooked rice out on the counter is no different than leaving out a loaf of baked breadhowever vitamin consultants say that that’s truly not the case.

“Bacterial spores are warmth resistant, so that they survive even after (the) rice is cooked and reheated,” Nancy Mitchell, RNgeriatric nursing care professional, instructed Well being. “The issue is that leaving the rice out for too lengthy at room temperature can encourage the spores to turn into micro organism.”

Right here’s what consultants needed to say about why individuals can get sick from consuming leftover rice, and the information you should know to keep away from getting sick.

Food poisoning is an sickness that happens after an individual eats meals or drinks water that has been contaminated with sure probably dangerous micro organism, parasites, viruses, or toxins. It’s additionally fairly widespread—annually, about 48 million individuals in america have meals poisoning.

Because the physique rids itself of the overseas merchandise, contaminated individuals can expertise vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and abdomen cramps.

Most instances of meals poisoning resolve on their very own inside per week. However publicity to those dangerous objects may be significantly dangerous for people who find themselves immunocompromised, pregnant, or beneath the age of 5. Their our bodies might not be geared up to fight these unwelcome organisms appropriately. In additional excessive instances, meals poisoning may even trigger loss of life—it has been linked to about 3,000 deaths in america annually.

Due to this, it’s vital to take the suitable steps to keep away from meals poisoning so that individuals can cut back their danger of turning into sick.

Rice might seem to be a low-risk meals to eat. However though cooked rice is a single-grain dish that doesn’t embody something uncooked, it will probably nonetheless harbor sure micro organism that will make an individual fall sick if it’s not saved and reheated correctly.

“Cooked rice has a historical past of containing the micro organism known as Bacillus cereus,” Toby Amidor, MS, RD, CDN, FANDan award-winning vitamin professional, meals security professional, and creator of the upcoming guide, Up Your Veggies: Flexitarian Recipes for the Complete Householdinstructed Well being.

The micro organism is discovered within the soil and produces a toxin that causes gastrointestinal diseases when it’s ingested.

“Bacillus cereus is likely one of the most typical causes of foodborne sickness, with over (63,000) instances yearly within the US,” Melissa Azzaro, RDN, LDregistered dietitian and podcast host at Hormonally Yoursinstructed Well being.

“It’s so widespread that the vomiting and diarrhea that may happen 1-5 hours after consuming leftover rice that hasn’t been correctly saved has been known as ‘fried rice syndrome.’” Bacillus cereus an infection is often delicate, however it may be harmful, particularly in those that have a weakened immune system.

This danger doesn’t simply apply to rice, Azzaro added. Any grain can harbor micro organism if it isn’t saved accurately, and might make an individual very sick if it isn’t saved and reheated correctly.

Consuming rice that’s cooked and correctly heated comes with little or no danger. However, if the rice has remained in “temperatures between 40 levels to 140 levels Fahrenheit (known as the temperature hazard zone) for over two hours, micro organism can develop in a short time,” Amidor mentioned.

That implies that cooked rice shouldn’t be left at room temperature for greater than two hours, and no multiple hour if the temperature is over 90 levels Fahrenheit, Amidor defined.

As soon as it’s now not sizzling, the rice “ought to then be positioned in a lined container within the fridge,” she added.

And after the leftover rice is cooled and saved in a fridge stored under 40 levels Fahrenheit, it’s good for as much as 4 days within the fridge, mentioned Amidor.

“Cooked rice can be frozen in a freezer-safe container or resealable bag for as much as three to 4 months,” she mentioned.

As soon as persons are able to get pleasure from their leftover rice, Azzaro defined that rice may be reheated solely as soon as. She recommends portioning a serving to reheat as an alternative of heating your complete leftover batch to keep away from the reheating-storing-reheating sample.

All leftovers—no matter whether or not it’s rice, pasta, or your mother’s potato casserole—must be reheated to an inside temperature of 165 levels Fahrenheit to assist guarantee its security.

When contemplating the security of consuming leftover rice, the danger is linked solely to improper storage practices. Rice offers many important nutrients to maintain individuals energized and well-nourished, so having fun with rice and consuming it for leftovers the following day is a wholesome and secure choice—as long as it’s being saved and reheated accurately.