Experts have issued a warning over a trendy food which has seen an almost 50% surge in sales thanks to promoted health benefits. Fermented foods such as kimchi, artisan cheese and keffir have seen a surge in popularity amid claimed benefits for gut health – leading to things such as better weight management and better heart health.
But some experts have warned the food, packed with good bacteria, is not for everyone. A recent study by Ohio State University found some fermented foods contain antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which can cause vomiting and diarrhoea, or even sepsis.
One they examined contained a strain of Weissella – linked to infection of the lining of the heart and bones – and even death. Fermented foods have been linked to boosting the immune system, meaning those who consume them could already be unwell, elderly or vulnerable and therefore more susceptible to the bacteria.
Bahee Van de Bor, a dietitian and spokesman for the British Dietetic Association, told MailOnline: “In this scenario it’s safer to take supplements of specific strains of probiotics to restore gut health.” She added: “Some fermented foods, such as aged cheese and fermented soy foods, are high in histamine, which can trigger symptoms including headache, rashes and digestive problems for people with histamine intolerance.”
That group includes up to three per cent of the UK population. Dr Manal Mohammed, a senior lecturer in medical microbiology at the University of Westminster, said: “Some people might experience severe bloating, which can be very painful.” Dr Mohammed said people with weakened immune systems, pregnant women, babies and people with digestive disorders should avoid fermented foods.
Ms Van de Bor said: “Fermented foods have recently become very trendy — but at the end of the day there is stronger evidence of health benefits from eating your five-a-day, wholegrains and pulses rather than having loads of kimchi.”
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