A “fart expert” has revealed the key signs your wind might not just be embarrassing, but a reason to get checked out, after a bus driver claimed she lost her job when she “farted badly” on shift.
Bristol-based Stephanie Bryan was working for electric bus company The Big Lemon when she suffered what a tribunal heard was “significant flatulence” mid-shift. The smell was allegedly so strong it lingered long after she finished. Fellow driver Samantha Bingham, who took over the bus, said the stench in the cockpit was so bad she thought her colleague must have defecated, the Daily Star previously reported.
The tribunal heard that when Ms Bingham got home “the scent remained so strong her partner asked if she had defecated herself”, and she felt forced to wash her uniform and shower immediately.
What the tribunal heard
When later confronted, Ms Bryan defended herself by saying: “Everyone needs to fart.” Ms Bryan was ultimately dismissed and is now suing for disability discrimination and harassment.
However, the tribunal heard the primary reason for her sacking was concerns about her driving rather than hygiene. Additionally, Judge Jonathan Walters said: “The odour was consistent with faecal matter potentially caused by significant flatulence which had led to soiling and was not associated with urine or urinary incontinence.”
The five common fart types
Consultant gastroenterologist Dr Philip Mayhead, of Benenden Hospital, shared five common fart “types” and what they can mean, the Daily Star previously reported. Bad-smelling farts can come from “sulphur-containing compounds produced during digestion”, he said, and may be worse after cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage and Brussels sprouts.
“Sometimes, when your farts are really foul-smelling, it is the result of intestinal bacterial colonies producing gases like carbon dioxide, hydrogen and methane,” Dr Mayhead added. If you’re farting constantly or feel bloated, Dr Mayhead warned it could point to IBS or lactose intolerance.
He said: “If you experience frequent, excessive flatulence… [you may feel] urgency to go to the toilet.” Odourless farts may simply be swallowed air, while “hot” farts can be triggered by capsaicin-heavy spicy foods. And some wind is totally normal: “When you eat, you swallow air, and your gut bacteria produce gases… simple as that,” he said.
When to see your GP
But GP Dr Sarah Garsed told the Daily Star smelly farts aren’t always a red flag. “Usually foul-smelling farts mean you are consuming a good diet of veg and fibre,” she said. However, she warned you should seek medical help if bad wind comes with worrying changes.
She explained: “Smelly farts accompanied by sudden appetite and weight loss could be a reason to be checked out by your GP… You might also find you have blood in your poo, painful cramps and excess wind. See your GP immediately if you have these symptoms.”
