How long do your friends and family like to chat over your meals?
Talk for as long as you like, but put away the food before it’s been out for 2 hours. By that point, numerous types of microorganisms responsible for foodborne illness may have found a comfortable haven. One often overlooked type of microorganism called Bacillus cereus could pose a threat to your health.
You may have heard of the illness called “fried rice syndrome,” which is caused by eating foods contaminated by Bacillus cereus. B. cereus can be a harmful form of bacteria due to its release of toxins that cause symptoms of food poisoning or worse in rare cases. It can thrive on foods left at room temperature for multiple hours, such as meat, cheese, vegetables, pasta, and other dishes. That includes prep time, so keep track of the cumulative time that your food has been in the “danger zone”—which is anywhere from 40 degrees to 140 degrees Fahrenheit—and be sure to practice good food safety measures such as washing your hands, foods and utensils; and keeping raw and cooked foods separate.
Keep in mind that putting your food in the microwave doesn’t necessarily make it safe from this particular heat-resistant bacteria. You need to reheat leftovers until they reach an internal temperature of 165° Fahrenheit to make sure it’s safe to eat—but still only consume the food if it was refrigerated below 40 degrees within 2 hours of being prepared and served.
We hope you’ll share what you’ve learned from A Moment of Science with your friends and family. Stay safe from potential danger lurking in leftovers!
This moment of science comes from Indiana University, with production support from the Office of the Provost.
I'm Yaël Ksander.
