Can Brie Hurt Your Colon?

The colon is the last part of your digestive system that food travels through and is responsible for the final stages of the digestion process. Brie, a soft, creamy cheese, may negatively impact your colon if you have certain colon conditions. In healthy adults, Brie cheese is not known to cause colon harm. However, you should consult your doctor if you have an inflammatory bowel disease. Brie may trigger inflammation in your colon if you have this condition.

E. coli Outbreak

E. coli is a bacterial infection that attacks your colon and causes harm. It is the leading cause of bloody diarrhea, according to FamilyDoctor. org. In September 1984, the Centers for Disease control issued a notice informing consumers of an E. coli outbreak associated with a specific lot of brie cheese. The initial outbreak may have dissuaded consumers from eating brie cheese again. However, data indicates that this was an isolated incident. Brie cheese is not associated with recurrent E. coli outbreaks in healthy adults.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Foods such as brie cheese may aggravate colon conditions like inflammatory bowel disease. This condition is characterized by chronic inflammation of your colon, specifically the innermost lining of your colon. Symptoms include abdominal pain and changes in bowel habits. Some people find that certain foods trigger their symptoms. You should consult your physician if you have inflammatory bowel disease and suspect that brie cheese may be worsening your condition.

Compromised Immunity

Pasteurization is the process of heating food to a specific temperature to reduce the amount of pathogens. Brie cheese is sometimes unpasteurized, which may pose harm to your colon if you have a compromised immune system. Pasteurization is designed to reduce the risk of contamination. Unpasteurized cheese such as brie may pose a hazard because your immune system is not functioning optimally to ward off bacteria that enter your colon.

Considerations

Brie cheese is not harmful to your colon if you are a healthy adult. There is a concern only if you have a compromised immune system or certain colon conditions. Diet plays an important role in decreasing the symptoms of certain colon conditions. Consult your physician if you are concerned that foods such as brie cheese may be harmful to your colon. Your physician can provide dietary instructions for your particular case.