The European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) has found that only the heat treatment of low-acid foods into cans can ensure the total elimination of Bacillus cereus, especially for popular heated foods such as pasta and rice. The discovery is part of an investigation into the threat of Bacillus cereus to consumer food poisoning, which reinforces the notion that metal packaging manufacturers offer the best protection against food damage. The European Union has asked scientists at the Food Safety Agency to identify food catalogues, food manufacturing and preparation processes in which Bacillus cereus threatens human health.

Bacillus cereus, a spore-forming bacterium, is also a cause of food-borne diseases, especially in rice. Although some member states have promulgated decrees and guidelines for the control of Bacillus cereus, there are no special provisions in the EU at present.