Can reheating rice cause food poisoning?

It is a commonly held notion that reheating of rice causes food poisoning. But the truth is that the hazard lies in the improper storage of rice rather than reheating. So even if you eat your rice cold but if it is not stored in a hygienic manner, there are high chances that you might contract food poisoning. The basic reason behind this is that rice contains a bacteria Bacillus cereus whose spores upon cooking gets activated. If properly stored , the rice remains healthy. But you reheat the rice again and again or store it at abnormal temperatures or kept for longer periods even at room temperature the spores multiply and may release toxins leading to food poisoning. But it is not just with rice. It can occur with any and almost every food item if not stored properly. So make this a habit to take proper care in storage of your food items. Cooking and reheating once is good enough. Avoid reheating again and again. As far as the symptoms are concerned, it depends on the source of food poisoning whether its bacterial, viral or fungal. Some of the commonly exhibited symptoms of food poisoning include nausea, stomach irritation, dehydration, abdominal cramps, fever and diarrhea.