Sulfur Burps (Rotten-Egg Burps): Causes, Triggers, and How to Stop Them

If your burps smell like rotten eggs, you are dealing with sulfur burps. The odor comes from hydrogen sulfide gas, which your gut bacteria produce when they break down sulfur-rich foods and proteins. They are unpleasant but usually harmless — though sometimes they point to something worth treating.

Here is what causes sulfur burps, the foods and conditions most likely behind them, and how to get rid of them.

What are sulfur burps?

Sulfur burps are belches that carry the smell of rotten eggs. That smell is hydrogen sulfide (H2S), a gas made when bacteria in your mouth and gut digest foods that are high in sulfur. A few here and there are normal. Frequent, persistent sulfur burps — especially with other symptoms — are worth looking into.

Common food triggers

Foods high in sulfur are the usual culprits:

• Eggs, red meat, and other high-protein foods
• Cruciferous vegetables — broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, cabbage
• Garlic and onions
• Dairy products
• Beer and some other drinks

Eating large amounts of these, or eating them quickly, gives gut bacteria more raw material to turn into hydrogen sulfide.

Causes beyond food

• Slow digestion — when food sits in the stomach longer (including with gastroparesis), bacteria have more time to produce gas
• Acid reflux / GERD
• H. pylori infection — a common stomach bacterium
• Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)
• Giardia and other gut infections — a frequent cause when sulfur burps come with diarrhea
• GLP-1 medications (Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro) — these slow digestion, which can increase gas and sulfur burps for some people

Sulfur burps and diarrhea together

When rotten-egg burps arrive with diarrhea, an infection is more likely — giardia is a classic cause, but food poisoning and SIBO can do it too. This combination, especially if it lasts more than a day or two or comes with cramping and fever, is worth a doctor's visit so the right cause can be treated.

How to stop sulfur burps

• Ease up on sulfur-rich foods for a few days to see if they settle
• Eat slower and in smaller portions so food does not sit and ferment
• Stay well hydrated
• Limit alcohol and carbonated drinks
• Over-the-counter options like bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol) can reduce the odor; simethicone may ease gas
• If they keep coming back, treating the underlying cause (H. pylori, giardia, SIBO, reflux) is what actually fixes them

When to see a doctor

Get checked if sulfur burps are persistent or come with diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, fever, or unexplained weight loss. These can signal an infection or another condition that needs treatment.

Find your trigger by tracking

Sulfur burps usually trace back to specific foods or meal patterns. Logging what you eat alongside when the burps appear is the fastest way to pin down your personal trigger — often a particular high-sulfur food or oversized meal.

Frequently asked questions

What causes rotten-egg burps?

Hydrogen sulfide gas, produced when gut bacteria break down sulfur-rich foods and proteins. Slow digestion, reflux, and infections like H. pylori or giardia can increase it.

How do I get rid of sulfur burps fast?

Cut back on sulfur-rich foods, drink water, eat smaller and slower meals, and try an over-the-counter remedy like bismuth subsalicylate. If they persist, see a clinician to check for an underlying cause.

Are sulfur burps a sign of something serious?

Usually not — they are most often food-related. But persistent sulfur burps, or sulfur burps with diarrhea, vomiting, or weight loss, can point to an infection or other condition and should be evaluated.

Can Ozempic or Wegovy cause sulfur burps?

Yes. GLP-1 medications slow digestion, which can increase gas and sulfur burps for some people. Mention persistent or severe symptoms to your prescriber.

Bottom line

Sulfur burps are usually a harmless, food-driven nuisance from hydrogen sulfide gas. Adjusting your diet and eating habits resolves most cases. When they persist or pair with diarrhea, vomiting, or weight loss, see a doctor to find and treat the cause.

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This article is for general education and is not medical advice. Speak with a qualified healthcare professional about your symptoms.