The harmless but alarming reddening of urine after eating beetroot, caused by the betalain pigments passing through the body incompletely metabolized. Only a minority of people experience it visibly, since most break down or absorb the pigments before excretion, and iron deficiency or low stomach acid makes it more likely by altering pigment handling. It is frequently mistaken for blood in the urine, sending worried beet-eaters to their doctors, who reassure them with the simple test of dietary history. The same pigments can tint stools as well. Beeturia is medically insignificant, a vivid demonstration that food colors travel through us, but its dramatic appearance makes it one of the most commonly asked-about quirks in nutrition practice.