Several cases of food poisoning from eating overnight rice have recently occurred in Xi'an. The Xi'an Health Supervision Office has reminded citizens that eating leftover meals in summer and autumn can easily lead to food poisoning, and people should be cautious when consuming them.
According to the Xi'an Health Supervision Office, there is a bacterium called Bacillus cereus, which is most likely to grow and reproduce toxins in large quantities in foods such as rice, rice noodles, and other dairy products, meat products, and vegetables at temperatures between 16°C and 50°C. Summer and autumn are the most active seasons for Bacillus cereus, so food poisoning from it is most prevalent during these two seasons. The most common contaminated foods are leftover rice, fried rice, cold dishes, and sauces.
If citizens consume contaminated rice, they are highly likely to develop vomiting-type gastroenteritis and diarrhea-type gastroenteritis. The main symptoms include vomiting, dizziness, limb weakness, dry mouth, stomach discomfort, and abdominal pain and diarrhea.
The Xi'an Health Supervision Office reminds that it is best not to eat meals from the previous meal or overnight during the summer and autumn. If you must eat such meals, you should heat the rice thoroughly to 100°C and wait for 20 minutes before consuming.