About
Poppy seeds are the dried mature seeds of Papaver somniferum L., used in bakery products, as a condiment or decoration on dishes, in cake fillings, and to produce edible oil. While the seeds themselves do not inherently contain opiate alkaloids, they may become surface-contaminated with opium alkaloids (morphine, codeine, thebaine) from the plant's latex during harvesting and post-harvest processing.
Safety summary
Poppy seeds may carry variable surface contamination of opiate alkaloids (morphine, codeine, thebaine) depending on cultivar, harvesting, and processing practices; EFSA established an acute reference dose (ARfD) of 10 µg morphine equivalents/kg body weight, which can be exceeded from a single large serving, particularly in children. The FDA does not advise consumers to generally avoid poppy-seed-containing foods but is actively reviewing industry practices and developing action-level guidance. Misuse in the form of concentrated 'poppy seed tea' has been linked to at least 11 reported deaths and carries serious risks of respiratory depression, dependence, and death.
Regulatory landscape
| Jurisdiction | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|
| EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) (European Union) | Restricted | Commission Recommendation 2014/662/EU on good practices to prevent and reduce opium alkaloids in poppy seeds; mandates post-harvest cleaning and processing controls; seeds requiring additional treatment to reduce alkaloid content must be labelled accordingly.source |
| FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) (India) | Approved | Regulated under FSSAI Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations 2011, Section 2.9.16 as 'Poppy (Khas Khas)'. Defined as dried mature seeds of Papaver somniferum L., white or greyish in colour; must be free from mould, insects, rodent contamination, added colouring matter, and other harmful substances. Maximum moisture 11.0%, extraneous matter ≤2.0%.source |
| FDA (Food and Drug Administration) (United States) | Under_review | FDA issued a Request for Information (RFI) on January 15, 2025, on industry practices to understand and control opiate alkaloid levels in poppy seeds. FDA has received 11 reports of deaths linked to misuse (poppy seed 'tea'). A Draft Guidance on Action Levels for Opiate Alkaloids on Poppy Seeds is listed in the 2025 FDA Human Foods Program Guidance Agenda. FDA does not advise consumers to avoid poppy-seed-containing foods in normal dietary use.source |
Who should approach with care
Research citations
- 1FSSAI. Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations 2011 – Chapter 2.9.16: Poppy (Khas Khas). fssai.gov.in
- 2other. Update on Opium Alkaloids in Food: Exploring Their Occurrence, Effect of Culinary Processing and Advances in Analytical Methodologies. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 3FDA. Opiate Alkaloids on Poppy Seeds, 2025. fda.gov
- 4EFSA. Update of the Scientific Opinion on opium alkaloids in poppy seeds, 2018. efsa.europa.eu
- 5PubMed. Update of the Scientific Opinion on opium alkaloids in poppy seeds, 2018. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 6EFSA. Scientific Opinion on the risks for public health related to the presence of opium alkaloids in poppy seeds, 2011. efsa.europa.eu
