Food in question is chicken, black beans, diced tomatos with chiles, some chicken broth, and spices, in a crock pot.
7:00am-12:00pm: Food cooks, turns to warm setting on crock pot. 12:00pm-10:30pm: Food in crock pot on warm. 10:30pm: Crock pot unplugged for item to cool, was supposed to be put in fridge, but wasn't. 6:30am: Food found. Debate about whether to put it in fridge or throw out ensues.
H thinks it's fine, especially b/c it was still in the crock pot (so would have taken an hour or two to cool to room temp) and that it was already cooked.
The possibility of bacterial growth actually increases after cooking, because the drop in temperature allows bacteria to thrive. Bacteria that cause food poisoning multiply quickest in the "Danger Zone" between 40 and 140 Fahrenheit.
I though the "warm" setting was supposed to be used temporarily, like for a couple hours max? It is not the same as cooking. I would have not eaten it even after it sat on warm for that long. Pretty sure I read this in the instruction manual.
NO WAY. Meat left out overnight is not okay. Good luck to your H. Remind him that just because he doesn't get sick this time doesn't mean it is okay in the future. Just in case...