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Baby poop: Pictures of healthy and unhealthy stools

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Photo credit: © Luke Mattson / Stocksy United

Baby poop comes in a variety of colors, and those colors can change depending on your baby's diet. Your newborn's very first poop, called meconium, is greenish-black and tarry. Breastfed poop is yellowish, soft, and seedy; while formula-fed poop is thicker and brownish in color. Solid food poop has more substance and a stronger odor. Babies can be constipated and have diarrhea, just like adults, which will make their poop look different than usual. These photos give you the full scoop on newborn poop. (A note for the squeamish: This gallery contains real photos. )

What should baby poop look like?

Baby poop comes in a wide range of colors and a variety of textures, and deciphering what's normal and what's not can be puzzling to a new parent. If you're spending more time than you'd ever imagined staring quizzically at the contents of your baby's diaper, you're not alone! Bowel movements are one of the most common concerns parents ask their child's doctor about.

This baby poop chart will give you the full scoop on your newborn's bowel movements. The following photos and information will help you understand which baby poop colors are normal and which ones warrant a call to the doctor as your newborn grows, drinks breast milk or formula, and starts eating solids. You'll find out what's harmless, and when there may be a cause for concern.

If you still have questions about your baby's bowel movements after reading this guide, don't hesitate to call or email photos of any questionable baby stools to your child's provider. (And for more helpful tips on when to call your baby's pediatrician, as well as other great safety info, check out our <a href="https://www.babycenter.com/courses/sso?redirectUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fcourses.babycenter.com%2Fcourses%2Finfant-cpr-first-aid-video-course" rel="sponsored" target="_blank">All-in-One Baby Safety Course with CPR</a>.)</p> <div data-promo-variant="cpr3" data-transform="coursePromo"><img alt="" /></div> <p>Note: These are pictures of real baby poop! Please view only if you're comfortable looking at them. If not, you can read this <a href="/baby/diapering/baby-poop-guide_10319333">description without photos</a> instead, or <a href="/baby/diapering/baby-poop-guide-11-types-of-baby-poop_20000587">watch this animated video</a>.</p>

Newborn poop (meconium)

You may be surprised to learn that normal newborn poop doesn't look very normal at all. For your baby's first couple of bowel movements, expect to find a greenish-black, tarry, sticky sludge that kind of looks like motor oil when you open your newborn's diaper. Since meconium is made of mucus, amniotic fluid, dead cells, and other stuff your baby ingested in utero, it doesn't really smell – so you may not realize it's time for a diaper change.

When your baby is 2 to 4 days old, their poop will become lighter in color – sort of a yellowish green – and less sticky. This so-called transitional stool is a sign that they've started digesting early breast milk or formula and their intestinal tract is working just fine.

Photo credit: marima / Shutterstock.com

Breastfed baby poop

Normal breastfed baby poop, like as seen in this photo, is yellow or slightly green, and has a mushy or creamy consistency. It may be runny enough to resemble diarrhea, though baby diarrhea is usually very liquid in consistency. Breastfed poop typically looks like Dijon mustard and may be dotted with little seed-like flecks. Interestingly, it smells slightly sweet.

There are many shades of normal when it comes to breastfed baby poop. One you might see is a greener tone, which could signify that you ate something different than you normally do. If your baby isn't experiencing any other symptoms, there's no need to worry.

If you see bright green and frothy poop in your baby's diaper that almost looks like algae, they're probably getting too much foremilk – the low-calorie milk that comes first in a feeding – and not enough hindmilk, the higher-fat, super-nutritious stuff that comes near the end. It could mean that you're not feeding your baby long enough on each breast. To remedy this, start each new breastfeeding session on the breast you ended on the last time.

Formula-fed baby poop

Formula-fed babies have thick, pasty, peanut butter-like poop on the brown color spectrum. Its color ranges from tan-brown to yellow-brown or even greenish-brown.

The thicker consistency of formula is slightly harder to digest than breast milk, so some of its ingredients end up passing right through your baby's digestive system. Formula-fed baby poop is also more pungent than poop from breastfed babies, yet a little less pungent than poop from babies who are eating solid food, but you'll recognize the smell.

If at some point you decide to switch formula brands, expect the look – and feel – of your baby's poop to change. Its aroma might change, too.

Iron-fortified baby poop

Green baby poop is a sign of iron in your baby's formula. The iron in formula doesn't absorb as well as the iron in breast milk – hence the greenish hue. If you give your baby an iron supplement, their poop may turn dark green or almost black. This doesn't happen often, but it's normal.

One thing: If your baby's poop looks blackish and they're not taking an iron supplement, it's a good idea to call their doctor. Rarely, blood in infant stool can turn poop a black color, which is called melena. Your child's doctor can make sure there's no stomach bleeding to worry about.

Solid food baby stool

Once you start introducing your baby to solid foods – infant cereal, pureed bananas, and so on – you'll almost instantly notice a change in their output, especially if your baby is breastfed. Solid-food poop tends to be brown or dark brown and thicker than peanut butter, but still mushy. Get ready: It's also much smellier than exclusively breastfed poop.

Expect the consistency of your baby's poop to change depending on what they've recently eaten. Some bowel movements may look hard and pebble-like, while others can have that runny, mustard-like consistency of breastfed poops. There's nothing to worry about unless your baby seems to be straining or goes more than a few days without going at all.

Baby stool with partially digested food

Occasionally your baby's poop will have identifiable chunks of food in it or be tinged with a surprising hue of the rainbow, like red, orange, or dark blue – this isn't something you need to worry about. Red could mean beets, orange suggests carrots, and dark blue implies blueberries (you may even see tiny pieces of blueberry skin in there, too).

You're likely seeing this because certain foods are only partially digestible or travel so quickly through the intestines that they don't have time to completely break down. It also happens when your baby eats a lot of one food or doesn't chew a mouthful completely before they swallow.

The time to call the doctor is if your baby's poop consistently has undigested food in it. Your baby's doctor will check to make sure their intestines are properly absorbing food and nutrients.

Photo credit: Original Shutter / Shutterstock.com

Baby diarrhea

Newborn diarrhea is very runny and looks like it's made up of more water than solid food. It can be yellow, green, or brown, and often can seep or "explode" out of their diaper.

Diarrhea can be a sign of an infection or allergy. If it lasts for a while without being treated, it can lead to dehydration. Call the doctor if your baby:

Has signs of dehydration, such as crying without tears, dry lips, peeing less often than usual, or excess sleepiness
Has diarrhea that doesn't go away after a few days
Has visible blood or mucus in their diarrhea
Has a fever along with the diarrhea

Photo credit: nutthapol Samjai / Shutterstock. com

Constipated baby poop

If your baby's poop is hard and looks like little pebbles, they're probably constipated. Your baby may look visibly uncomfortable when they're pooping, and the poop may be tinged with blood from irritating the anus on the way out. One or two pebbly diapers isn't a concern, but if the constipation doesn't improve, your baby is irritable, or you see blood in their stool, it's best to call their doctor.

Constipation often happens in babies who are being introduced to solid foods, or it can be a sign that your baby isn't getting enough fiber in their diet. Your doctor may recommend giving your baby water, pear, or prune juice to help move things along.

Baby poop with mucus

Does your baby's diaper look like it's been slimed? Greenish poop streaked with shiny, glistening strings means there's mucus in it. This sometimes happens when a baby is especially drooly, since mucus in saliva often goes undigested. Drooling can be a sign that a tooth is about to pop.

Mucus in poop can also be a telltale sign of an infection or food allergy. Rarely, it could mean your baby isn't absorbing enough nutrients from breast milk or formula. If the mucus is accompanied by any other symptoms (such as diarrhea or a fever) or it shows up in your baby's diaper for two days or more, call their doctor to rule out any problems.

Photo credit: Katarzyna Uroda / Shutterstock.com

Blood in baby's poop

Seeing red in your baby's diaper can be frightening, to say the least. Many of the possible causes of blood in baby stool aren't serious, like small tears in the baby's anus from passing large poops, or a cow's milk allergy. (Despite its name, a cow's milk allergy is more of an intolerance, and most babies grow out of this by age 1. It will require you eliminating cow's milk from your diet, if you're breastfeeding, or switching your baby to a formula without cow's milk.)

Sometimes the blood in infant stool is bright red from bleeding closer to the surface, and sometimes it's black (which means it's been digested). Sometimes, red dye in food or medication can also turn stool slightly red.

Call your doctor if you notice:

Normal poop tinged with red blood, which is often a sign of a cow's milk allergy
Constipated poop with a hint of red blood, likely a result of tears in the anus or hemorrhoids
Diarrhea mixed with red blood, which can signal a bacterial infection

When black blood appears in a baby's diaper – usually in little flecks that look like black poppy or sesame seeds – it's often because your baby is breastfed and swallowing blood from your cracked and bleeding nipples. While this is a sign that you need some pain relief, it doesn't pose a threat to your baby. Still, it's best to call your baby's doctor to make sure it's not something more serious, like bleeding from their intestines.

Photo credit: Vadi Fuoco / Shutterstock.com

Chalky or white baby poop

Lots of seemingly frightening signs in your newborn's poop are nothing to worry about. Others, like white, grey, or pale-yellow stools, are good reason for concern. Pale stools can be a sign of biliary atresia – a blockage in the tubes that carry bile from the liver to the gallbladder. Bile is the greenish fluid that helps us digest food and gives poop its brown color.

If your baby's stool looks especially pale, call their doctor right away. Biliary atresia is rare, but babies diagnosed with it need surgery to fix the blockage. The procedure works best when it's done before a baby reaches the 2-month mark.

Photo credit: © Holly Clark / Stocksy United

Mucus in baby poop, baby poop colors, newborn poop, and more

Normal baby poop can be a rainbow of different colors – and varying consistencies, too. Your baby's first poops will consist of a greenish-black, sticky substance called meconium. Depending on whether your baby is exclusively breastfed or formula fed, their poop may be yellow, green, or brown. What you find in your baby's diaper can give you important clues about their health – so call their doctor any time you're concerned about the color, amount, or consistency of your baby's poop.

When it comes to baby poop, most new parents don't know what to expect. You may have a lot of questions. How often should your baby poop, and what should it look like? Does breastfed baby poop smell? Is green baby poop normal? Baby poop has so many shades and consistencies that even experienced parents may not have seen them all.

This complete guide describes the various types of baby poop and explains what's normal and what's not. Also, you'll learn what to expect whether your newborn drinks breast milk or formula, and what changes you'll see when your baby eventually starts eating solids.

What does newborn poop look like?

Your baby will most likely produce their first poop within 24 hours after birth. For your baby's first few poops, expect to see a greenish-black, tarry, sticky substance (called meconium) that looks like very thick motor oil. Meconium is hard to clean off, so you may want to smear your baby's bottom with some petroleum jelly – which acts as a barrier – beforehand, if you can.

Meconium is made of amniotic fluid, mucus, and skin cells. What it doesn't contain is the bacteria that will colonize your baby's intestines – and give their poop an odor. (That bacterial colonization will start with your baby's first meal.)

When your baby is 2 to 4 days old, their poop will become lighter in color – transitioning from dark green to yellow/green to tan or mustardy yellow – and less sticky. This transitional stool is a sign that your baby has started digesting early breast milk or formula and that their intestinal tract is working as it should.

If your baby doesn't have a bowel movement in the first 24 hours, their doctor will make sure there's no problem, such as an intestinal blockage.

Does breastfed baby poop look different than formula-fed poop?

Yes, your baby's poop will look different depending on whether they're breastfed or formula-fed.

There are many shades of normal when it comes to breastfed poop, including mustard yellow, green, or brown. Breastfed baby poop has a mushy or creamy consistency – maybe runny enough to resemble mild diarrhea, but typically like Dijon mustard and cottage cheese mixed together. It may also be dotted with little seed-like flecks. Most parents find that it has a slightly sweet, not unpleasant odor.

Formula-fed babies have pasty, peanut butter-like poop on the brown color spectrum: yellow-brown, tan-brown, or green-brown. It smells a little more pungent than poop from breastfed babies and a little less pungent than poop from babies who are eating solid food. You'll definitely notice it and realize it's time for a diaper change.

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How often should my baby poop?

Normal pooping patterns vary widely among babies, from after every meal to only once or twice a week. Here's what's pretty typical:

Younger babies tend to poop more than older ones. Newborns usually have one or more bowel movements daily, and some newborns produce five or more dirty diapers a day in their first few weeks of life.
Newborns and young infants tend to have several small poops in a row (so give them time to finish before changing them!).
Breastfed newborns often poop after every feeding (roughly six to 10 times a day), but after three to six weeks, they typically slow down and start having bowel movements less frequently. Some breastfed babies may have just one bowel movement a week. That's because breast milk passes through your baby's digestive system without leaving much solid waste.
Once they're a month or two old, formula-fed babies can also range from several bowel movements a day to several days between bowel movements. Their stools are usually bigger – and smellier – than breastfed babies' stools.

The texture of your baby's poop is more important than frequency. There's no need to worry if your baby's pooping pattern stays fairly consistent, their stools are reasonably soft, and they're acting like their usual self.

Why is there mucus in baby poop?

You may notice mucus in your baby's poop that's stringy; slimy; and yellow, green, or brown in color. The intestines produce mucus during digestion – to help the stool move through the intestine. Some of this may show up in your baby's diaper, and this is perfectly normal, especially for breastfed babies.

There might also be an underlying cause for mucus in your baby's poop, such as:

Teething. If your baby is teething, the mucus may be the result of swallowing a lot of saliva.
Infection. If your baby has a viral or bacterial infection, inflammation in the intestines can cause mucus in their poop, which may also be green. They may also have some blood in their poop if they have a bacterial infection.
Milk allergy. If your baby is allergic to something in their milk or formula, their intestines may become inflamed, leading to increased mucus production.
Cystic fibrosis. Your baby's intestines and other organs will produce more mucus if they have cystic fibrosis. The mucus may look greasy and have a bad odor.
Intussusception. This is a blockage of stool in the intestine that prevents anything other than mucus to pass beyond the blockage. Any stool that's passed may contain mucus. It may also contain blood. Your baby would have other symptoms, such as vomiting, lethargy, and abdominal pain. Intussusception is a medical emergency.

Mention mucus to your baby's healthcare provider right away if your baby has any other symptoms – such as tummy trouble, feeding difficulty, vomiting, bloody stool, or fever. If your baby is teething and seems otherwise fine, there's probably no need for concern.

If you notice that your breastfeeding baby's poop is frothy (it may also look green), it may mean that they're not getting enough full-fat breast milk. Because the fatty hindmilk is at the end of a feeding, this can happen if you switch breasts often, without having your baby empty one or both breasts. They may also be fussy and gassy. Try having them empty one breast before switching to the other.

Baby poop colors

Baby poop comes in a wide range of colors – and textures. While the variation is usually perfectly normal, it can sometimes mean that something's amiss. And occasionally it can signal a problem. Here are some common baby poop colors and what they might indicate.

Yellow baby poop

Transitional stool – as your baby goes from that first meconium poop to regular poop – is often brown/yellow/green as your baby's body starts digesting breast milk or formula. Breastfed babies typically continue to have yellowish poop that's mustardy or even bright yellow. Yellow poop is often loose and smells just fine.

Brown baby poop

Babies who drink formula will have poop with more brown in it than breastfed babies. It may be yellowish-tan/brown, or greenish-tan/brown, or even just brown. If your baby breastfeeds and formula feeds, their poop may be anywhere from dark yellow to brown.

When your baby starts eating solid foods, their poop will become firmer, browner, and smellier, thanks to the healthy bacteria breaking down the food in their intestines. Their poop may also contain colors (red, blue, orange, green, yellow) reflecting what they ate, as well as pieces of undigested food.

Black baby poop

Your baby's first poop will be black and tarry, and that's perfectly normal. But black poop after this initial cleaning out may signal a medical problem.

Because blood usually turns from red to black over time in the intestinal tract, black poop may indicate intestinal bleeding. If your baby's poop had transitioned to yellow/green/brown but then appears black, contact their doctor right away.

It doesn't usually happen, but iron supplements can turn your baby's poop very dark green, which may look black at first glance.

White or light gray baby poop

A baby rarely has white poop, and you'll want to contact your baby's healthcare provider right away if you see white or chalky gray poop (called acholic poop) in your baby's diaper. It may look similar to whitish modeling clay.

In some cases, white or light gray poop can be caused by medicines a breastfeeding mom takes, but it may also mean that your baby has an intestinal infection or serious liver or gallbladder problem, such as biliary atresia, a blockage in the tubes that carry bile from the liver to the gallbladder. (Bile is the green fluid stored in the gallbladder. It helps digest food and makes stool yellow-brown.)

Red baby poop

Once a baby is eating solids, the most common cause of red poop is something red colored that they ate or drank, such as tomatoes. Some medicines that contain red dye, like amoxicillin, can also turn stools red.

But occasionally red poop can mean that there's blood in your baby's stool. Blood might be from:

Delivery. A newborn baby might have a little blood in their poop (or spit up) if they swallowed some blood during delivery.
Cracked nipples. If your breastfeeding baby nurses while your nipple is bleeding, they may swallow some of that blood and pass it in their stool. It may appear as little flecks.
A milk allergy. If your baby is allergic to cow's milk, their poop may be blood tinged from milk protein in breast milk (if you eat dairy) or formula. It may also contain mucus. Your baby may have other symptoms, too, such as abdominal cramps, constipation or diarrhea, and hives.
An intestinal infection. The hue of the blood can give your baby's doctor a clue about what's going on. For example, bright red blood may mean that there's a problem near the end of the gastrointestinal tract, while black stools probably mean a problem earlier on. If your baby has red blood in their diarrhea, they may have a bacterial infection.
Constipation. If your baby has anal fissures (little tears in the anus) from being constipated, it can cause little flecks of red in your baby's stool.

Orange baby poop

Orange poop is normal in babies. Orange foods – those with beta carotene, such as carrots, oranges, and sweet potatoes – can color baby poop.

Green baby poop

Green poops are usually normal in an otherwise healthy baby. In fact, greenish/tan poop is common for formula-fed babies. Sometimes, though, there's an underlying cause, such as:

Medication. If you're breastfeeding and taking certain medications or iron supplements, or if your baby is on medication or taking iron supplements, it may turn their poop dark green.
Illness. A stomach virus or cold can turn your baby's poop bright green.
A milk allergy or intolerance. Your baby may have an allergy or intolerance to the milk proteins in their formula, for example, or to the dairy you're consuming if you're breastfeeding.
Not enough full-fat breast milk when nursing. In this case, the poop may be bright green and frothy or foamy, similar to algae.
Diarrhea. Because stool travels more quickly through your baby's intestines when they have diarrhea (and the bile hasn't had time to break it down), it may be green rather than brownish.

Check out our photo guide to baby poop to see pictures of some types of baby poop described above. (Yes, the photos are real!)

How does baby poop change once we start solids?

Once you start giving your baby solid foods at around 4 to 6 months, you'll almost instantly notice a change in their poop, especially if they were exclusively breastfed.

Poop from babies who eat solid food tends to be brown or dark brown and thicker than peanut butter, but still mushy. It's also smellier.

Occasionally your baby's poop may be tinged a surprising hue, like red, orange, or even dark blue if you give your baby blueberries. Red could be from eating beets, while orange may be the result of eating carrots.

Once your baby starts eating certain solids, you may even notice identifiable chunks of food in their poop. Not to worry! You're probably seeing this because certain foods are only partially digestible or travel so quickly through the intestines that they don't have time to completely break down. It also happens when your baby eats a lot of one type of food.

What you find in your baby's diaper can give you important clues about what's going on with their health. Some common changes to watch for:

Watery, runny poop may mean that your baby has diarrhea. Baby poop tends to be soft and even a little runny before a baby starts eating solids, so it can be hard to tell when a baby has mild diarrhea. Look for more frequent bowel movements and watery poop. The poop may be very runny and seep or "explode" out of the diaper. It may be yellow, green, or brown.

Your baby may have diarrhea due to an infection, a food intolerance or allergy, or a medication they're taking. Too much fruit juice can also cause diarrhea, but fruit juice isn't usually recommended for babies anyway.

Untreated diarrhea can lead to dehydration. And the frequent, runny pooping it causes can irritate your baby's tender skin and lead to diaper rash.

Hard, pebbly poop means your baby is probably constipated. The poop may be dark brown or even black. Your baby may be visibly uncomfortable when they're pooping, and the poop may be tinged with blood from irritating the anus on the way out.

Constipation often happens when babies are first starting solid foods, as your baby's system gets used to digesting solids. It can also be a sign of a food allergy or intolerance. Your doctor may recommend giving your baby water or fruit juice as well as extra fruits (especially stone fruits and fruits containing sorbitol) if they're eating solids, to help move things along. If constipation persists, they may recommend changing your baby's diet or switching formulas.

If your baby's constipation is severe and doesn't respond to changes in diet and medications, their doctor may look into serious but unusual causes, such as thyroid problems, metabolic disorders (such as cystic fibrosis, celiac disease, or hypercalcemia) or anatomical disorders (such as an imperforate anus or a displaced anus), and Hirschsprung's disease.

Very dry, hard stools may mean that your baby is dehydrated. Whether you breastfeed or use formula, dry, hard poop may be a sign that your baby isn't getting enough fluid or is losing too much fluid due to illness, fever, or heat.

You can correct a mild case of dehydration by making sure your baby gets enough fluids, but severe dehydration can be life threatening. If your baby shows signs of serious dehydration, such as sunken eyes, cold and splotchy hands and feet, excessive sleepiness or fussiness, sunken fontanels (soft spots on their head), wrinkled skin, or they have less than one or two wet diapers in a day, take them to the emergency room immediately. For milder dehydration, call your baby's doctor.

Mucusy, stringy poop. Poop streaked with shiny, glistening strings means there's mucus in it. Again, this sometimes happens when a baby is especially drooly, because mucus in saliva often goes undigested. But mucus in poop can also be a telltale sign of an infection, allergy, or another condition (see above).

Bloody poop. Blood in poop can be bright red to black, and it can show up for a number of reasons, from swallowing blood from delivery or your cracked and bleeding nipples to a milk allergy, constipation, or intestinal infection (see red poop and black poop, above).

When should I call the doctor about my baby's poop?

As a general rule, call the doctor any time your baby starts to poop more or less often than is typical for them, or whenever you see anything unusual in your baby's diaper. For example, call their doctor if:

Your baby seems uncomfortable or unhappy when pooping.
Your baby is 3 months old or younger and has more than two diarrhea-filled diapers, or continues having diarrhea for longer than a day or two.
You see blood in your baby's diarrhea.
You see mucus in your baby's diaper for longer than a day or so, or your baby has any other symptoms along with mucus in their poop.
Your baby's poop looks blackish and they're not taking an iron supplement.
You see flecks of digested blood that look like poppy or sesame seeds in your baby's poop, especially if you're having breastfeeding difficulties.
Your baby has hard pebbly stools in their diaper three or more times.
Your baby eats solids and consistently has undigested food in their poop. (Their doctor may want to check to make sure your baby's intestines are absorbing food and nutrients properly.)

Some rare types of baby poop could suggest a more serious problem. These happen infrequently, but get medical attention right away if your baby has:

Thick black poop (made up mostly of digested blood) that's dark and tarry like meconium but a bit firmer and less sticky. This can be a sign of intestinal bleeding.
Poop consisting almost entirely of red blood, known as "currant jelly" poop, which indicates a severe intestinal problem.
White or pale, chalky, clay-colored poop, which may signal liver or gallbladder problems.

Learn more:

Yeast diaper rash
Is it normal for a baby to poop after every feeding?
What to put in your diaper bag

90,000 food made from poop, burps and spit. Would you try?

In a civilized society, great sacrifices have to be made to make sure that high-quality and clean food reaches the shelves and restaurants. Entire government structures are involved for this, and most of the equipment in our kitchens is designed to ensure that food is safe. The desire to survive without disease and infection is inherent in our nature. However, we are free to choose and can determine our own tastes. So, for example, in some cultures, products have appeared that are made from the most terrible raw materials. Many Europeans would be sick just from the sight of some exotic food.

10. Kopi Luwak

Photo: Wikimedia

According to some estimates, almost 83% of adults in the world drink coffee. We love this drink and have come up with many variations of its serving. Coffee beans are grown all over the world for variety and uniqueness. But there is a coffee that can surprise even the most ardent connoisseur of this noble drink. And all because it is produced ... in the anus of the eastern animal.

The world's most expensive coffee, kopi luwak, is made from coffee beans that have passed through the entire digestive system of the civet cat, an exotic animal resembling a wild cat. Originally from Southeast Asia, this animal loves coffee as much as we do. Viverra eats selected coffee berries, but does not digest them completely, but rather stores them in itself. After passing through the entire digestive system of this mammal, the coffee bean becomes less acidic, loses some of its protein properties and has a lower caffeine content. The result is smoother, more flavorful and less bitter coffee beans, from which kopi luwak is made, highly praised around the world.

Fun fact: when a civet wants to mark its territory, it sprays a thin layer of scented lubricant over it. This oily mass is highly regarded among top perfumers and is used in the composition of the best perfumes. Historically, civet musk vendors have tasted this oil to see if the product was produced using human feces, which devalues the product despite the equally unpleasant odor.

9. Green tea grown on panda dung

Photo: Reuters

Bamboo is the favorite food of pandas, and according to one tea expert, the cute animal only digests 30% of the tropical plant's nutrients. The result is that their feces remain quite rich in the vitamins and minerals contained in the eaten bamboo. As a consequence, panda poop is ideal for fertilizing the soil. The tea maker's name is An Yashi, and he is a Xingchuan University professor and wildlife expert. A man uses panda feces to grow a unique green tea.

Yashi fertilizes her tea with panda waste products, making the drink made from the leaves of plants from these plantations the most beneficial properties. According to the professor, just like green tea, bamboo contains elements that can prevent cancer and enhance the anti-cancer properties of green tea. Green tea grown on panda feces costs from $70,000.

8. Beer Un, Kono Kuro

Photo: ocketnews24.com

The name of this beer comes from the Japanese word for feces (unko). It is produced by the Sankt Gallen brewery in Kanagawa. The original drink first went on sale on April Fools' Day in April 2013, when it sold out within minutes of the product appearing on the virtual counter. This type of ale is made from ingredients unusual for beer - from coffee. But what is even more unusual, the beans of this coffee were collected from the excrement of elephants living in the Thailand reserve. Like kopi luwak coffee, these beans have been processed through the animal's digestive system and passed out. But, unlike civet, elephants almost completely digest coffee beans. Only 1 kg of beans suitable for further consumption goes to its pickers from as many as 33 kg of treats eaten by elephants.

Here is a testimonial from one of the brewery's customers who appreciated the drink in full: “After the last drop of the drink, I still felt a pleasant aftertaste in my mouth. The combination of bitterness and sweetness remained distinct for a long time and did not leave me. Even after some time, I still felt this fragrant taste, saturating my body.” If you wish, you can buy this coffee and brew a similar beer yourself, paying $ 104 for 35 grams of beans. This is the price advertised for this unusual product.

7. Traditional Chicha beer

Photo: Wikimedia

A special corn beer called chicha is brewed in the Andes. The drink appeared thousands of years ago and played a huge role in the history of the culture of the Incas and Aztecs, who considered intoxication a spiritual practice and shared this drink as a sign of special friendship.

Some of you may have already tasted chicha, but modern beer is prepared not quite the way it was from the beginning. To start the fermentation process, brewers took corn kernels in their mouths and completely moistened them with their saliva using their tongues. The enzymes in our saliva are strong enough to ferment the cornstarch. Next, corn derivatives were sent for drying.

All of these activities took place before the brewing process began, so the final product was sterile and some breweries still practice the traditional way of making this drink.

6. Honey

Photo: Wikimedia

Bees have two stomachs, one of which is completely dedicated to storing nectar collected from flower fields. When this organ fills up, the stomach can weigh as much as the bee itself. Honey bees only return to their hive after visiting at least 1500 flowers. Once they get home, the foragers pass the nectar to the worker bees by regurgitating it from their secondary stomachs into the mouths of waiting companions. This mouth-to-mouth transfer process is repeated until the semi-digested nectar is ready for storage in the honeycomb. Further, in the process of partial evaporation of water from the nectar mass, the product increasingly acquires the familiar viscous syrupy properties. So insect vomit becomes our favorite honey.

5. Shellac

Photo: Wikimedia

Shellac is an ingredient often used as a glaze. And while it may sound unfamiliar, we've all eaten foods containing it at some point. Take at least chocolate or sucking sweets. This is a very versatile product.

But what is it in essence? In fact, we are talking about a purified form of varnish, which in turn is the secretory product of the insect Laccifer lacca Kerr, a small worm that lives in India, Thailand and Myanmar. Shellac secretions are formed on tree twigs, which are first dipped in water to remove debris from the resin, and then dipped in a soda solution to remove excess acid. The cleaned excrement of this insect is used not only in food products, but also in the varnishing of surfaces.

4. Baby poop sausages

Photo: Anna Jofre

Bacterial fermentation plays a huge role in the production of frankfurters and sausages. For example, the pungent smell and taste of your favorite pepperoni pizza is the result of bacteria at work. So it's not surprising that scientists have invented a way to ferment sausage, making it the healthiest and most nutritious food possible, just like probiotic yogurts. What's the catch? The bacterium by which this was achieved was collected from infant feces. Human, of course.

For this invention, the researchers collected bacteria from 43 faecal samples and used them to create six types of smoked pork sausages. These sausages have been tasted by professional experts who report that the taste of the product is no different from ordinary pork sausages.

3. Sake "Kuchikami No"

Photo: Wikimedia

As with chicha, sake has changed a lot over the years. This rice-based alcoholic beverage is sometimes referred to as rice wine, but it has much more in common with beer. Today, rice is fermented with a fungus (Aspergillus oryzae) that has the necessary enzymes to convert rice starch into sugar. But before the discovery of this form of mold, another ingredient was used in the creation of the drink - human saliva.

To start the fermentation process, brewers would start by chewing on rice, chestnuts, or acorns. The result was a special kind of sake called Kuchikami No (or Mouth Chewed Sake), which is still produced in small batches today for rare connoisseurs.

2. Ambergris

Photo: Peter Kaminski

This substance is nothing more than an intestinal suspension produced in the intestines or throat of the sperm whale. Due to its scarcity and wide range of applications, this mass is highly valued, and only 1 gram costs from 29dollars. Ambergris is used not only in expensive perfumes, but also in the preparation of eggs, ice cream and even cocktails. The smell has been compared to a highly concentrated oceanic scent.

One of the most common misconceptions about this miraculous suspension is that many believe it to be the remains of whale semen or whale burps. However, ambergris comes out of the anus rather than out of the mouth.

1. Yan Wo Bird's Nest

Photo: Wikimedia

In China, it is sometimes called "oriental caviar" due to its high cost and status as an exquisite delicacy. Salangana, an Asian swallow-like bird, makes these nests from its own salivary secretions. They differ from simple nests in that they are created very quickly to raise young chicks and then abandoned as soon as the main task is completed.

Protein-rich Yan Wo (literally, salangana's nest) is often added to soups, tonics and even desserts. Ten years ago there were about a thousand poultry farms producing this product, but now there are about 60 thousand. The saliva nest industry is valued at approximately $5 billion!

And all this despite the fact that the texture of Yan Wo nests after they are cooked in soup resembles a clot of snot.

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Baby poop: what your baby's diapers tell you

The birth of a child presupposes continuous learning for parents especially beginners. You may have read a lot of books, you may have asked family and friends with children for advice, and you may even think that you will be well prepared for the arrival of your child. But the reality is that the arrival of a child (especially the first) brings with it an infinite number of new situations.

But don't worry, in a short time you will become an expert at recognizing your baby's different calls. You will also learn how to bathe with great skill that baby who does not stop crying, even if they say that the bath is relaxing. You'll even learn to decipher your baby's diaper by the color and texture of his poop.

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However, while you are pursuing a master's degree in childcare, you can some of your baby's poop scares you . This is completely normal and happens to the vast majority of new parents as babies' stools change in color and consistency as their diet changes. Until they look like adults, your baby's stool will go through the following phases.

Index

1 Meconium
2 First "normal" poop
3 Complementary foods
4 Is the baby constipated?

Meconium

Baby's first poop is black and sticky, like resin. This first food is called meconium. This must sound familiar to you, because midwives often talk about it so that parents don't get scared for the rest of their lives when they change their first diaper.

The color and consistency of these feces are due to the child's digestion while still in the womb, and his diet depends on the mother. This stool is very copious and usually lasts one to two days Despite its appearance, meconium is a sign that the newborn's digestive system is working properly.

The first "normal" poop

Food is what will change the color and consistency of a newborn's feces. When breastfeeding begins, stools will turn mustard yellow , somewhat thin and lumpy. The color may vary depending on whether the baby is breastfeeding or formula feeding. This is because the formula is fortified with iron, which imparts a blackish tint, and the poop may be slightly more brown.

This will be the general appearance of the baby's poop. for the first 6 months or so when you usually start with the introduction of food.

Complementary foods

As the baby begins to eat different foods, the appearance and color of the stool will change depending on what you are taking . Some fruits and vegetables give a very distinctive tone, such as carrots. The baby's feces will take on an appearance very similar to that of an adult, and from now on they will get bigger and bigger in what will be their future digestion.

Is the child constipated?

Many parents go through this phase during the first few weeks of a baby's life, as newborns can go several days without a bowel movement . It is also possible that the baby will poop a lot on the same day, since breastfed babies tend to have a bowel movement at almost every breastfeed.

Neither the first is synonymous with constipation, nor does the second mean that the child has diarrhea. These are quite normal and common situations. On the other hand, the number of stools is is not what marks the constipation but the consistency of the stool. If the baby does not poop for several days, but retains its normal color and texture, this is completely normal.

On the other hand, if the stool is hard and spherical, it is a clear sign that the baby is constipated . In this case, you should contact your pediatrician to resolve this issue. You should not give your child any medicines, liquids or infusions on your own.