Why Does Pee Smell After Eating Asparagus?

Peeing after eating asparagus can be daunting: The liquid takes on a strange, pungent, rotten odour which can be off-putting, to say the least. But why is that? Asparagus contains asparagusic acid which is broken down into volatile (smelly) chemicals released in the urine as soon as half an hour after consuming the vegetable. These chemical components responsible for this effect are: methanthiol,