Nuts & Seeds · Seed
Poppy Seeds
Papaver somniferum · also called Opium poppy seeds, blue poppy seeds, semillas de amapola (Spanish)
Poppy seeds are the tiny seeds of the opium poppy, used in breads, bagels, cakes and fillings. They are rich in calcium, manganese, copper and fibre, but a spoonful is small, and no study shows that eating them treats or prevents a disease. The seeds can carry traces of morphine and codeine from the plant's sap. The main cautions are poppy seed tea from unwashed seeds (linked to overdose and death), positive urine drug tests, allergy and pregnancy.
General information, not medical advice. Last substantive update · Not medically reviewed. A named clinician has not signed off on this page. How this page is made
About Poppy Seeds
Poppy seeds are a mineral-rich baking seed, not a proven remedy. They come from the plant that makes opium, so the safety facts matter as much as the nutrition: morphine and codeine traces, drug tests, tea, allergy and pregnancy.
What it is
Poppy seeds are the tiny kidney-shaped seeds of the opium poppy (Papaver somniferum, family Papaveraceae). People use them whole on breads and bagels, ground into fillings, and pressed into oil.
USDA data per 100 g: 525 kcal, 41.56 g fat, 17.99 g protein, 19.5 g fibre, 1,438 mg calcium, 6.707 mg manganese, 1.627 mg copper, 347 mg magnesium and 9.76 mg iron. One tablespoon (8.8 g) has about 46 kcal, 127 mg calcium, 0.59 mg manganese and 1.7 g fibre. These values were taken from an earlier read of the USDA record and were not re-opened on the day this page was written.
What the research shows
For the nutrients, the evidence is composition data from a national food database. We found no study of eating poppy seeds for cholesterol, blood sugar, weight, cancer or brain health.
The many lab and animal studies of poppy plants (pain, cancer, diabetes) are about plant extracts across the whole genus, not the eaten seed. The authors say clinical studies are still needed.
What has been measured in people is the effect on drug tests: poppy seed foods can give a positive urine opiate screen.
Food versus tea and extracts
Seeds baked on a bagel are a very different exposure from tea brewed from a large amount of unwashed seeds. Doctors quoted by KFF Health News called the morphine in washed seeds on an everything bagel relatively trivial and said tea from large amounts of unwashed seeds can lead to overdose. EFSA says washing, soaking, grinding and cooking may lower alkaloid levels, and a laboratory study found heating lowered all alkaloids it measured. Levels still vary widely between batches.
Amounts
This page gives no amounts to eat. We did not find an official recommended serving of poppy seeds. Ask a doctor, pharmacist or dietitian what is right for you, especially in pregnancy or before a drug test.
At a glance
Traditional uses history, not proof
- Eaten whole on breads and bagels and baked in cakes
- Ground into pastry fillings and pressed into an edible oil
- Long use as food is not proof that it treats any condition
Studied for research
- Minerals and fibre from the seed, high certainty for the composition, no trial
- Fat make-up (mostly polyunsaturated), high certainty for the composition, no trial
- Cholesterol, heart, blood sugar, weight, cancer and brain health, insufficient evidence (no human study of the seed)
- Urine opiate drug test result after eating seed foods, a measured effect, moderate certainty
Main compounds
- Calcium
- Manganese
- Copper
- Fibre
- Polyunsaturated fat
- Morphine (trace, from sap)
- Codeine (trace, from sap)
- Thebaine (trace, from sap)
Common forms
- Whole seeds as a baking ingredient
- Ground seed fillings and pastes
- Poppy seed oil
- Unwashed seeds sold for tea (linked to harm; not a food use)
Research links: EFSA: opium alkaloids in poppy seeds (2011) · EFSA update on opium alkaloids in poppy seeds (2018) · Poppy seed tea: a short review and case study · Research Library · Genes & Biomarkers Library
What it is and its history
- Accepted scientific name
- Papaver somniferum
- Naming authority
- L. (GBIF accepted)
- Common names
- Poppy seeds (English); Opium poppy seeds (English); Blue poppy seeds (English); Semillas de amapola (Spanish)
- Family or group
- Papaveraceae (the poppy family), as given by GBIF.
- Classification
- Plantae > Tracheophyta > Magnoliopsida > Ranunculales > Papaveraceae > Papaver > Papaver somniferum
- Native range
- Not verified from a source read.
- Habitat
- Not verified from a source read.
- What it looks like
- Roots: Not verified.; Stems: Not verified.; Leaves: Not verified.; Flowers: Not verified.; Fruit: Not verified. EFSA says the plant is grown for opium alkaloids taken from the dried milky latex of the seed capsules; the seeds are used in food.
- Cultivation
- EFSA says the opium poppy is grown mainly for medical uses, with the seeds also used in food in many EU countries. Seed varieties differ: EFSA (2018) separates varieties grown mainly for drug production from food varieties.
- Harvest and processing
- Used whole, ground into fillings, or pressed into an edible oil (EFSA 2018 and the existing summary). Washing, soaking, grinding and cooking may lower alkaloids (EFSA 2011).
- Look-alikes and adulterants
- Name: California poppy and other poppies; Note: Different plants. The California poppy has its own page; research on the opium poppy seed does not carry over.; Name: Poppy seed as a spice; Note: A separate page covers poppy seed as a spice (flavour and baking).
- Sustainability and conservation
- Not assessed.
Photographs
What is inside, and how it may work
What it contains and how those compounds act in cells and animals. Laboratory and animal mechanisms are not proven effects in people.
Main compounds
| Compound | Family | Where it is concentrated | Activity studied | Level of evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morphine | opium alkaloid | Sap of the plant; traces on the seed coat In seeds bought online: under 1 to 2,788 mg/kg (laboratory study) | Main opium alkaloid; main safety concern (EFSA). 14 8 | Human data |
| Codeine | opium alkaloid | Sap; traces on the seed coat Under 1 to 247.6 mg/kg in the same study | Counted as 0.2 morphine equivalents by EFSA (2018). 3 8 | Human data |
| Thebaine | opium alkaloid | Sap; traces on the seed coat Under 1 to 124 mg/kg in the same study | EFSA (2018): limited evidence of higher acute lethality than morphine; no risk characterisation possible. 3 8 | Preclinical |
| Noscapine and papaverine | opium alkaloid | Sap; traces on the seed coat Not given in the abstracts read | EFSA (2018): comparison with therapeutic doses does not suggest a health concern. 3 | Authoritative guidance |
| Phenolic compounds (such as flavonols and anthocyanins) | phenolic | Reported for the Papaver genus | Reported in a genus review; the health effects it describes are preclinical. 1 | Preclinical |
Mechanisms, receptors and pathways
| Target or pathway | Gene or receptor | What was found | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opioid effects of morphine and codeine | Not specified in the sources read | EFSA lists sleepiness and breathing difficulties as the most prominent side effects of morphine and codeine. 14 | Authoritative guidance |
| Urine opiate screening | Not specified | Morphine and codeine from the seeds are excreted in urine and oral fluid and can exceed screening cut-offs. 11 9 10 | Human data |
Absorption, metabolism and elimination
- Absorption
- Not found beyond the urine and oral fluid results.
- Distribution
- Not found.
- Metabolism
- Not found.
- Elimination
- After a roll or raw seeds, urine morphine was measured at 2, 4, 6 and 20 hours; oral fluid was positive up to 3 hours after raw seeds and up to 1.5 hours after the roll.
- Bioavailability
- Not established.
Isolated compounds versus whole extracts
Seeds, tea, extracts and the opium itself are very different exposures. The seed as a topping carries little; tea from large amounts of unwashed seeds can deliver lethal amounts of morphine. Lab results on poppy plant extracts do not describe eating the seed.
Nutritional composition
Nutrition from USDA FoodData Central, Spices, poppy seed (FDC 171330, SR Legacy). These numbers were carried over from the earlier read of the record on 2026-10-23; the USDA service refused our request on 2026-10-26 so it was not re-opened today. Per 100 g: 525 kcal, 17.99 g protein, 41.56 g fat (4.517 g saturated, about 28.6 g polyunsaturated), 19.5 g fibre, 1,438 mg calcium, 347 mg magnesium, 870 mg phosphorus, 9.76 mg iron, 7.9 mg zinc, 6.707 mg manganese, 1.627 mg copper and 0.273 g omega-3 ALA. USDA gives household portions of 1 teaspoon (2.8 g) and 1 tablespoon (8.8 g). Per tablespoon: about 46 kcal, 1.58 g protein, 3.66 g fat, 1.7 g fibre, 127 mg calcium, 30.5 mg magnesium, 0.59 mg manganese, 0.14 mg copper, 0.70 mg zinc and 0.86 mg iron, which is about a tenth of the Daily Value for calcium and about a quarter for manganese (our calculation with FDA Daily Values). Figures vary with variety, growing place and storage.
2 high certainty1 not enough evidence
What was looked at
The 3 benefits and uses checked for Poppy Seeds, each with how strong the evidence is. Tap one to open it.
- Minerals and fibre from the seedHigh certainty
- Seed oil: mostly polyunsaturated fatHigh certainty
- Cholesterol, heart health, blood sugar, weight, cancer, brain healthNot enough evidence
Lab markers tracked in the studies
Urine opiate drug test result after eating poppy seed foodsOpium alkaloid level on the seeds after heating
What is Poppy Seeds good for?
The main studied uses and how strong the human evidence is for each. For the culinary seed there is only composition data; the real research is about safety.
Benefits, one by one
Each card is a research question, not a promise. Tap a goal to filter. Open a card to see the studies, doses and limits.
Minerals and fibre from the seed
High certaintyUSDA lists poppy seeds as high in calcium, manganese, copper and fibre per 100 g. The seeds are used in small amounts, so one tablespoon (8.8 g) gives about a tenth of the Daily Value for calcium and about a quarter for manganese. This is a nutrient fact, not a trial of poppy seeds.
1 studiesWhole or ground seeds as food. Values vary with variety, growing plac…
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
USDA FoodData Central lists per 100 g of seed: calcium 1,438 mg, manganese 6.707 mg, copper 1.627 mg, magnesium 347 mg, zinc 7.9 mg, iron 9.76 mg, phosphorus 870 mg and fibre 19.5 g. Per tablespoon (8.8 g) that is about 127 mg calcium, 0.59 mg manganese, 0.14 mg copper and 1.7 g fibre. No trial of poppy seeds for a health outcome was found.
Results
The seed is a concentrated source of several minerals and fibre, but the portions are small. No study shows that eating poppy seeds changes health outcomes.
Effect sizes as reported
Per tablespoon (8.8 g): calcium about 10% and manganese about 26% of the FDA Daily Value (our calculation from USDA values).
Why this rating
High for the composition fact (laboratory analysis in a national database). It says nothing about benefit, and the numbers were carried over from an earlier read of the record and not re-opened today.
Form and dose studied
Whole or ground seeds as food. Values vary with variety, growing place and storage.
Who was studied
Anyone eating them as a spice or filling.
Limits
A composition fact, not a trial. How much the body absorbs from the seed was not found.
Why researchers looked
Poppy seeds are often named as a mineral-rich seed, so people ask what they add to a meal.
Traditional use
Used whole in breads, bagels and cakes and ground into pastry fillings. Long use as food is not proof that it treats any condition.
Proposed mechanism Reference data
Not a mechanism study. The values come from laboratory analysis of the seed in a national food database.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Read the Safety tab first: opium alkaloid traces, drug tests, tea and allergy.
Seed oil: mostly polyunsaturated fat
High certaintyPoppy seeds are about 42% fat by weight, and most of it is polyunsaturated. USDA also lists a small amount of the plant omega-3 fat ALA. This describes the food, not a health result.
1 studiesWhole or ground seeds; pressed oil.
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
USDA lists per 100 g: total fat 41.56 g, saturated fat 4.517 g, about 28.6 g polyunsaturated fat and 0.273 g ALA; 525 kcal. Per tablespoon (8.8 g): about 46 kcal, 3.66 g fat, 0.40 g saturated fat and 0.024 g ALA.
Results
Composition only. No study of poppy seeds and blood fats or heart outcomes was found.
Effect sizes as reported
Per 100 g: 41.56 g fat, 4.517 g saturated, 0.273 g ALA.
Why this rating
High for the composition fact only; no health outcome is claimed. Numbers carried over from an earlier read of the record.
Form and dose studied
Whole or ground seeds; pressed oil.
Who was studied
Anyone eating the seeds.
Limits
Composition is not benefit. Fat figures vary with variety and growing place.
Why researchers looked
Seeds are often compared by their fat make-up.
Traditional use
The seeds are also pressed into an edible oil (EFSA).
Proposed mechanism Reference data
Not a mechanism study. Composition from a national food database.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
None specific to the fat; see the Safety tab for the alkaloid issues.
Cholesterol, heart health, blood sugar, weight, cancer, brain health
Not enough evidenceWe found no trial or population study of eating poppy seeds for any of these. Claims you may see online come from lab and animal work on poppy plants, not from people eating the seeds.
1 studiesNot applicable.
Studies, doses and limits
Results
No human evidence for the culinary seed.
Why this rating
No human studies of eating poppy seeds were found for these outcomes. The review covers the whole genus and is mostly lab and animal work.
Limits
Lab and animal findings on plant extracts do not show effects of eating the seeds.
Why researchers looked
Nuts and seeds as a group are studied for heart and blood sugar outcomes, so people ask about poppy seeds too.
Traditional use
Traditional medicine uses of poppy plants are mostly of the opium-bearing plant, not of the culinary seed.
Proposed mechanism None
No mechanism was read for the eaten seed.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Plant extracts, tea or opium-derived products are not safe substitutes; see the Safety tab.
Connections to the rest of health
How Poppy Seeds connects to the rest of our health knowledge graph. Every link says what kind of connection it is. A safety link (for example to the liver) is a warning, not a benefit. A study that merely mentions a topic never creates a benefit link.
Explore every connection: goals, body systems, organs, symptoms, genes
B. Body systems
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Digestive System | Biological association | High certainty | Studied for: Minerals and fibre from the seed | 17 |
| Musculoskeletal System | Biological association | High certainty | Studied for: Minerals and fibre from the seed | 17 |
| Cardiovascular System | Biological association | High certainty | Studied for: Seed oil: mostly polyunsaturated fat Studied for: Cholesterol, heart health, blood sugar, weight, cancer, brain health | 17 1 |
| Endocrine System | Biological association | Not enough evidence | Studied for: Cholesterol, heart health, blood sugar, weight, cancer, brain health | 1 |
E. Health conditions
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food allergy | Adverse effect or risk | Documented risk | Rare but can be severe; cross-reacts with hazelnut, buckwheat and almond proteins. Preparation or compound: Poppy seed proteins |
7 6 |
I. Biomarkers
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Urine opiate drug test result after eating poppy seed foods | Biological association | Moderate certainty | Measured in trials: raised. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit. | 11 9 10 |
| Opium alkaloid level on the seeds after heating | Biological association | Low certainty | Measured in trials: lowered. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit. | 2 14 |
K. Biological pathways
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morphine | Preliminary mechanism | Human | Main opium alkaloid on the seed coat. | 14 8 |
| Codeine | Preliminary mechanism | Human | Second main alkaloid; counted at 0.2 morphine by EFSA. | 3 |
| Calcium | Preliminary mechanism | Reference data | Concentrated in the seed (USDA). | 17 |
L. Active compounds
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morphine | Biological association | Human | Main opium alkaloid; main safety concern (EFSA). Preparation or compound: Sap of the plant; traces on the seed coat |
14 8 |
| Codeine | Biological association | Human | Counted as 0.2 morphine equivalents by EFSA (2018). Preparation or compound: Sap; traces on the seed coat |
3 8 |
| Thebaine | Biological association | Preclinical | EFSA (2018): limited evidence of higher acute lethality than morphine; no risk characterisation possible. Preparation or compound: Sap; traces on the seed coat |
3 8 |
| Noscapine and papaverine | Biological association | Authoritative guidance | EFSA (2018): comparison with therapeutic doses does not suggest a health concern. Preparation or compound: Sap; traces on the seed coat |
3 |
| Phenolic compounds (such as flavonols and anthocyanins) | Biological association | Preclinical | Reported in a genus review; the health effects it describes are preclinical. Preparation or compound: Reported for the Papaver genus |
1 |
Each connection is stored with the ingredient, the connected record, the kind of connection, the evidence status, the supporting studies, the preparation or compound involved, and a review date (last reviewed October 26, 2026).
Evidence at a glance: what changed in 2 lab markers
Tap a number to show only those markers. Counts are markers, not people.
The evidence
The research centre for Poppy Seeds. Every record here was checked against PubMed or the publisher's page; we never list a study we have not verified.
Evidence by outcome
Bars show how many studies we found for each outcome, not how well it works. People are added up across trials only (reviews are not added, to avoid double counting).
How we rate evidence
High certainty
Several well-run trials or reviews agree; further research is unlikely to change the picture much.
Moderate certainty
Good trials point the same way, but some doubt remains.
Low certainty
Small, short or inconsistent trials. The finding could change with better research.
Very low certainty
Very little or very weak human data. Treat as a possibility only.
Mixed findings
Trials or reviews disagree with each other.
Not enough evidence
Not enough human research to say either way.
Evidence against
Good research found no benefit, or found harm.
We take the reviewers' own risk-of-bias and GRADE statements where they exist, and otherwise judge from study size, design, consistency, directness and whether a product matches what is sold. Many publications do not make evidence high. Method note: We started from our existing poppy seed summary and page, re-read the EFSA news story and the EFSA 2018 abstract, read the KFF Health News report, and re-checked every PubMed paper by summary record and abstract. Only abstracts were read for studies. Two sources (the USDA record and the BfR opinion) could not be re-opened and are flagged in the research gaps.
Study library: every study we checked 17
| Study | Design | People | Product, dose, length | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Butnariu 2022 Papaver Plants: Current Insights on Phytochemical and Nutritional Composition Along with Biotechnological Applications. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity · PMID 36824615 · DOI |
Narrative review mixed |
Review of the whole Papaver genus | Papaver plant extracts and chemicals (mostly not the eaten seed) Various plant parts Study detail, not advice |
The genus is a rich source of alkaloids and also contains phenolic compounds such as anthocyanins and flavonols. Many preclinical studies report pain-relieving, anticancer, antimicrobial, antioxidant and antidiabetic activity of Papaver plants. The authors say clinical and toxicology studies are still needed. Qualitative (Not stated in the abstract) Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Phytochemicals and preclinical activity Limitations: Covers the whole genus, mostly lab and animal work, not eating poppy seeds. The abstract states no conflict of interest. Funding and conflicts: The authors declare no conflicts of interest. Read: abstract |
| Carlin 2020 Opium Alkaloids in Harvested and Thermally Processed Poppy Seeds. Frontiers in Chemistry · PMID 33195013 · DOI |
Laboratory analysis |
Harvested poppy seeds and seeds cooked with and without a food matrix | Poppy seeds, untreated and heat-processed Seeds Study detail, not advice · vs Untreated seeds |
The levels of all the alkaloids measured fell when the seeds were heat-processed, compared with harvested untreated seeds. The authors report that seeds used at normal levels would not exceed the EFSA acute reference dose of 10 micrograms morphine per kg body weight. Qualitative; numbers are not in the abstract (Not stated in the abstract) Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Alkaloid levels before and after heating Limitations: A laboratory study of the seeds the authors tested; other batches can differ widely. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract |
| EFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM) 2018 Update of the Scientific Opinion on opium alkaloids in poppy seeds. EFSA Journal · PMID 32625895 · DOI |
Regulator opinion n/a |
Poppy seed samples and dietary exposure estimates (no people were treated) | Poppy seeds (food-use and pharmaceutical-use varieties) Seeds Study detail, not advice |
Confirmed the acute reference dose of 10 micrograms morphine per kg body weight, now a group value for morphine and codeine (codeine counted as 0.2 morphine). Seeds from varieties grown mainly for drug production gave exposures above it in most age groups. Seeds from low-alkaloid food varieties also gave some exceedance at high intakes in most surveys. For thebaine, limited evidence suggests higher acute lethality than morphine and the estimated exposure could present a health risk. Group ARfD 10 micrograms morphine equivalents per kg body weight (Not stated in the abstract) Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Dietary exposure to morphine equivalents compared with the acute reference dose Limitations: A risk assessment from samples and surveys, not a trial. The abstract does not give the sample numbers. Funding and conflicts: Official EU body; no commercial funding stated. Read: abstract |
| Haber 2019 Poppy Seed Tea: A Short Review and Case Study. Pain and Therapy · PMID 30719627 · DOI |
Review case report |
1 One clinical case plus a short review |
Poppy seed tea made from unwashed seeds Seeds Study detail, not advice |
Unwashed seeds sold online can make a tea with enough opioid to cause psychoactive effects and withdrawal if stopped suddenly, although sale is legal in the US. The authors found little literature, with a few reported cases of intoxication and dependence. Qualitative (Not stated in the abstract) Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Opioid effects and withdrawal Limitations: Short review and one case; the abstract does not give counts. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract |
| Keskin 2006 Poppy seed allergy: a case report and review of the literature. Allergy and Asthma Proceedings · PMID 16948357 · DOI |
Case report |
1 A 16-year-old boy |
Inhaled poppy seed Poppy seeds Study detail, not advice |
Redness and swelling of the skin and deeper tissue (angioedema), eye inflammation and shortness of breath after inhaling poppy seed. Skin-prick tests were positive for poppy seed, hazelnut and chickpea, and specific IgE was raised for poppy seed, hazelnut and peanut. The authors describe the first report of allergy from inhaling poppy seed and note severe reactions mainly in people with pollen or nut allergy. Poppy seed IgE 3.36 kU/L (class 2) (Not stated in the abstract) Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Allergic symptoms and tests Limitations: A single case. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract |
| Oppel 2006 Cross-sensitization between poppy seed and buckwheat in a food-allergic patient with poppy seed anaphylaxis. International Archives of Allergy and Immunology · PMID 16601355 · DOI |
Case report |
1 A 17-year-old woman |
Poppy seed cake Poppy seeds Study detail, not advice |
Allergic reaction after poppy seed cake; testing showed poppy seed anaphylaxis and a new cross-sensitisation with buckwheat. The abstract says poppy seed sensitisation is rare but symptoms are usually severe, and that cross-sensitisation with sesame, hazelnut, rye and kiwi has been described. Qualitative (Not stated in the abstract) Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Allergic reaction and tests Limitations: A single case. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract |
| Podzhilkova 2024 Poppy Seed Allergy: Molecular Diagnosis and Cross-Reactivity With Tree Nuts. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice · PMID 38734371 · DOI |
Retrospective cohort |
36 36 poppy seed-sensitised patients: 10 with a positive and 26 with a negative oral food challenge |
Poppy seed allergen testing (blood tests, no treatment) Poppy seed extract and allergens Study detail, not advice · vs Positive versus negative food challenge |
The authors identified four new poppy seed allergens (Pap s 1 as a vicilin and as an alpha-hairpinin, Pap s 2 as a legumin, Pap s 3). Higher specific IgE went with a positive food challenge. Poppy seed IgE above 10 kUA/L had 90% sensitivity and 73% specificity. Poppy seed vicilin and legumin cross-reacted strongly with hazelnut and buckwheat, and the alpha-hairpinin cross-reacted with an almond allergen. The authors call it the most extensive study on poppy seed allergy to date. Poppy seed IgE >10 kUA/L: sensitivity 90%, specificity 73% (Not stated in the abstract) Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Which allergens matter, diagnostic accuracy, cross-reactions Limitations: Retrospective, small, patients already sensitised; it does not say how common the allergy is. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract |
| Powers 2018 Quantification of Morphine, Codeine, and Thebaine in Home-Brewed Poppy Seed Tea by LC-MS/MS. Journal of Forensic Sciences · PMID 28973785 · DOI |
Laboratory analysis n/a |
Poppy seed products bought online | Poppy seeds, brewed as tea by four home methods Seeds Study detail, not advice |
Medical examiners had reported two deaths (men aged 21 and 24) with high blood morphine, suspected to come from home-brewed poppy seed tea. In the seeds, morphine ranged from under 1 to 2,788 mg/kg, codeine from under 1 to 247.6 mg/kg and thebaine from under 1 to 124 mg/kg. Whatever the method, lethal amounts of morphine can be rinsed from poppy seed coats by home-brewing. Morphine in seeds <1 to 2,788 mg/kg (Not stated in the abstract) Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Morphine, codeine and thebaine in the seeds and tea extracts Limitations: A laboratory analysis of products bought online; the two deaths are described as suspected, not proven, in the abstract. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract |
| Reisfield 2023 Poppy Seed Consumption May Be Associated with Codeine-Only Urine Drug Test Results. Journal of Analytical Toxicology · PMID 36181466 · DOI |
Dosing study |
11 11 participants |
Ten different poppy seed food products (one per participant) Poppy seed foods Study detail, not advice Single serving · vs Baseline urine |
Six of 33 non-baseline urine samples (18%), from three food products, were positive for codeine and negative for morphine at 300 ng/mL, so their morphine-to-codeine ratios were below 2. The authors conclude that poppy seed foods cannot reliably be told apart from codeine use by earlier published urine levels and ratios. In none of these cases did the highest urine codeine exceed 1,300 micrograms per gram of creatinine. 6 of 33 samples (18%) codeine-positive, morphine-negative at 300 ng/mL (Not stated in the abstract) Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Urine opiate results at 300 ng/mL cut-offs Limitations: Small study of selected products, some chosen because they had been blamed in real test results. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract |
| Reisfield 2024 Urine and hair drug test results associated with daily consumption of codeine-predominant poppy seed food products. Journal of Analytical Toxicology · PMID 37987376 · DOI |
Dosing study |
10 10 participants |
Five poppy seed food products, one per participant, eaten at breakfast Poppy seed foods Study detail, not advice 10 consecutive days · vs Baseline samples |
Three of the five products gave opiate-negative urine at every time point at a 300 ng/mL cut-off. Two products gave opiate-positive urine at every non-baseline time point; all 60 of those samples were codeine-positive and 27 (45%) were morphine-positive. Thirty-nine of 60 (65%) were codeine-positive at a 2,000 ng/mL cut-off and none reached the 15,000 ng/mL threshold (highest codeine 13,161 ng/mL). Hair samples from two people had quantifiable codeine (41 and 51 pg/mg) but none reached the 200 pg/mg reporting threshold. Two of five products: 60 of 60 samples codeine-positive at 300 ng/mL (Not stated in the abstract) Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Urine and hair opiate results Limitations: Small; only five products; results differed a lot between products. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract |
| Samano 2015 Concentrations of Morphine and Codeine in Paired Oral Fluid and Urine Specimens Following Ingestion of a Poppy Seed Roll and Raw Poppy Seeds. Journal of Analytical Toxicology · PMID 26378141 · DOI |
Dosing study |
12 12 healthy volunteers |
A poppy seed roll, then an equal amount of raw poppy seeds (about 3.2 mg morphine and 0.6 mg codeine) Poppy seeds Study detail, not advice Single servings · vs Same people, roll versus raw seeds |
Urine morphine was 155 to 1,408 ng/mL after the roll and 294 to 4,213 ng/mL after raw seeds, measured from 2 to 20 hours. Oral fluid was positive for morphine from 7 to 600 ng/mL up to 3 hours after raw seeds, and 7 to 143 ng/mL up to 1.5 hours after the roll. Urine morphine 155-1,408 (roll) and 294-4,213 ng/mL (raw seeds) (Not stated in the abstract) Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Urine and oral fluid morphine and codeine Limitations: Small study from a drug-testing company laboratory, with seeds from one source. Funding and conflicts: Authors work for Quest Diagnostics, a drug-testing company (stated in the author list). Read: abstract |
| Schuppener 2018 Death Due to Complications of Bowel Obstruction Following Raw Poppy Seed Ingestion. Journal of Forensic Sciences · PMID 28543087 · DOI |
Case report |
1 A 54-year-old woman |
Large amount of raw poppy seeds Raw poppy seeds Study detail, not advice |
She had intractable vomiting and was found unresponsive. At autopsy a cast-like bowel obstruction made of poppy seeds was found. Blood morphine was under 10 ng/mL, so the death was from the obstruction, not opiate poisoning. The authors note that no deaths from eating poppy seeds had been described before. Blood morphine <10 ng/mL (Not stated in the abstract) Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Cause of death Limitations: A single case. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract |
| s-bfr-2006 Bundesinstitut fuer Risikobewertung (BfR): provisional daily upper intake level and guidance value for morphine in poppy seeds (Health Assessment 012/2006) · Source |
Regulator n/a |
Methods, limits and fundingRead: summary-only | ||
| s-efsa-2011-news EFSA: EFSA assesses public health risks of opium alkaloids in poppy seeds (news story, 8 November 2011) · Source |
Regulator n/a |
Methods, limits and fundingRead: full-text | ||
| s-gbif-papaver-somniferum GBIF Backbone: Papaver somniferum L. (usageKey 2888439) · Source |
Reference database n/a |
Methods, limits and fundingRead: full-text | ||
| s-kff-poppy-tea-2024 KFF Health News via Healthbeat: Poppy seed tea triggers morphine overdose, drawing attention of lawmakers (Hilzenrath, 9 October 2024) · Source |
News report n/a |
Methods, limits and fundingRead: full-text | ||
| s-usda-fdc-171330 USDA FoodData Central: Spices, poppy seed (FDC 171330) · Source |
Reference database n/a |
Methods, limits and fundingRead: summary-only |
What we do not know yet
- No human study of eating poppy seeds was found for cholesterol, blood sugar, weight, cancer or brain health.
- The USDA record and the BfR opinion could not be re-opened on the day this page was written, so nutrition numbers and BfR's pregnancy and infant details come from an earlier read.
- No source was read on breastfeeding, oxalate, choking, mould, heavy metals or pesticides in poppy seeds.
- How common poppy seed allergy is was not found, and the allergy case reports were read as abstracts only.
- The number of deaths from poppy seed tea was not taken from a primary source, so none is given.
- Current EU legal maximum levels and any US FDA response to the 2021 petition were not checked.
How new research is added
New studies are found by a saved PubMed search and placed in a review queue before the page changes.
Lab markers
What changed in blood or saliva tests during trials. A changed number is not the same as feeling or being healthier, and we give no "normal ranges".
Other 2
Urine opiate drug test result after eating poppy seed foods
Raised in trials
Whether a urine drug screen reads positive for opiates (morphine or codeine) at a set cut-off, such as 300 ng/mL.
Moderate certaintyResults and what it means
Why it was measured
Workplace, sports, hospital and court drug tests look for opiates, and poppy seed foods carry traces of the same chemicals.
Statistical vs. clinical meaning
Small dosing studies agree that poppy seed foods can give a positive screen, but results vary a lot between products. This is a measured effect, not a benefit.
Safety implication
Authors of one study conclude seed foods cannot reliably be told apart from codeine use by earlier urine levels and ratios. If you face a drug test, tell the testing program and a medical reviewer.
| Study | Result | People | Product |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Urine morphine 155 to 1,408 ng/mL after a poppy seed roll and 294 to 4,213 ng/mL after raw seeds with about 3.2 mg morphine | 12 volunteers | A poppy seed roll, then raw poppy seeds |
| 9 | 6 of 33 non-baseline urine samples (18%) were codeine-positive and morphine-negative at 300 ng/mL | 11 participants | One of ten different poppy seed food products |
| 10 | Two of five products gave opiate-positive urine at every time point at 300 ng/mL (60 of 60 samples codeine-positive); 65% of those were codeine-positive at 2,000 ng/mL; none reached 15,000 ng/mL | 10 participants | One of five poppy seed foods daily for 10 days |
Opium alkaloid level on the seeds after heating
Lowered in trials
How much morphine, codeine and related alkaloids are found on seeds before and after cooking.
Low certaintyResults and what it means
Why it was measured
The alkaloids on the seed coat are the safety issue with poppy seeds, so researchers test whether cooking lowers them.
Statistical vs. clinical meaning
One laboratory study of the seeds the authors tested. EFSA (2011) also says washing, soaking, grinding and cooking may lower alkaloids, by up to about 90%.
Safety implication
Not a guarantee: levels differ widely between batches and cooking cannot be checked at home.
| Study | Result | People | Product |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Levels of all alkaloids measured fell after heat processing compared with untreated seeds; at normal use levels the seeds tested would not exceed the EFSA acute reference dose | Laboratory samples of harvested poppy seeds | Heat processing, with and without a food matrix |
Safety
What studies and official sources say about side effects, medicines and who should check first. Each point shows what kind of evidence it comes from.
Main points to know 5
- Poppy seed tea from unwashed seeds has been linked to overdose and death. It is not a food or a remedy.. A laboratory study of seeds bought online found morphine from under 1 up to 2,788 mg/kg, and showed that lethal amounts of morphine can be rinsed from the seed coats by home-brewing. The study notes two deaths of men aged 21 and 24 that medical examiners suspected came from home-brewed tea. A clinical review says tea from unwashed seeds can cause psychoactive effects and withdrawal when stopped, although selling the seeds is legal in the US. KFF Health News (2024) reported a 24-year-old man who died in 2016 after drinking the rinse of seeds he bought online. Doctors quoted there say the risk is higher with other opioids. If someone is hard to wake, breathes slowly or has blue lips, call emergency services. Laboratory and case report 8 4 16
- Morphine and codeine traces on the seeds: EFSA says some people could exceed its safe one-day level. EFSA says poppy seeds do not naturally contain opium alkaloids but can be contaminated with plant sap after pest damage or at harvest. It set an acute reference dose of 10 micrograms of morphine per kg body weight (2011) and confirmed it in 2018, adding codeine as 0.2 morphine equivalents. In 2011 it said people eating foods with large amounts of poppy seeds are likely to exceed it on some occasions, and that seeds used as a condiment could rarely exceed it, particularly in young children. In 2018, seeds from varieties grown for drug production gave exposures above it in most age groups, and seeds from food varieties also exceeded it at high intakes. Washing, soaking, grinding and cooking may lower the levels. A separate laboratory study found normal use of the seeds it tested would not exceed the dose. Authoritative guidance 14 3 2
- Eating poppy seed foods can make a urine drug test read positive. In 12 volunteers, urine morphine reached 155 to 1,408 ng/mL after a poppy seed roll and 294 to 4,213 ng/mL after raw seeds. In 10 people eating a poppy seed food daily for 10 days, two of five products gave opiate-positive urine at every time point at the 300 ng/mL cut-off, and none reached 15,000 ng/mL. In another study 18% of samples were codeine-positive and morphine-negative, which looks like codeine use. The authors conclude seed foods cannot reliably be told apart from codeine use by urine levels and ratios. Tell the testing program and a medical reviewer. Dosing study 11 9 10
- Allergy is rare but can be severe, and can cross over to hazelnut, buckwheat and almond. A 2024 study of 36 sensitised patients (10 with a positive food challenge) found poppy seed proteins cross-react with hazelnut and buckwheat proteins and an almond protein. Case reports describe anaphylaxis after poppy seed cake with buckwheat cross-sensitisation, and swelling and breathlessness from inhaling poppy seed in a teenage boy also sensitised to hazelnut and peanut. Retrospective cohort and case report 7 5 6
- Pregnancy and babies: ask a clinician, and do not give poppy seed preparations to infants. Germany's BfR (2005) advised against excessive intake of foods with a high poppy seed content, especially in pregnancy, and described a baby treated for suspected opiate poisoning after being given poppy seeds as a home remedy. We could not re-open this opinion today, so these details come from our earlier read and are flagged. Authoritative guidance 13
Side effects 4
| Effect | How often | Severity and recovery | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morphine-like effects such as sleepiness and breathing difficulty from contaminated seeds EFSA says morphine-like effects have been seen in humans after a single portion of a meal with contaminated seeds, and lists sleepiness and breathing difficulties as the main side effects of morphine and codeine. | Not established | can be life-threatening with tea Not stated | Authoritative guidance 14 8 |
| Dependence and withdrawal with habitual poppy seed tea A clinical review says withdrawal can occur if tea is stopped abruptly. A Mayo Clinic doctor quoted by KFF described two patients with withdrawal after using the tea. | Not established | not stated Not stated | Case report 4 16 |
| Allergic reactions including anaphylaxis How common it is was not found. | Not established | can be severe Not stated | Case report 7 5 6 |
| Bowel obstruction from a very large amount of raw seeds A 54-year-old woman; blood morphine was under 10 ng/mL, so the cause was the obstruction, not opiate poisoning. | One case | fatal in the case reported Not applicable | Case report 12 |
Liver
No liver injury from eating poppy seeds was found. A liver-safety source (such as LiverTox) was not searched for this food page.
How often. No frequency was found.
Monitoring. No agency monitoring advice was found.
This is a safety connection. It is not evidence that Poppy Seeds supports liver health.
Medicines and supplements 3
| With | Why it matters | Importance | Evidence | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other opioids and sedatives (for example prescription pain medicines) prescription | Poppy seed tea carries morphine, so effects can add to those of other opioids. | KFF Health News quotes doctors saying the risks of tea from unwashed seeds are heightened if the person also takes other opioids such as prescription pain relievers. This is expert opinion in a news report about tea, not a study of culinary seeds. | Expert opinion news Low certainty 16 | Do not use poppy seed tea. Ask a pharmacist before combining any poppy seed product with opioids or sedatives. |
| Urine and hair drug tests (not a medicine) test | Morphine and codeine traces on the seeds pass into urine. | Positive screens after poppy seed foods in three dosing studies; ratios cannot always separate food from codeine use. | Dosing study Moderate certainty 11 9 10 | Tell the testing program and a medical reviewer about poppy seed foods. |
| Prescription medicines in general (apart from opioids and sedatives) prescription | No source read describes an interaction between poppy seed foods and other prescription medicines. | None found Not enough evidence | Ask a pharmacist if you take regular medicines and eat poppy seeds often. |
Who should check first 6
| Situation | Advice | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Known allergy to poppy seed, or to hazelnut, buckwheat, almond, sesame or peanut with symptoms | Ask an allergist before eating poppy seeds; cross-reactions have been reported. Call emergency services for trouble breathing or swelling of the face or throat. | Retrospective cohort and case report 7 5 6 |
| Facing a workplace, sports, hospital or court drug test | Poppy seed foods can cause a positive opiate screen. Tell the testing program and a medical reviewer. | Dosing study 11 9 10 |
| Pregnancy | BfR (2005, not re-opened today) advised against excessive intake of foods high in poppy seeds, especially in pregnancy. Ask a clinician. | Authoritative guidance 13 |
| Breastfeeding | No source on poppy seed foods and breastfeeding was read. Ask a clinician. | None found |
| Babies and young children | Do not give poppy seed preparations to infants (BfR case, not re-opened today). EFSA says young children are the group that could rarely exceed the safe one-day level even with seeds as a bread topping. | Authoritative guidance 13 14 |
| Taking opioids or sedatives | Do not use poppy seed tea. Ask a pharmacist. | Expert opinion news 16 |
Overdose, product quality and regulators
Summary. The risk is the opium alkaloids (mainly morphine and codeine) on the seed coat, not the seed itself. Washed seeds used as a topping carry little; tea from large amounts of unwashed seeds can be lethal.
Animal. Not reviewed.
Human doses studied. Volunteers ate a roll or raw seeds with about 3.2 mg morphine in one study; the abstract reports urine levels, not harm.
High dose or long term signals. Dependence and withdrawal with habitual tea (clinical review). Deaths linked to tea (case reports and news).
Overdose response. Call emergency services if someone is hard to wake, breathes slowly or has blue lips.
Genotoxicity. Not researched.
Toxic or hazardous parts. The plant's milky sap (opium) is the source of morphine and codeine (EFSA). The seeds are contaminated from the sap.
Alkaloid levels differ hugely between batches.
Opium alkaloids. In seeds bought online, morphine ranged from under 1 to 2,788 mg/kg, codeine from under 1 to 247.6 mg/kg and thebaine from under 1 to 124 mg/kg. 8
Variety. EFSA (2018): seeds from varieties grown mainly for drug production gave exposures above the safe one-day level in most age groups; food varieties gave some exceedance at high intakes. For thebaine, limited evidence suggests higher acute lethality than morphine. 3
Cooking and washing. EFSA (2011): washing, soaking, grinding and cooking may lower alkaloids, by up to about 90%. One laboratory study found all alkaloids fell after heat processing. 14 2
Mould, rancidity, heavy metals, pesticides. Not researched for poppy seeds in the sources read.
| Body | Action | Date |
|---|---|---|
| EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) (European Union) | Opinion: foods with poppy seeds could be a health concern for some consumers; acute reference dose of 10 micrograms morphine per kg body weight; processing may lower alkaloids source | 2011-11-08 |
| EFSA CONTAM Panel (European Union) | Update: confirmed the acute reference dose, made it a group value for morphine and codeine (codeine x 0.2); exceeded in most age groups for pharmaceutical-variety seeds source | 2018-05-16 |
| Center for Science in the Public Interest (petition to the US FDA) (United States) | Petitioned the FDA in 2021 to limit the opiate content of poppy seeds; sued in May 2024; the case was put on hold after the FDA said it would respond by the end of February 2025 source | 2024-10-09 |
When to get medical help
- Hard to wake, slow or shallow breathing, or blue lips after poppy seed tea or a large amount of seeds
- Trouble breathing, swelling of the lips, face or throat, or widespread hives after eating poppy seeds
- Vomiting, severe belly pain and a swollen belly after eating a very large amount of raw seeds
- Withdrawal symptoms after stopping poppy seed tea: ask a doctor or call a poison centre
Stop using the product and contact a clinician or emergency service. In the US, Poison Control is 1-800-222-1222.
General information only, not medical advice. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before use, especially with medicines, in pregnancy or with a health condition. See the Natural Remedy Safety guide.
Frequently asked questions
Can poppy seeds make me fail a drug test?
Is poppy seed tea safe?
Are poppy seeds on a bagel or muffin dangerous?
Do poppy seeds contain opium?
Can I eat poppy seeds in pregnancy?
Germany's BfR advised against excessive intake of foods high in poppy seeds, particularly in pregnancy. We could not re-open that opinion today, so ask a clinician about your situation.
Can I give poppy seeds to a baby?
Can you be allergic to poppy seeds?
Does cooking or washing remove the morphine?
Are poppy seeds good for you?
Can poppy seeds cause addiction?
A clinical review says habitual use of poppy seed tea from unwashed seeds can cause dependence and withdrawal when stopped. We found no report of this from culinary use.
Can eating a lot of raw poppy seeds be harmful?
One autopsy case describes a woman who died of a bowel blockage made of raw poppy seeds eaten in a very large amount. Her blood morphine was low, so it was not opiate poisoning. It is a single case.
Are poppy seeds the same as California poppy?
No. The California poppy is a different plant with its own page. Research on the opium poppy seed does not carry over.
Explore by health goal
Editorial transparency
- Written by
- AlternativeMed editorial team. Research compiled with AI assistance, then checked against the sources listed.
- Medical review
- None. This page has not been reviewed by a physician or pharmacist.
- First published
- 2026-10-26
- Last substantive update
- 2026-10-26
- How we research
- We started from our existing poppy seed summary and page, re-read the EFSA news story and the EFSA 2018 abstract, read the KFF Health News report, and re-checked every PubMed paper by summary record and abstract. Only abstracts were read for studies. Two sources (the USDA record and the BfR opinion) could not be re-opened and are flagged in the research gaps.
- How we rate evidence
- See "How we rate evidence" in the Evidence tab.
- Independence
- No product is promoted on this page. No affiliate links are shown.
Sources 17
Each source was opened and checked. Where we read only the abstract, it says so. The small numbers in the text point here.
- Butnariu M, Quispe C, Herrera-Bravo J, et al.. Papaver Plants: Current Insights on Phytochemical and Nutritional Composition Along with Biotechnological Applications.. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity. 2022. PMID 36824615. DOI 10.1155/2022/2041769. (abstract)
- Carlin MG, Dean JR, Ames JM. Opium Alkaloids in Harvested and Thermally Processed Poppy Seeds.. Frontiers in Chemistry. 2020. PMID 33195013. DOI 10.3389/fchem.2020.00737. (abstract)
- EFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM). Update of the Scientific Opinion on opium alkaloids in poppy seeds.. EFSA Journal. 2018. PMID 32625895. DOI 10.2903/j.efsa.2018.5243. (abstract)
- Haber I, Pergolizzi J Jr, LeQuang JA. Poppy Seed Tea: A Short Review and Case Study.. Pain and Therapy. 2019. PMID 30719627. DOI 10.1007/s40122-019-0113-5. (abstract)
- Keskin O, Sekerel BE. Poppy seed allergy: a case report and review of the literature.. Allergy and Asthma Proceedings. 2006. PMID 16948357. DOI 10.2500/aap.2006.27.2881. (abstract)
- Oppel T, Thomas P, Wollenberg A. Cross-sensitization between poppy seed and buckwheat in a food-allergic patient with poppy seed anaphylaxis.. International Archives of Allergy and Immunology. 2006. PMID 16601355. DOI 10.1159/000092557. (abstract)
- Podzhilkova A, Nagl C, Hummel K, Bindslev-Jensen C, Eller E, Mortz CG, Bublin M, Hoffmann-Sommergruber K. Poppy Seed Allergy: Molecular Diagnosis and Cross-Reactivity With Tree Nuts.. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice. 2024. PMID 38734371. DOI 10.1016/j.jaip.2024.05.001. (abstract)
- Powers D, Erickson S, Swortwood MJ. Quantification of Morphine, Codeine, and Thebaine in Home-Brewed Poppy Seed Tea by LC-MS/MS.. Journal of Forensic Sciences. 2018. PMID 28973785. DOI 10.1111/1556-4029.13664. (abstract)
- Reisfield GM, Teitelbaum SA, Jones JT. Poppy Seed Consumption May Be Associated with Codeine-Only Urine Drug Test Results.. Journal of Analytical Toxicology. 2023. PMID 36181466. DOI 10.1093/jat/bkac079. (abstract)
- Reisfield GM, Teitelbaum SA, Jones JT, Mathias K, Lewis B. Urine and hair drug test results associated with daily consumption of codeine-predominant poppy seed food products.. Journal of Analytical Toxicology. 2024. PMID 37987376. DOI 10.1093/jat/bkad083. (abstract)
- Samano KL, Clouette RE, Rowland BJ, Sample RH. Concentrations of Morphine and Codeine in Paired Oral Fluid and Urine Specimens Following Ingestion of a Poppy Seed Roll and Raw Poppy Seeds.. Journal of Analytical Toxicology. 2015. PMID 26378141. DOI 10.1093/jat/bkv081. (abstract)
- Schuppener LM, Corliss RF. Death Due to Complications of Bowel Obstruction Following Raw Poppy Seed Ingestion.. Journal of Forensic Sciences. 2018. PMID 28543087. DOI 10.1111/1556-4029.13562. (abstract)
- . Bundesinstitut fuer Risikobewertung (BfR): provisional daily upper intake level and guidance value for morphine in poppy seeds (Health Assessment 012/2006). . . (summary-only)
- . EFSA: EFSA assesses public health risks of opium alkaloids in poppy seeds (news story, 8 November 2011). . . (full-text)
- . GBIF Backbone: Papaver somniferum L. (usageKey 2888439). . . (full-text)
- . KFF Health News via Healthbeat: Poppy seed tea triggers morphine overdose, drawing attention of lawmakers (Hilzenrath, 9 October 2024). . . (full-text)
- . USDA FoodData Central: Spices, poppy seed (FDC 171330). . . (summary-only)
Where to buy
Check the label first. Whatever you buy, look for these:
- Raw or roasted, and salted or unsalted
- A best-by date, since nuts and seeds turn rancid
- Tree nut and peanut allergy warnings
- A resealable bag, and cool storage once opened
Talk to a pharmacist or doctor before you start any supplement, especially if you take medicines. See the Safety tab for interactions.
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