[paul.fr]

Why does faeces smell so bad? Are there any foods that can make it smell nicer, and do any foods make it smell worse?

do people on certain diets have worse or better smelling poo, and what's the betting Neil has already asked this question at some point?

[BenV]

There's nothing intrinsic in the gases given off that are 'bad', much like with the smell of rotten meat or sour milk.  We've evolved to react to these smells with disgust to encourage us to keep our waste away from our food, and not to eat contaminated food.

[another_someone]

There's nothing intrinsic in the gases given off that are 'bad', much like with the smell of rotten meat or sour milk.  We've evolved to react to these smells with disgust to encourage us to keep our waste away from our food, and not to eat contaminated food.

How does this relate with animals that actually feed their faeces to their young (as a means of inoculating the young with bacteria for helping to digest cellulose, etc.)?

[Ben6789]

It's the bacteria chowing down on it that make it smell. I don't know exactly how though..

[another_someone]

Actually, thinking about it, I don't think even human babies have very much of a revulsion to faeces; it seems to be something that develops as babies grow into young children.

[super sci fi zipidoo dahh]

You know your wee turns red when you eat beetroot! you should try it! You need to eat enough though