Many pieces of information suggest that regularly eating cold rice can lead to gastrointestinal cancers, especially stomach cancer. But is this true?
Linda admitted that she eats cold rice almost every day. Recently, she came across online articles stating that consuming cold rice might cause cancer, which made her hesitant about eating it.
It’s not just Linda; there are many households that have a habit of eating cold rice. Mrs. Joe’s family always has leftovers, so they often reheat it with fresh rice. They’ve been doing this for years, and no one in the family has suffered any health issues due to it. However, when asked about the cancer risk related to eating cold rice, Mrs. Mao mentioned hearing about it but wasn’t sure about the reality of the situation.
According to Associate Professor Steven, the information about cold rice causing cancer is false, and people shouldn’t be overly concerned. However, it’s important to properly handle and use rice to ensure the safety and health of the family.
Eating cold rice is a common dietary habit in many families. Cooked rice, when exposed to room temperature, is more susceptible to bacterial contamination. As rice contains a lot of sugar and starch, combined with room temperature, it creates conditions for bacteria to thrive rapidly. If the rice turns yellowish and is no longer sticky, it has likely spoiled and should not be consumed. Contaminated cold rice can cause digestive disorders or, in severe cases, acute poisoning or mild digestive disturbances.
For those using cold rice, homemakers should pay attention to:
- Not leaving hot rice in the refrigerator.
- Avoid reheating rice more than twice.
- Not storing rice with other food items.
- Avoiding direct contact between food wrapping and rice.
Dr. Steven also advises that rice should only be kept in the fridge and consumed within 24 hours. Many families have a habit of storing cold rice for the whole week before reheating it. This practice isn’t good because prolonged storage allows bacteria to thrive.
The Malaysian Ministry of Health has also warned against reheating cold rice for consumption as it may lead to poisoning. Food should be properly stored and not kept for too long after being prepared to ensure nutritional value and avoid health risks.
