Fried Rice Syndrome Symptoms and Prevention Methods: Can It Even Be Fatal?

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When storing groceries, we tend to organize them by separating refrigerated, frozen, and room-temperature storage.

Sometimes, on cold days, if there is a balcony, people may leave cooked soup at room temperature instead of putting it in the refrigerator.

However, for foods that have been cooked once and also contain moisture, it is recommended to store them in the refrigerator or freezer whenever possible.

There have even been cases where people ate cooked food that had been left at room temperature and died.

Today, let’s learn about the symptoms and prevention methods of fried rice syndrome, a condition whose name alone may sound unfamiliar.

What Is Fried Rice Syndrome?

The name may sound a little strange and interesting, but fried rice syndrome actually refers to food poisoning symptoms that occur after eating food that has been left at room temperature.

Fried rice syndrome was only recently recognized in 2008.

It began with the sudden death of a college student in the Brussels region of Belgium after eating pasta.

The cause of this incident was Bacillus cereus food poisoning.

As the cooked grain dish was left at room temperature, Bacillus cereus spread, leading to food poisoning symptoms and death.

According to the investigation, the boiled pasta the student ate had been left at room temperature for about five days before being cooked and eaten.

It was later found that after 30 minutes of eating, the student suffered from food poisoning symptoms and died 10 hours later of acute liver failure caused by hepatocyte necrosis.

It is said that the acute liver failure was caused by food poisoning from Bacillus cereus bacteria.

This incident served as a warning to people who consume leftover food that has been left at room temperature.

Fried rice syndrome can easily appear in younger people in modern society who often order delivery food, so extra caution is needed.

What Are the Symptoms of Fried Rice Syndrome?

The symptoms of fried rice syndrome are similar to those experienced when exposed to common food poisoning bacteria.

Diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea may occur, and if the symptoms worsen, they can lead to acute liver failure due to hepatocyte necrosis.

If these symptoms are suspected, it is important to receive treatment quickly.

How Can Fried Rice Syndrome Be Prevented?

The Bacillus cereus bacteria that cause fried rice syndrome are known to develop especially well in carbohydrate-rich foods.

When they grow for a long period in rice, pasta, and similar foods, the bacteria do not die easily even when exposed to high temperatures.

While common food poisoning bacteria are usually prevented by heat treatment, Bacillus cereus is difficult to sterilize, which makes the risk of infection very high.

In particular, viral bacteria are characterized by spreading more quickly in high-humidity environments, but they can also rarely occur in dried foods.

Bacillus cereus can survive for a long time even in dry, moisture-free environments once it appears, so special caution is needed.

Therefore, if dried foods such as instant noodles or oatmeal have been stored at room temperature for a long time without being sealed, it is recommended to discard them immediately.

Is Refrigerated Storage Okay?

So, what should be followed to prevent fried rice syndrome?

First, it is important not to leave cooked grains at room temperature for a long time.

Bacillus cereus does not multiply at low temperatures.

Generally, growth is known to become active between 7 and 60 degrees Celsius, so it is important to consume cooked food as quickly as possible or store it in the refrigerator.

If food has been out of the refrigerator for more than 2 hours, it should be refrigerated again, and if it has been at room temperature for more than 4 hours, it is advisable to discard it to prevent bacterial growth.

Today, we looked at the symptoms and prevention methods of fried rice syndrome.

It is recommended to store all foods in the refrigerator or freezer whenever possible, and even if food is refrigerated, other bacteria may grow or the flavor may deteriorate if too much time passes, so it is recommended to consume them quickly.

Thank you.

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