Poppy seeds, often found in everyday foods like bagels, muffins, and salad dressings, can cause a positive result on drug tests. Consuming them can indeed lead to a positive drug test for opiates. Understanding this phenomenon is important for anyone undergoing drug screening.
Why Poppy Seeds Can Trigger a Drug Test
Poppy seeds originate from the opium poppy plant, Papaver somniferum, which naturally produces opiate alkaloids. These compounds include morphine and codeine, which drug tests screen for. While the seeds themselves do not contain opium, they can become contaminated with the milky latex containing these alkaloids during harvesting or processing.
Even trace amounts can trigger a positive drug test. For federal workplace drug testing, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) sets the initial screening cut-off level for opiates at 2,000 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) of urine. This threshold was specifically raised from 300 ng/mL to help reduce false positives from poppy seed consumption.
How Much and Other Influencing Factors
There is no precise “safe” quantity of poppy seeds that guarantees a negative drug test result due to multiple variables. The amount of opiate alkaloids present on poppy seeds varies significantly. This variation depends on poppy strain, geographical region, and processing methods. Some studies have found morphine content ranging from 2 to 251 micrograms per gram (µg/g) of seeds, with codeine varying from 0.4 to 57.1 µg/g.
Even a single poppy seed bagel or muffin has the potential to lead to a detectable level of opiates. The individual’s metabolism also plays a role, as people metabolize and excrete compounds at different rates. Hydration levels can influence urine concentration, which affects the test results. Test sensitivity and time since consumption are important factors. Morphine from poppy seeds can be detected in urine for 12 to 48 hours, and sometimes up to 60 hours, appearing as soon as two hours after ingestion.
Steps to Avoid a False Positive
For individuals anticipating a drug test, the most straightforward approach to prevent a false positive from poppy seeds is to avoid their consumption. It is advisable to refrain from eating any foods containing poppy seeds for a period before the scheduled test. While specific timeframes can vary, a general recommendation is to avoid them for at least two to three days prior to testing.
Being mindful of hidden poppy seeds in various food items is also important. They can be found in a range of baked goods, such as breads, cakes, and pastries, as well as in some salad dressings and spice blends. Checking ingredient labels on packaged foods can help in identifying and avoiding these items.
Addressing a Positive Drug Test Result
Should a drug test return a positive result for opiates after poppy seed consumption, it is important to communicate transparently with the testing facility or employer. Explaining recent dietary intake, particularly any poppy seed consumption, can provide context. Requesting a retest or a more specific confirmatory test is a reasonable next step.
Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) is a highly accurate confirmatory testing method that can help differentiate between opiate drug use and poppy seed ingestion. This advanced analysis can look at the ratio of morphine to codeine in the sample. It can also detect the presence of thebaine, another alkaloid found in the opium poppy plant and poppy seeds, which is generally not present in heroin or pharmaceutical opiates. Documenting food consumed prior to the test can provide helpful evidence in such situations.