Health · Medical Research · 1 day ago
Man narrowly avoids liver transplant after eating improperly stored rice
A man in his 20s in the Netherlands became critically ill after eating rice left out overnight in a kitchen above 30°C.
The rice had been reheated, but testing found high levels of cereulide, a toxin made by the bacteria Bacillus cereus.
Reheating does not reliably destroy the toxin once it has formed in food.
The man had seizures, dangerously low blood sugar, liver failure and kidney damage, and doctors assessed him for an emergency liver transplant.
Intensive treatment helped him recover without a transplant, and he later returned to daily life after rehabilitation.
His sibling, who ate the same food, had vomiting and diarrhoea but recovered within two days.
Severe organ damage from this kind of food poisoning is rare, but the case shows why cooked rice should be cooled quickly and refrigerated rather than left at room temperature overnight.
A man in his 20s developed acute liver and kidney failure after eating rice that had been left unrefrigerated overnight and reheated.
Doctors assessed him for an emergency liver transplant, but intensive treatment helped him recover without one.
Tests found high levels of cereulide, a heat-resistant toxin produced by Bacillus cereus, in the rice and his blood.
The rice had been left in a kitchen where the temperature was above 30°C.
His sibling, who ate the same food, had vomiting and diarrhea but recovered within two days.
- Who
- A previously healthy man in his 20s. His sibling also ate the rice.
- What
- The man developed multiple organ failure and was assessed for an emergency liver transplant, but recovered without one.
- When
- Not stated
- Where
- Not stated
- Why
- The rice had been left unrefrigerated overnight in a kitchen above 30°C, allowing cereulide toxin to form.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The man’s cooked rice dish was left unrefrigerated in a kitchen above 30°C.
He reheated and ate the rice.
He was found unconscious and taken to hospital with seizures and severe low blood sugar.
His liver function began to recover.
He was removed from the liver transplant waiting list.
- Patient
- Previously healthy man in his 20s
- Kitchen temperature
- Above 30°C
- Toxin detected
- Cereulide
- Cause identified
- Bacillus cereus
- Liver recovery
- Began on the third day in hospital
- Transplant outcome
- Removed from the waiting list on the fourth day