# Poppy seeds and drugs **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 1, 2003, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poppy-seeds-and-drugs/165723 "2003-04-01T15:43:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![lemon\_yellow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3e96dc/32.png) [@lemon\_yellow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lemon_yellow)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poppy-seeds-and-drugs/165723/1 "2003-04-01T15:43:49Z")
I have just discovered poppy seed bagels. I love them. However, I have heard if you eat too many, it could show up in your system as a positive drug reaction. How much is too much? Should I be worried? ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poppy-seeds-and-drugs/165723/2 "2003-04-01T16:44:30Z")
[Snopes](http://www.snopes.com/toxins/poppy.htm) gives a recounting that eating four may be enough. There are some other information available [here.](http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n2194/a06.html) ---
**Author:** ![Bottle\_of\_Smoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Bottle\_of\_Smoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bottle_of_Smoke)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poppy-seeds-and-drugs/165723/3 "2003-04-01T16:45:06Z")
Looks like [Cecil has your answer.](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a5_116.html) 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poppy-seeds-and-drugs/165723/4 "2003-04-01T16:48:52Z")
Oh, and this quote from [here](http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/MISC/chemdep.htm). > [@](#): > > Similarly, over-the-counter stimulants, such as dietary aids and decongestants (e.g., phenylpropanolamine, fenflurarnine, ephedrine) may cause the initial immunoassay screen for amphetamines to be positive. Again, GC-MS differentiates these ffm illicit amphetamines. Consuming poppy-seed-containing foods (e.g., bagels, poppy-seed cakes) will produce detectable amounts of morphine in the urine without sufficient amounts reaching the systemic circulation to produce any pharmacologic effects. Usually the morphine derived from the use of heroin (diacetylmorphine) must be metabolized to monoacetylmorphine and morphine. Therefore, to differentiate poppy seed use from heroin use, the presence of monoacetylmorphine in a GC-MS analysis will implicate heroin use (ElSohly et al. 1988; Mulé & Casella 1988). ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poppy-seeds-and-drugs/165723/5 "2003-04-01T16:51:06Z")
I can’t believe I went to the internet when Cecil had already answered it. Bah! :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2003, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poppy-seeds-and-drugs/165723/6 "2003-04-01T18:58:49Z")
About 3 weeks ago, they addressed this issue on the TV show “Mythbusters.” On camera, hopefully honestly, they ate bagels, and later took a drug test. Both Participants, within hours of eating a few (not more than 3 or 4) poppy seed bagels or muffins, posted false positives on drug tests, while both had tested neg at the beginning of the show… hrh