Exactly what I learned at hygiene/cooking course many years ago.
But here, my Mrs cooks dishes and a pot of rice for the family first thing in the morning and it is left out on the table for folks to help themselves as and when they want. No-one seems to get any tummy problems, but I give it a miss.
I heard that at KFC they discard any chicken over 4 hours old. A tub was left on the table for over 24 hours.
At Thai fried chicken stalls, I wonder how long since it was cooked, and what happens to the un-sold stuff.