Be wary of keeping cooked rice outside

Have you felt nauseous or vomited after consuming the fried rice you just got parcelled from your favourite Chinese restaurant? If you have, you might have been prey to the ‘Fried Rice Syndrome’.

This is caused by a bacteria called Bacillus Cereus, commonly found in food kept at room temperature for hours, and can cause vomiting or diarrhoea.

“It usually happens when someone consumes fried rice that is not cooked properly or stored appropriately. Ideally, this rice should be eaten fresh; otherwise one should make sure to keep it in the fridge,” says Pratik Patik, consultant in infectious diseases, Fortis Hospitals.

Reheating the rice might help as there is a good chance that the Bacillus might get killed. However, if not heated properly, the spores will change into the vegetative form and produce a toxin.

“When this toxin enters the body, it can cause abdominal cramps, vomiting and nausea. These symptoms can take anything between 30 minutes to 5-6 hours to begin and can last for one day. It is self-limiting. However, the syndrome can get worse if you are dehydrated because of persistent vomiting.”

The syndrome can occur even if a person consumes normal rice which is kept at room temperature for more than two hours, says Keetana Ramu, nutritionist. “The most common way of coming in contact with this bacteria is through buffets. Most of the time, these buffets are kept at room temperature for almost four hours — enough time for the bacteria to proliferate. I would advise people to watch what and where they are eating,” she says.

Agreeing to this is Ryan Fernando, chief nutritionist, Qua Nutrition Signature Clinics. He says that most restaurants don’t follow that Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP), the preventive approach to food safety, and look at profitability over anything else.

“Food kept between 5 degree Celsius to 60 degree Celsius is dangerous because this is the ideal temperature for bacteria. Restaurants cook their food well in advance of consumption but even at homes, people don’t really follow this system.”

He suggests that people order dishes that are not included in the buffet.

How common is this in Bengaluru

It is difficult to prove it — one has to look at what the patient consumed and from where. Since the illness is relatively mild and the effect remains only for 24 hours, most people head to the pharmacy and take a tablet for vomiting.

How can people prevent it

- Don’t eat stale fried rice. Make sure it is fresh and properly cooked.

- Store it in the refrigerator, not room temperature.

- Don’t pop pills immediately. The problem most often resolves itself.

Germaine Mobley from Texas sued Asian King Buffet in Waxahachie for $1 million after she allegedly suffered ‘Fried Rice Syndrome’. She consumed the Chinese buffet at the restaurant in 2016 and fell sick afterwards, due to which she had to be admitted in the intensive care unit.