Iron is an essential mineral without which the body becomes incapable of transporting oxygen to various body parts. However, one of the most common side effects of taking iron supplements is the occurrence of black colored or dark stools. The production of black and tarry stools along with a foul smell is observed to be one of the most evident symptoms of consuming iron tablets. In fact, according of several practitioners, the absence of black stool signifies the ineffectiveness of the iron supplements in the body.  In medical terminology, black stool caused due to the intake of iron supplements, certain food kind or some particular medication is known as false melena. This condition mainly occurs due to the sole intake of iron tablets or as a part of multi-vitamins to cure iron deficiency. People who opt for a long term dosage of multi-vitamins or special supplements rich in iron experience the production of black colored stool. Further, foods that are known to be dark black and blue in color are also associated to trigger the release of black stool. In most of the cases, black stool due to iron intake is normal. However, people are still encouraged to report this to their physician in order to rule out the possibility of other factors that contribute towards the release of black stool.