The Surprising Item You Should Skip at the Buffet to Avoid Getting Sick
It’s present on nearly every buffet, piled in fluffy mounds. It’s the bland food you’re told to eat when you have an upset stomach. But it can be really dangerous if not kept at the correct temperature. Yes, it may be surprising, but rice can make you sick.
Uncooked rice can contain a bacterium called Bacillus cereus, which can sometimes survive the cooking process. These spores can survive cooking, and, under the right conditions, multiply and produce toxins that cause foodborne illness. The most well-known illness linked to this is called “fried rice syndrome.” According to FoodSafety.gov, if rice is not kept at 140 degrees when left out for two hours or longer, any remaining bacteria can multiply and make you sick if you eat that rice.
Symptoms will set in quickly (anywhere from 30 minutes to 15 hours after eating) and can cause vomiting and diarrhea. You’ll be sick for about 24 hours if you fall victim to Bacillus cereus.
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Bad Buffet Warning Signs
- Food that's supposed to be hot isn't hot.
- Food that's supposed to be cold is thawing or melting.
- Buffet workers put new food on top of old food instead of replacing an entire container of old food with a new container of fresh food.
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Which Foods Should You Avoid at Buffets
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Who is Most at Risk?
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Other Foods Susceptible to Bacillus Cereus Contamination
I asked Janilyn Hutchings, a Certified Professional in Food Safety, what signs to watch for at a buffet to make sure the food you’re eating is safe. Hutchings advises to look for these three red flags:
Rice falls into the category of Time or Temperature Control for Safety Foods (TCS). According to Hutchings, these are foods that have high carbohydrate and protein levels, are neutral or slightly acidic, and contain moisture. Other foods in this category that you will likely find on the buffet include sliced melons, cut greens, and meat.
While Bacillus cereus toxins can make anyone ill, the effects can be more severe for seniors, young children, pregnant people, and people with weakened immune systems. These groups should avoid rice at buffets.
Rice is not the only food that can be contaminated. Other high-risk foods include: cooked pasta, potatoes, steamed vegetables, and soups and stews with rice.