Level 2 Food Safety in Catering Food Safety Hazards part 1 | Page 19

19

Rod type bacteria (illustration only)

Bacillus cereus
This is often associated with rice and cereals. It is also a spore former and is a rod type bacteria. The bacteria works in a similar way to the staphylococcus bacteria, namely by the formation of toxins in the food. The symptoms are mainly vomiting and abdominal cramps with a quick onset time. Another type causes the formation of toxins in the intestines and is more associated with diarrhoea and hence a longer onset period before symptoms.

ACTIVITY
Over the last few pages there has been information about food-poisoning and food borne illness. You need to know the basics on these bacteria so it is important to spend a few minutes getting to know the information.