What is ‘fried rice syndrome’ and why is it causing panic online?

Michelle De Pacina

31 October 2023 at 5:20 pm·2-min read

The term “fried rice syndrome” is spreading online after a TikTok video went viral for recounting the tragic 2008 death of a 20-year-old who passed away after consuming spoiled pasta.

About the TikTok: In the TikTok uploaded on Sept. 11, user @jpall20 detailed the death of the man, noting that he left pasta sitting out on the counter at room temperature for about five days before he heated it up again and ate it.

“Do not make your food, put it in a Tupperware and then leave it on your counter for a week,” the TikToker said. “Because you will literally pass away.”

Fried rice syndrome: This food poisoning, known as "fried rice syndrome," is caused by the bacteria Bacillus cereus, which grows on foods like rice or pasta left at room temperature for too long. The bacteria produces toxins that can lead to symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramping and sometimes result in severe illness and death in rare cases.

The "danger zone”: The U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety Division warns that leaving cooked food unrefrigerated for just over two hours puts it in the "danger zone" for food poisoning. According to the CDC, one in six Americans get sick from foodborne illnesses annually.

Practicing safety: To reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses, people are advised to properly store grains, rice and pasta in a cool, dry place and practice safe food handling after cooking. The two-hour/four-hour rule suggests that if food has been out of the fridge for up to two hours, it can be safely refrigerated. If it has been out longer, consume it immediately and discard any leftovers. But if it has been out for longer than four hours, the food starts to become a risk.

More on NextShark:

What is ‘fried rice syndrome’ and why is it causing panic online?

Japanese scientists accidentally discover virus in insects that only kills males

Hello Kitty voice actor announces departure from the character after 33 years

INSIDER
After my husband and I stopped wearing our wedding rings, we tried polyamory. 3 years later, we're happily nonmonogamous.
My husband and I were monogamous before we got married. When we stopped wearing our wedding rings, we decided to try polyamory.
The Telegraph
Woman arrested after prison officer filmed allegedly having sex with inmate
A woman has been arrested after footage was widely circulated that appeared to show a prison officer having sex with an inmate.
The Telegraph
‘I’m not going to buy electric again – it’s the worst car I’ve ever had’
Ray Bestwick bought an electric car last May in the hope of hassle-free motoring.
Hello!
Amal Clooney, 46, is glowing in flirty floral dress as she walks hand in hand with George Clooney
George Clooney and his wife, Amal, were spotted in St Tropez this past week, and Amal made the most of the glorious sunshine with a flirty floral mini dress. See the pictures here...
Hello!
Michael Schumacher's heartbreaking health situation: reclusive life and everything we know
Formula One legend and former Ferrari driver Michael Schumacher, 55, has lived a reclusive life with his family away from the glare of the spotlight since his skiing accident in 2013…
Hello!
Elizabeth Hurley, 59, is a goddess in tiny string bikini
Elizabeth Hurley showed off her incredible physique in a yellow string bikini as she posed for Instagram – and the Gossip Girl actress, 59, looked better than ever. See photos.
INSIDER
Israel has never been impressed with its version of the $1 billion Patriot air defense system. Now it could offload up to 8 to Ukraine.
Ukraine has long coveted more of the $1 billion US-manufactured Patriot air defense systems.
SETHLUI.COM
Guan Huat Yong Tau Foo: 44-year-old YTF stall with super gao laksa broth & over 40 ingredients
The post Guan Huat Yong Tau Foo: 44-year-old YTF stall with super gao laksa broth & over 40 ingredients appeared first on SETHLUI.com.
The Daily Beast
Obama Rode to Biden’s Rescue—but Intervention Could Yet Come
On Friday afternoon, in the aftermath of President Joe Biden’s disastrous debate against Donald Trump, private murmurs and public calls for an “intervention” ricocheted through Democratic circles. But then a hold-up emerged.Some 17 hours after Biden botched his big debate moment, his former boss came to the rescue.For many high-ranking Democrats, a single tweet from former President Barack Obama appeared to nix any chance of the 44th president meeting with the 46th and urging him to drop out.Rea
INSIDER
Kamala Harris' camp is mad that Newsom and Whitmer are being floated as Biden replacements over the VP
Harris is seen by many as a natural potential successor to Biden. But an array of Democrats believe her middling approval ratings are a liability.
SETHLUI.COM
Mr Egg Fried Rice: Tasty fried rice with massive portions, hidden among HDBs in Bishan
The post Mr Egg Fried Rice: Tasty fried rice with massive portions, hidden among HDBs in Bishan appeared first on SETHLUI.com.
The Guardian
‘Sex in an LA spa was strangely wholesome, like an extension of the wellness experience’: This is how we do it in America
Rob used to be hyper-monogamous – but then he met Mikey and discovered a whole world of experimentation
BuzzFeed
This Guy Shared The One Thing His Date Said That Made Him Stand Up And Leave Immediately, And Now He's Wondering If He Was Too Harsh
"We started having the 'our past relationships' talk, and she told me about her high school and college boyfriends. Then, she admitted that she cheated on her college boyfriend..."
The Telegraph
‘Trillion dollar trainwreck’: US super stealth fighter is eating the next generation
All of a sudden, the US Air Force is considering cancelling a multibillion-dollar effort to develop a new stealth fighter. Citing the high cost of the so-called “Next-Generation Air Dominance” programme and the competing demands of other projects, USAF leaders have warned they may have no choice but to cancel NGAD – and find other ways of winning control of the air in future wars.
The Telegraph
Putin’s navy is now a spent force
In 2024, the Russian navy plans to take delivery of 12 new warships plus another 38 small craft, according to state media.
The Independent
A pair of siblings were stabbed and the sister’s dying words were that the killer was a man from Detroit. Thirty-four years later, he’s been arrested.
Pamela Sumpter, was raped and stabbed, and her brother John Sumpter was stabbed to death, at their Georgia home on July 15, 1990
CNN
The reason why NATO and Europe found Biden’s debate performance so alarming
Joe Biden’s performance at the CNN presidential debate against Donald Trump has raised concerns with US allies - particularly within NATO and Europe.
CNN
A year ago, she drank battery acid to escape life under the Taliban. Today, she has a message for other Afghan girls
Arzo survived a suicide attempt but now faces a new threat that could send her family – and millions like them – back to Afghanistan and a life that has become so intolerable for women and girls that some would rather die.
The Telegraph
Who are we playing? Jude Bellingham sparks fury after forgetting England’s next opponents
England star Jude Bellingham has sparked fury in Slovakia by saying he didn’t know who the Three Lions were playing against in the last 16.
The Independent
Dua Lipa and Charli XCX’s tiny, must-see set proved that Glastonbury misjudged our big pop girls
COMMENT: Nothing shimmered at Glastonbury on Friday as much as Charli XCX’s sweaty bacchanal on one of its smallest stages. Adam White argues that Glastonbury has overlooked the ‘Brat’ artist, along with pop ladies-in-waiting like Chappell Roan and Sabrina Carpenter, to its own detriment

Latest stories