My son-in-law, Sergio, makes cooked black beans at our family gatherings. His method never causes the ‘poem problem.’ I have no clue why. I called and got his directions and this is his recipe.

Sergio doesn’t soak the beans. I was taught that you have to soak the beans and pour off the water to reduce the raffinose and stachyose that cause the poem problem. Raffinose and stachyose are polysaccharides that are notdigested by humans and animals with one stomach. The bacteria in the lower intestine, however, do a fine job digesting raffinose and stachyose; and in the process, produce carbon dioxide, methane, and hydrogen (the makings of flatulence). Beano to the rescue, if you do have a serious problem. But I have always wondered if the canning companies are soaking their beans overnight – I think not. No guarantee on the ‘poem problem’, but it is amazing that his recipe causes us no problems.