Do poppy seeds one buys at a grocery store contain opium?

Question

I'm getting drug tested for a new job this week and have heard myths that poppy bagles will make one test + for opiates. So can i continue eating poppy bagles or cut it from my diet?

Answer 1

The Poppy seed we buy at grocery stores does not contain opium. It is a different variety of seeds and it is considered as narcotics and it will be seized if some one openly sell.

These small, dried, bluish-gray seeds of the poppy plant measure less than 1⁄16 inch in diameter-it takes about 900,000 of them to equal a pound. Poppy seeds have a crunchy texture and a nutty flavor. They're used as a filling in various cakes, pastries and coffee cakes, as a topping for myriad baked goods, in salad dressings and in a variety of cooked dishes-particularly those originating in central Europe, the Middle East and India. Poppy seeds can be purchased whole or ground in most supermarkets. There are also beige and brown poppy seeds, which are more commonly available in Asian or Middle Eastern markets. Because of their high oil content, all poppy seeds are prone to rancidity. They should therefore be stored, airtight, in the refrigerator for up to 6 months. The flavor of poppy seed is augmented by toasting.

seeds don't contain opium and are widely used in cooking and baking. Ground poppy seeds are a common thickening agent in spice pastes in Moghul cuisine. In Europe, poppy seeds are a common ingredient in croissants and strudels. Sprinkling poppy seeds on bread and rolls before baking adds energy and a nutty flavour. Poppy seed oil is widely used in salads and cooking oil in Iran.

Medicinal uses: Ayurveda sees poppy seeds as all-purpose tonic, aphrodisiac and a remedy for diarrhoea. The Iranians use poppy seeds to treat nosebleeds and boils. In Algeria, folk healers stuff poppy seeds into tooth cavities, and the Lebanese too use them as medicine.

Answer 2

It is true that poppy seed bagels can cause you to test positive for opiates. However, the effect does not last more than about one day. So if you refrain from eating them on the day of the test, and the day before (just to be safe) you shouldn't have a problem. Also, while the chemicals that make opium are present in small amounts in the poppy seeds on the bagel, opium itself is not present.

Answer 3

My father is a toxicologist, and I have learned from him that if it shows up it will show up as borderline - a "false positive" that the lab will rerun to determine that your not an addict/user. If you think about it this makes sence - poppy seeds dont produce a drug responce in your body. Drug testing is an amazing sceince and it should be trusted.

Answer 4

There is indeed opium in regular poppy seeds but its such a tiny amount that it shouldn't matter, and if it does matter I think thats a pretty sad comment on our society these days.

Answer 5

most job applicant drug tests are of the inexpensive kind. but why chance it?

Answer 6

Yes! Depending on how many you eat & your metabolism rate, they might show up.