Bacillus cereus

Description and health risks:

Bacillus cereus can cause food poisoning, with different symptoms depending on the type of toxin causing the infection. 

These symptoms occur in two different forms:

1. Emetic symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and occasionally mild diarrhea, usually appear 30 minutes to 6 hours after consuming contaminated food.
2. Diarrheal symptoms, such as watery diarrhea, abdominal cramps and, less commonly, nausea, usually occur 6 to 24 hours after consumption of contaminated food. It is important to drink plenty of fluids, especially if you have diarrhea.

These symptoms may be more pronounced in susceptible individuals and immunocompromised patients. Bacillus cereus is particularly heat resistant and can therefore survive common cooking temperatures that would normally kill most other bacteria.

People who have consumed a contaminated product and are experiencing symptoms should seek medical advice and disclose their exposure. Symptoms may vary from person to person and may vary in severity depending on the extent of infection.

Which foods are affected?

Rice and pasta in particular: the bacteria are present in these dry products but cannot multiply due to the low water content. Under certain conditions, Bacillus cereus bacteria can multiply, especially in cooked and reheated side dishes (especially rice and pasta).