Click here for more articles by Kormedi.com. Many people pack gimbap, a seaweed roll stuffed with rice, for hiking trips or summer outings because it is convenient and easy to carry. However, gimbap is one of the leading causes of foodborne illness during the summer when stored improperly. Even if it looks and smells normal, bacteria can multiply rapidly, making extra caution necessary during heat waves. Why gimbap is particularly vulnerable Gimbap is a food made with cooked rice and other ingredients like egg, ham, imitation crab, spinach and pickled radish. Because preparing it involves handling multiple ingredients by hand and it is usually eaten without reheating after it is made, it provides favorable conditions for bacterial growth. Protein-rich ingredients such as egg, ham, fish cake and imitation crab are especially susceptible to bacterial growth in hot weather. Combined with moisture-rich cooked rice, they create an ideal environment for foodborne pathogens to multiply. Even two hours can be risky in extreme heat Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and the Korea Disease Cont
