Expert: Carol Schlitt - 7/30/2006

Question
what happens if you eat food that has been sitting out over night? i ate some chicken that i left in my car last night. so its been sitting out from about 10 pm to 8 am. i took it out around 8 and put it in the frige and then at it around 12... so can that do anything to you?

Answer
Hi Lauren,

You've asked a very good question, one that I get asked all the time.  Everyone wants to know if food that has been left at room temperature overnight or longer is safe to eat. Unfortunately, there is no "test" or "full-proof" rememdy to assure oneself that the food is safe to eat.  That's why experts agree that if potentially hazardous foods(ie foods that have the potential for growing harmful bacteria such as chicken, meat and dairy products)are given the right conditions for growth (temperatures between 40 and 140 degrees) then to decrease the chances of harmful bacteria growing to a level to make someone ill it should be thrown out after 2 hours in the "Danger Zone -- 40 to 140 degrees).

Now do people always get sick from consuming food left out over 2 hours -- no. But again, you can't tell if there are harmful bacteria because these bacteria do not give off any signals that they are growing. Food spoilage organisms do give off signals -- off flavors, colores, slimy deli meats, etc -- but food borne pathogens do not give off signals.  That's why we advise not consuming foods that have been given ideal conditions for harmful bacteria to grow.

I can just hear your next question -- how sick could I get?  Traditional food borne illness can hit you anywhere from 30 minutes to 3-4 days later and symptoms can include diahhrea, vomiting, etc -- typical flu-like symptoms.

Again, you may not experience anything, but with the knowledge that it might cause harm, we recommend to error on the side of caution -- especially if you are pregnant, already immuned impared, very young or very old.  These are the 4 population groups most affected by food borne illness.

Check out this excellent website that covers food borne illness:  http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~mow/intro.html

So, to answer your question -- Yes it can do something to you. Will it????????????  I hope you are one of the lucky ones.

Carol C. Schlitt
Extension Educator, Nutrition and Wellness
University of Illinois Extension