Seen on KING 5: 'What is Fried Rice Syndrome?'

You probably wouldn’t leave a hamburger sitting out overnight. But did you know leaving rice or cold pasta out for an extended period can be just as hazardous?

Fried rice syndrome is caused by a bacterium called Bacillus cereus, which is present in these types of starchy foods prior to cooking. Bacillus cereus is a heat-resistant bacteria, so even recooking foods that have not been appropriately refrigerated can result in food poisoning. 

It is important to cook foods to a safe minimum temperature to prevent food poisoning illnesses. This can be done using a food thermometer before removing the food from the heat source. For added safety and quality, allow meats to rest for at least three minutes before serving.

• Cook raw beef, pork, lamb and veal steaks, chops and roasts to 145°F.
• Cook raw ground beef, pork, lamb and veal to 160°F.
• Cook egg dishes to 160°F.
• Cook fish to 145°F.
• Cook raw poultry to 165°F.

Learn more on the Healthy Outlook blog.