It gives positive oxide testB. cereus is responsible for a minority of foodborne illnesses (25%), causing severe nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. [2] Generally speaking, Bacillus foodborne illnesses occur due to survival of the bacterial endospores when food is improperly cooked.[3] This problem is compounded when food is then improperly refrigerated, allowing the endospores to germinate.[4] Bacterial growth results in production of enterotoxin, and ingestion leads to two types of illness, diarrheal and emetic (vomiting) syndrome

Bacillus cereus has been recognized as an agent of food poisoning since 1955. There are only a few outbreaks a year reported by CDC. Between 1972 and 1986, 52 outbreaks of food-borne disease associated with B. cereus were reported to the CDC (in 2003, there were two), but this is thought to represent only 2% of the total cases which have occurred during these periods. It is not a reportable disease, and usually goes undiagnosed.

B. cereus causes two types ...more