Patrick Oconnell
Many people enjoy eating cheddar cheese, but some experience gas and bloating after consuming it. This could be due to several factors, including lactose intolerance, milk allergy, or sensitivity to other ingredients used in the cheese-making process, such as rennet or cultures. Lactose intolerance is a common issue, where the body struggles to break down lactose, a sugar found in milk and dairy products, due to low levels of the enzyme lactase. This can cause gas, bloating, abdominal pain, and other symptoms. Milk allergies, while rare, can also lead to similar symptoms, including gas, as well as hives, itchy skin, and chest pain. Additionally, the production and storage processes of cheddar cheese can influence the growth of gas-producing organisms, contributing to potential gas issues.
Characteristics of why Cheddar cheese gives some people gas
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Lactose intolerance | Some people may have a hard time breaking down lactose due to low levels of the enzyme lactase, which helps in lactose breakdown |
| Milk allergy | Allergic reactions to proteins in milk, such as casein and whey, can cause gas |
| Rennet | An animal by-product used as a binder in most cheeses |
| NSLAB growth | Slow cooling of Cheddar cheese can lead to rapid growth of NSLAB, increasing the potential for gas production |
| Microorganisms | Gas-producing microorganisms, such as lactobacilli, leuconostocs, and pediococci, can be present in cheese |
| pH and salt levels | Improper pH and salt/moisture levels in Cheddar cheese can contribute to gas production |
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Lactose intolerance
Cheddar cheese is derived from milk and contains a sugar called lactose. Lactose is a sugar found in milk and most dairy products, including cheese and ice cream. Lactose intolerance is a condition where the body cannot properly break down milk lactose due to a lack of the enzyme lactase, which is usually produced by the cells in the small intestine. This can lead to increased gas, as well as other symptoms such as bloating, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhoea.
In addition to lactose intolerance, some people may have an allergy to milk proteins such as casein and whey. The symptoms of a milk allergy can be similar to lactose intolerance, including gas, cramping, bloating, and pain. However, a milk allergy can also cause additional symptoms such as hives, itchy skin, chest pain, and throat swelling. It is important to consult a healthcare provider if you suspect a milk allergy, as these reactions can be serious.
Other factors that may contribute to gas production in cheddar cheese include the levels of citrate, moisture, and salt in the cheese, as well as the presence of gas-producing bacteria. These factors can interact with each other to produce gas during the cheese-making process, resulting in "gassy" cheese.
It is important to note that gas can be caused by various factors, including swallowing air, the breakdown of food by bacteria in the large intestine, and the consumption of high-fibre foods or certain types of carbohydrates. Consulting a doctor or a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) can help determine the specific causes of gas and provide guidance on managing or alleviating symptoms.
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Milk allergies
Gas in the digestive system can be caused by several factors, but the most common cause is swallowing air due to bacteria in the large intestine as they break down food during digestion. The expanding gas can cause painful sensations, such as cramping, due to the pressure it exerts on the intestines. Other common symptoms of gas include bloating, burping, passing gas, and pain.
Lactose intolerance is a common cause of gas and cramping when consuming cheese. Lactose is a sugar found in milk and most dairy products, and those who are intolerant have difficulty digesting it due to low levels of the enzyme lactase, which helps break down lactose. This can result in increased gas, as well as other symptoms such as bloating, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.
Another possible cause of gas and cramping could be a milk allergy. Milk allergies are an atypical immune system response to milk and products containing milk, caused by certain milk proteins that the immune system identifies as harmful. The symptoms of a milk allergy are similar to lactose intolerance but can also include hives, itchy skin, chest pain, and shortness of breath. In severe cases, milk allergies can cause anaphylaxis, a life-threatening reaction that requires immediate medical attention.
If you suspect you have a milk allergy or lactose intolerance, it is important to consult a healthcare professional for testing and advice. Avoiding milk and milk products is the primary treatment for milk allergies, and switching to non-dairy replacements or lactose-free options may help ease the symptoms of gas and cramping.
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Rennet
Gas in the digestive system can be caused by several factors, with the most common cause being gas swallowed during eating, which is then broken down by bacteria in the large intestine. This can lead to bloating, burping, flatulence and pain.
Lactose intolerance is a common cause of gas and cramping when consuming cheese. Dairy products contain a sugar called lactose, which those with lactose intolerance cannot digest due to low levels of the enzyme lactase. Lactose intolerance can cause gas, bloating, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhoea.
However, if you only experience gas and cramping after eating cheese and not other dairy products, you may be reacting to another ingredient used in the cheese-making process, such as rennet.
Cheddar cheese can be made with or without rennet. Traditional methods use animal-derived rennet, while modern techniques offer alternatives like microbial rennet, vegetable rennet, and acid coagulation. Microbial rennet is derived from microorganisms such as fungi and bacteria, while vegetable rennet is extracted from plants, primarily from the thistle family.
For those with dietary restrictions, it is important to know whether cheddar cheese contains rennet. Vegetarian and vegan consumers should opt for cheddar cheese made with microbial or vegetable rennet, or non-rennet cheddar.
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NSLAB growth
Gas is a common occurrence after eating, and it is usually the body's natural response to certain triggers. However, excessive gas can be uncomfortable and embarrassing.
There are several reasons why cheddar cheese might be giving you gas. Firstly, it could be due to lactose intolerance. Lactose is a sugar found in milk and dairy products, including cheese. Some people have lower levels of the enzyme lactase, which helps break down lactose, and this can lead to lactose intolerance. Lactose intolerance can cause increased gas, bloating, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Interestingly, some people with lactose intolerance can tolerate small amounts of dairy without experiencing symptoms, and the heat from cooking can further break down lactose, which is why you might be able to drink milk but experience gas after eating cooked dishes with cheese, like mac and cheese.
Another possible cause of gas from cheddar cheese could be an allergy to milk or an ingredient used in the cheese-making process, such as rennet. Milk allergies are rare, but they can cause symptoms similar to lactose intolerance, including gas, cramping, bloating, and pain.
Additionally, the gas could be a result of the rapid growth of NSLAB (non-starter lactic acid bacteria) in cheddar cheese. These bacteria thrive when the cheese is not cooled rapidly enough to temperatures below 10°C, preferably reaching a core temperature of 7°C. Low temperatures retard NSLAB growth, while starter lactococci break down residual lactose, reducing the potential for gas production.
To manage gas caused by cheddar cheese, you can try switching to lactose-free cheese alternatives, taking lactase supplements, or reducing your dairy intake. Consulting a healthcare professional or a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) can help you determine the specific cause and provide personalized advice.
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Gas-producing organisms
Gas in the digestive system can be caused by several factors, including lactose intolerance, swallowing air, or an allergy to milk. In the case of cheddar cheese, gas can be produced by a combination of lactose and citrate levels in the curd, the temperature of the curd/cheese during pressing and curing, the salt in moisture level, and the levels of gas-producing, non-starter lactic acid bacteria in the cheese.
Non-starter lactic acid bacteria, such as Streptococcus thermophilus-like organisms, are the major gas-producing organisms in cheddar cheese. These bacteria can grow to high population densities during cheese-making and pressing, leading to early gas production. Other factors that contribute to gas production in cheddar cheese include the lactate fermentation process, moisture and salt levels in the final cheese, and the quality of the pasteurized milk used.
Additionally, some people may experience gas after consuming cheddar cheese due to a reaction to other ingredients used in the cheese-making process, such as rennet, an animal by-product used as a binder in most cheeses.
It is worth noting that the longer a cheese is aged, the sharper its flavor becomes. This aging process can also affect the levels of gas-producing organisms in the cheese. For example, hard cheeses like cheddar, which are typically aged for at least six months to a year, may have higher histamine levels due to longer aging, potentially contributing to increased gas production.
While gas production in cheddar cheese is a well-known phenomenon, it is not fully understood. However, by identifying the specific gas-producing organisms and understanding their interactions with various factors, cheese manufacturers can work towards reducing unwanted gas production and improving the quality of their product.
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Frequently asked questions
Gas is caused by swallowing air and the breakdown of food in your digestive tract. Cheddar cheese contains lactose, a sugar in milk and most dairy products, and is broken down by the enzyme lactase, which some people produce less of as they age. This can lead to increased gas.
Symptoms of lactose intolerance include gas, bloating, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.
You can try non-dairy replacements or take a lactase supplement.
Yes, another possible cause of gas could be an allergy to milk or an ingredient used in the cheese-making process, such as rennet.
Other foods that may cause gas include beans, whole grains, ultra-processed foods, and gum.
