Unforeseen opioid overdoses triggered by contaminated poppy seed tea inspire legislative proposals
Indisputably, this scenario was a storyline in the popular sitcom "Seinfeld." However, for some individuals, it has turned into a disaster.
People have endured tragic consequences after drinking tea concocted from unclean poppy seeds. Similarly, after devouring lemon poppy seed bread or an everything bagel, mothers have reportedly been separated from their newborns following drug tests, as they failed to pass.
Poppy seeds hail from the plant that produces opium and is used to manufacture narcotics like morphine and codeine. During the harvesting and processing stages, the seeds may become tainted with the opium fluid.
Members of the Congress have proposed legislation to restrict the distribution and sale of polluted poppy seeds, aiming to prevent harm, addiction, and fatalities from morphine-laced poppy seeds. The bill was slated for discussion during a September 10 Congressional hearing.
A day prior to the hearing, The Marshall Project and Reveal reported a precedent where a woman ate a salad with poppy seed dressing and later tested positive at the hospital for opiates. Consequently, she was reported to child welfare services and their infant was temporarily taken into protective care. Almost two weeks passed before she was allowed to retrieve her baby.
In 2023, the US Department of Defense advised military personnel that "Consuming poppy seeds can result in a positive test for codeine in a urinalysis." The US Anti-Doping Agency had issued a similar warning to athletes in the past.
CSPI, a public watchdog organization, petitioned the US Food and Drug Administration in 2021 to limit the opiate content in poppy seeds. In May, after over three years without any response, CSPI filed a lawsuit to prompt action.
CSPI scientist Eva Greenthal, one of the study's co-authors, asserted that there were over 100 reports to poison control centers from 2000 to 2018 due to intentional misuse or abuse of poppy seeds.
Physicians have observed that the small amounts of morphine in poppy seeds are unlikely to pose any danger to an individual. However, doctor Irving Haber, an advocate of poppy seeds and an expert in pain medication, stated that "It's extremely improbable that the relatively inconsequential amount of morphine in an everything bagel or similar products would result in harm."
On the flip side, drinking copious amounts of unrefined poppy seed tea may lead to addiction and overdose, particularly if the person is also consuming other opioids, such as prescription painkillers.
Benjamin Lai, a physician at the Mayo Clinic's Opioid program, has treated patients who developed long-term opioid addiction due to consuming poppy seed tea. The patient in question, a man in his 30s, had mistakenly believed poppy seed tea would aid in relaxation and recovery from gym workouts. After a few months, he attempted to stop but encountered withdrawal symptoms, Dr. Lai confirmed.
An older woman experienced withdrawal symptoms under similar circumstances but successfully responded to treatment, Dr. Lai added.
Some websites promote poppy seed tea as having health benefits, and some merchants may employ specific language such as "raw," "unprocessed," or "unwashed," indicating their products contain higher concentrations of opiates than properly processed seeds, according to the lawsuit.
Stephen Hacala, a music teacher, suffered from anxiety and insomnia. In 2016, at the age of 24, he ordered poppy seeds online, rinsed them with water and consumed the rinse, ultimately leading to his death from morphine poisoning.
The only source of morphine discovered at the crime scene was commercially available poppy seeds. The medical examiner in Arkansas attributed Stephen Hacala's death to poppy seeds.
According to Steve Hacala, the quantity of poppy seeds found in a liter-sized plastic water bottle in his son's home could have delivered more than ten times the lethal dose.
Steve Hacala and his wife, Betty, have financially backed CSPI's campaign to shed light on this issue. (KFF Health News's publisher, David Rousseau, serves on the CSPI board.)
The lawsuit also cited various instances where mothers, like those investigated by The Marshall Project and Reveal, inadvertently violated regulations intended for the protection of newborns, such as Jamie Silakowski. Jamie had not taken any opioids during her pregnancy; however, she was initially barred from leaving the hospital with her baby, as per the lawsuit. It was revealed that she had eaten poppy seed bread from Tim Hortons, a fast-food chain, prior to her hospitalization. According to the lawsuit, "No one in the hospital appeared to believe Ms. Silakowski or appeared to be aware that the test results could be due to poppy seeds."
Child welfare authorities unexpectedly paid visits to her house, spoke with her kids and talked to their teachers, she shared in an interview.
During her maternity leave, she was required to undergo drug tests, Silakowski mentioned. "Peeing in front of someone like I'm a criminal – it was just embarrassing."
Her family members also started questioning her, and she was powerless to eliminate the suspicions, she said. "Relations were shattered," she said.
Restaurant Brands International, the parent company of Tim Hortons, Burger King, and Popeyes, did not offer comments to KFF Health News.
In July, The Washington Post announced that Trader Joe’s Everything But the Bagel seasoning was prohibited and seized in South Korea due to the presence of poppy seeds. Trader Joe’s did not reply to requests for this article. The seasoning is still available for purchase on the company’s website.
The US Drug Enforcement Administration stated that consuming unwashed poppy seeds can be lethal when consumed alone or in conjunction with other drugs. Although poppy seeds are exempt from drug regulations under the Controlled Substances Act, contaminants of opium on the seeds are not, the agency explained. The US Department of Justice has initiated criminal charges related to the sale of unwashed poppy seeds.
However, the legislation aimed at limiting poppy seed contamination has yet to gain significant momentum.
The Senate bill, sponsored by Sen. Tom Cotton, a Republican from Arkansas, has two backers.
The House bill, introduced by Rep. Steve Womack, also a Republican from Arkansas, lacks support. Despite being on the agenda, it was not discussed at the recent hearing.
Despite the small amounts of morphine in poppy seeds being unlikely to pose harm to an individual, continually consuming large quantities of unrefined poppy seed tea could potentially lead to addiction and overdose. Health-conscious individuals seeking the alleged health benefits of poppy seeds should be cautious, as some websites promote raw, unprocessed, or unwashed seeds, which may contain higher concentrations of opiates.
