A popular food additive commonly found in processed foods may be causing flatulence. Researchers at the University of Minnesota in the US have discovered the commonly used food additive, inulin, can cause gastrointestinal distress.

Inulin, a carbohydrate fibre, occurs naturally in bananas, wheat, onions and garlic, but is also chemically manipulated by manufacturers to increase taste, add texture and boost fibre. Because it’s found in many popular processed snack foods and drinks and labelled with alternative names, some people may not realise they are consuming too much.

The research indicates a clear association between inulin consumption and gastrointestinal distress, with flatulence being reported as the most common symptom. Unlike sugar and starch, which is converted to energy in the small intestine, inulin passes through to the colon where it stimulates bacterial growth and is fermented.

Most people can tolerate up to 10g of native inulin and 5g-15g of “sweet” or processed inulin a day. Processed inulin is found in high-fibre cereal bars, chocolate bars and ice-creams, foods not traditionally associated with flatulence and may be labelled alternatively as “chicory root extract”, “ogliosaccharide” or “ogliofructose”. Some of these products may contain up to 9g of inulin – more than half the daily tolerance limit.

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