Many people resort to reheating their fast food meals or even leftover fries from the previous day to eat them hot again, but this poses health risks, according to experts. Russian nutritionist Dr. Olga Lushbenkova revealed that reheating leftover fried potatoes and fast food can lead to the formation of additional harmful substances.
She stated that hamburgers, shawarma, and other foods classified as fast food are not beneficial to health even when consumed immediately after preparation, let alone when they are old. She explained, "Of course, their danger to health increases because, overnight, they decompose and lose vitamins and minerals," as reported by Sputnik news agency.
She continued, "Leftover fast food lacks vitamins, as they are already low or absent, and if they are not fresh, what was present has decomposed. Thus, a person only receives calories, proteins, fats, and carbohydrates from them."
Additionally, she mentioned that reheating these protein-rich foods alters their structure, making it difficult for the body to absorb them. Regarding fried potatoes specifically, she noted that they are already dangerous, and reheating them escalates the risk. When frying starchy foods in large amounts of oil, harmful compounds such as acrylamide can form alongside trans fats.
Dr. Lushbenkova pointed out that if such foods are not stored in the refrigerator and are consumed cold the next day without reheating, a person may suffer from bacterial infections. She advised, "We need to know how long fast food has been outside the fridge. As a general rule, sauces contain sugar and starch, which provide a fertile ground for bacterial growth."
