Here are two distinct types of food poisoning caused by Bacillus cereus: One has a sho incubation period (4 hours); heat-stable toxin is the cause; consists primarily of nausea and vomiting, mild diarrhea, similar to staphylococcal food poisoning; Other has a long incubation period (18 hours); heat-labile enterotoxin is the cause; features include watery, nonbloody diarrhea, abdominal cramps, resembling clostridial gastroenteritis. Also know: Bacillus cereus, a gram-positive, spore-forming bacillus. The organisms that produce the vomiting syndrome have largely been associated with ingestion of rice, notably fried rice. The spores germinate and toxin is produced causing symptoms. The organisms that produce the diarrheal syndrome have been associated with contaminated meats, sauces, and dairy products. Ref: Levinson W. (2012). Chapter 17. Gram-Positive Rods. In W. Levinson (Ed), Review of Medical Microbiology & Immunology, 12e.