Fried rice syndrome refers to food poisoning caused by Bacillus cereus, a type of bacteria that forms spores that release harmful toxins, Robert Gravani, Ph.D., professor emeritus of food science at Cornell University, tells TODAY.com. People become infected when they ingest food contaminated with the bacteria, which causes diarrhea and vomiting.

After cooking, rice left at room temperature can host various bacteria as they multiply and release harmful toxins, and sometimes lead to B. cereus food poisoning, also known as "fried rice syndrome." You can avoid this by being careful about how you prepare, cook and store your rice after cooking.