What type of illness is primarily caused by Bacillus cereus?

Bacillus cereus is known to cause two main types of foodborne illnesses: diarrheal illness and emetic illness. The emetic illness caused by Bacillus cereus is primarily associated with the consumption of fried rice that has been cooked and kept warm for a long time, allowing the bacteria to produce a toxin known as cereulide. This toxin leads to symptoms such as nausea and vomiting, which characterize the emetic form of the illness.

While Bacillus cereus can also cause diarrheal illness due to different enterotoxins, the distinctive feature of its emetic illness is its rapid onset of symptoms following the ingestion of contaminated food. Understanding the specific pathways through which Bacillus cereus causes its various illnesses is key in food safety, especially in managing risks associated with specific foods like rice.