Key Takeaways

Bacillus cereus is a bacterium associated with food poisoning from rice, stews, and gravy.

When cooked rice sits at room temperature for too long, this bacterium creates heat-resistant toxins.

Bacillus cereus food poisoning typically comes with 24–48 hours of nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.

Leftover rice can carry a risk of food poisoning if it isn’t stored properly. On TikTok, users have dubbed it “reheated rice syndrome.”

Why Leftover Rice Can Make You Sick

Uncooked rice often contains the bacterium Bacillus cereus. It creates spores that can survive heating and cooking. In fact, high temperatures can “wake up the spores,” according to Jennifer J. Quinlan, PhD, a food microbiologist and a professor in the department of nutrition sciences at Drexel University in Phi

See Full Page