NewIdeaFood
  • News
  • Dinner Tonight
  • Baking
  • Trolley Watch
  • Easy Entertaining
  • Healthy-ish
  • Video
NewIdeaFood
  • News
  • Dinner Tonight
  • Baking
  • Trolley Watch
  • Easy Entertaining
  • Healthy-ish
  • Video
Subscribe
  1. Home
  2. News

UPDATE: The tragic NEW twist in the case of the student who died after eating 5-day-old pasta

This is SO sad - by Amy Sinclair
  • 30 Jan 2019

It’s the shocking food poisoning case that’s gripped the world, since news broke about the 20-year-old student who died after eating five-day-old pasta. 

But while it had been reported that the victim had left the spaghetti out on the kitchen bench without refrigeration for the  five days, new details have cast a sad new light on the heartbreaking case. 

UPDATE: The tragic NEW twist in the case of the student who died after eating 5-day-old pasta

It’s since emerged that while the student from Belgium had left the cooked spaghetti in a container on the kitchen bench for two days, his flatmate didn’t realise and placed it in the fridge thinking it was freshly cooked. 

By the time the student ate it five days later, it had been left out for two days, refrigerated for three - but in that time toxic levels of the bacteria bacillus cereus had formed.

Investigators now say that the student ate the pasta thinking it had been refrigerated for the whole five days - and while he noticed that it smelt off, he thought it was due to a new brand of pasta sauce he’d used. 

Said one commentator: ‘It’s sad, but he clearly didn’t realise what had happened until it was too late.’

As previously reported, the student started having severe abdominal pain just half an hour after consuming the meal - before falling asleep in bed after several hours of extreme vomiting. Authorities say he never woke up, dying in his sleep from the food poisoning.

When the National Reference Laboratory for Food-borne Outbreaks tested the pasta and tomato sauce that AJ consumed, they found that the toxins from the bacteria were so high that they caused his liver to fail - causing his death.

stomach
Image: Getty

But in a strange twist, it was revealed that the deathly bacteria was only found in the pasta - not the sauce - defying many people’s belief that cooked pasta cannot spoil easily.
The shocking death has prompted authorities to remind people of the dangers of refrigerating food and consuming leftovers within a couple of days. 

'Many people eat pasta, or any other form of noodles, that are leftover for a day or two and they're fine,' said leading practitioner Dr Bernard. 'But be careful of food left out for more than a few hours. If the food smells funny, it's always better to be safe than sorry.'

Amy Sinclair
Amy Sinclair
Amy Sinclair is a contibutor for New Idea Food.

Subscribe to New Idea to enter into Magshop's $50,000 Winter Giveaway!-Save up to 45%

Subscribe to New Idea Weekly

Subscribe Now
Subscribe to New Idea to enter into Magshop's $50,000 Winter Giveaway!

Subscribe to New Idea to enter into Magshop's $50,000 Winter Giveaway!-Save up to 45%

Subscribe to New Idea Weekly

Subscribe Now
Subscribe to New Idea to enter into Magshop's $50,000 Winter Giveaway!

Recommended to you

ALDI - DON'T DROWN IN ONE-OFF DISCOUNTS!
Watch 0:15

ALDI - DON'T DROWN IN ONE-OFF DISCOUNTS!

{headline}

{headline}

Authorities release warning after student dies after eating leftover PLAIN PASTA

Authorities release warning after student dies after eating leftover PLAIN PASTA

New contamination warning on these 3 fruits & vegetables

New contamination warning on these 3 fruits & vegetables

"A warning to animal lovers": Kmart chew toy causes dog to undergo emergency surgery

"A warning to animal lovers": Kmart chew toy causes dog to undergo emergency surgery

New Woolworths Discovery Garden fungus contamination warning

New Woolworths Discovery Garden fungus contamination warning

{headline}

{headline}

Urgent new warning for teabag drinkers

Urgent new warning for teabag drinkers

Use By & Best Before Dates: What Do They Mean?

Use By & Best Before Dates: What Do They Mean?

Health warning after teen dies after eating pancake mix

Health warning after teen dies after eating pancake mix

{headline}

{headline}

Aussie mum’s warning after son, 5, is admitted to HOSPITAL after eating THIS common supermarket snack

Aussie mum’s warning after son, 5, is admitted to HOSPITAL after eating THIS common supermarket snack

JUST IN: AFL food poisoning outbreak - more than 30 affected, some rushed to hospital after ‘dropping like flies’

JUST IN: AFL food poisoning outbreak - more than 30 affected, some rushed to hospital after ‘dropping like flies’

URGENT WARNING: Doctors warn parents against the new ‘Shell On Eating Challenge’ that kids are obsessed with

URGENT WARNING: Doctors warn parents against the new ‘Shell On Eating Challenge’ that kids are obsessed with

NEW STUDY: Fish ‘n’ chips is giving people the FLU

NEW STUDY: Fish ‘n’ chips is giving people the FLU

SHOCK ARREST: New video captures co-worker poisoning woman’s water AT WORK

SHOCK ARREST: New video captures co-worker poisoning woman’s water AT WORK

Food poisoning outbreak: Authorities warn people to STOP eating leftover rice - unless they do THIS first

Food poisoning outbreak: Authorities warn people to STOP eating leftover rice - unless they do THIS first

BREAKING: Weed killer ROUNDUP is found in some of the world’s most popular beer & wines - including CORONA and THIS brand of Moscato

BREAKING: Weed killer ROUNDUP is found in some of the world’s most popular beer & wines - including CORONA and THIS brand of Moscato

NewIdeaFood
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Dietary info
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
NewIdeaFood Magazine Subscribe
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Dietary info
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

Brands

  • New Idea
  • Better Homes and Gardens
  • Better Homes and Gardens Shop
  • All Recipes
  • Practical Parenting

Our Network

  • marie claire
  • Beauty Crew
  • Who
  • Women's Weekly Food
  • Bounty Parents
  • Girlfriend
  • That’s Life
  • Home Beautiful
  • 7plus
  • 7News
  • Sunrise
  • Starts at 60
  • The West Australian
  • Perth Now
  • 7mate
  • 7Sport
© 2022 Are Media PTY LTD
All products are independently selected, tested or recommended by our team of experts.If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Get more from New Idea Food

Magazine Subscription Offer

Subscribe to New Idea to enter into Magshop's $50,000 Winter Giveaway!-Save up to 45%

Shop This Offer
Subscribe to New Idea to enter into Magshop's $50,000 Winter Giveaway!