Poppy seeds are a common ingredient used in baked goods like breads, muffins, and bagels. Though tiny in size, poppy seeds come from the opium poppy plant, which is used to make opioids like morphine and codeine. This understandably raises concerns for pregnant women about whether it’s safe to eat poppy seeds during pregnancy.
Quick Answer
Yes, eating normal amounts of poppy seeds as an ingredient in foods is generally considered safe during pregnancy. Poppy seeds themselves contain very low levels of opiates, not enough to cause issues even during pregnancy. Just avoid eating excessive amounts of poppy seeds.
Are There Opiates in Poppy Seeds?
Poppy seeds do contain trace amounts of opiate compounds like morphine and codeine. This is because they come from the seed pod of the opium poppy plant, which produces opiate compounds.
However, the levels of opiates found in poppy seeds themselves are very low. One study tested the morphine and codeine content of poppy seeds from different sources. The study found:
- Average morphine content: 4.4-5.6 parts per million (ppm)
- Average codeine content: 1.6-4.4 ppm
To put this into perspective, a typical poppy seed bagel could have anywhere from 250-500 poppy seeds on it. At those low concentrations, the total opiate content from poppy seeds on a bagel is very small and highly unlikely to cause any issues for pregnancy.
Can Poppy Seeds Cause a Positive Drug Test in Pregnancy?
Though the opiate levels in poppy seeds themselves are low, eating poppy seeds can occasionally lead to a positive drug test. This is because drug tests have cutoffs set for detection of opiate compounds at very low levels.
While not extremely common, there are instances where the opiates from poppy seeds have triggered a positive result on a drug test in pregnancy. This leads to unnecessary worry, but typically when women explain the poppy seed exposure, their doctor understands.
To be cautious, pregnant women may want to avoid eating poppy seeds right before needing to take a drug test. But overall, poppy seed consumption should not interfere with prenatal drug testing for most women when eaten in normal amounts.
Do Poppy Seeds Harm the Pregnancy or Baby?
There is no evidence that eating reasonable amounts of poppy seeds can harm the pregnancy or baby’s health. As discussed earlier, the very low levels of opiates in poppy seeds are unlikely to have any effect.
In studies where pregnant animals were given high doses of concentrated poppy seed extract, it did cause some pregnancy complications. However, this amount far exceeds any normal poppy seed intake through eating baked goods.
Overall, there are no reports of adverse events during pregnancy from simply eating foods containing poppy seeds. So it is considered very safe as an ingredient in moderation.
Are There Pregnancy Guidelines for Poppy Seed Intake?
There are no official guidelines limiting poppy seed intake during pregnancy. Since normal consumption through foods is safe, there are no recommendations to restrict poppy seeds.
The main guidance would be to avoid eating extremely large amounts of poppy seeds. For example, eating a couple of poppy seed bagels or muffins over the course of a day would be fine. But consistently eating baked goods laden with poppy seeds, like multiple poppy seed bagels everyday, may not be advised.
As long as you’re eating poppy seeds in normal amounts as an ingredient in recipes, there are no specific limits that need to be followed during pregnancy.
Can You Test Positive from Second-Hand Poppy Seed Exposure?
It’s very unlikely you could test positive for opiates from casual second-hand exposure to poppy seeds. You would need to directly ingest poppy seeds in order to get even tiny amounts of opiate compounds.
Simply being around poppy seeds, say at a bakery or bagel shop, will not provide enough exposure for opiates to be detected on a drug test.
Do Poppy Seed Products Differ in Opiate Levels?
There can be some variability in the opiate content between different poppy seed products. Factors like the country of origin and processing method can influence opiate levels to some degree.
According to available research:
- Poppy seeds from Australia and Europe tended to have lower opiate levels
- East Asian poppy seeds, like from China or Thailand, had higher average opiate content
- Washed poppy seeds had lower opiate levels than unwashed
However, even products with higher opiate levels were still not high enough to pose any risks from normal consumption. So this variability does not need to factor into your choices when pregnant.
Can You Test Positive from Foods with Poppy Seeds?
It is possible but unlikely you could test positive from eating foods containing poppy seeds. Since the opiate amounts are so low, foods with poppy seeds would not typically cause a positive drug test.
However, there are a few cases where the poppy seed food product had unusually high concentrations. For example, there are reports of poppy seed cakes called Mohnkuchen from Austria containing enough opiates to potentially trigger positive tests.
Outside of less common scenarios like that, most baked goods with poppy seeds are not an issue. But if you want to exercise maximum caution before a drug test in pregnancy, you may consider avoiding poppy seed products for a few days beforehand.
Can You Fail a Drug Test from Eating Poppy Seed Bread?
It’s generally unlikely you would fail a drug test from eating poppy seed bread alone. A typical slice of bread with some poppy seeds on it provides very low opiate exposure, far below drug test cutoff levels.
However, if you eat multiple servings of heavily poppy seeded breads in a short time frame, there’s a small chance it could trigger a positive result. To be cautious, you may want to moderate your poppy seed bread intake before a drug test.
Can You Fail a Drug Test from Eating Poppy Seed Muffins or Bagels?
Similar to bread, it’s not very likely muffins or bagels with poppy seeds would make you fail a test. Normal consumption of 1-2 poppy seed muffins or bagels spread over a day is highly unlikely to cause issues.
There could be a low risk if eating very high quantities. As a precaution, you may consider limiting heavy poppy seed muffin or bagel intake in the day or two before drug testing during pregnancy.
How Long Do Opiates from Poppy Seeds Stay in Your System?
When someone ingests larger amounts of opiates like morphine or codeine, these substances can be detected in drug tests for 1-4 days after use. However, the tiny opiate quantities from poppy seeds are cleared from your system faster.
Though data is limited, one study found the opiates from consuming a poppy seed cake were detectable for about 6-12 hours after eating. So opiates may clear within about 24 hours at most after ingesting poppy seeds.
Can You Test Positive from Poppy Seed Tea?
Poppy seed tea is made from concentrating poppy seeds in water to extract higher opiate content. Since this provides a larger opiate dose, there is high risk of testing positive from drinking poppy seed tea.
While poppy seeds themselves are safe in normal amounts, pregnant women should avoid specialized poppy seed products like teas which are designed to provide much higher opiate levels.
Is It Possible to Be Addicted to Poppy Seeds?
It is not possible to become addicted or dependent on opiates from eating normal amounts of poppy seeds. Heavy addiction and dependence only occurs with extremely high, repetitive use of concentrated opiates.
However, some women report craving poppy seed products like bagels or muffins during pregnancy. These food cravings are not the same as true clinical addiction or dependence on the tiny amounts of opiates in the poppy seeds themselves.
Can You Overdose on Poppy Seeds?
There are no cases of fatal overdose reported from eating poppy seeds alone. Since the opiate content is so low, overdose is not a concern with normal poppy seed intake through foods.
The only deaths linked to poppy seeds have involved combining large amounts of poppy seed tea with other drugs like alcohol or benzodiazepines. Consuming excessive poppy seeds or extracts simultaneously with other substances may have higher risk.
Is it Safe for Breastfeeding Moms to Eat Poppy Seeds?
Yes, there is no documented harm to breastfed infants from mothers eating normal amounts of poppy seeds. Since the opiate levels in poppy seeds themselves are negligible, these negligible amounts can safely pass to infants through breastmilk.
One study tested breastmilk from women after they ate poppy seed cake. No opiates were detectable in the breastmilk. This indicates the tiny amounts from poppy seeds are digested by the mother rather than passing to breastmilk.
Overall, there is no need for breastfeeding mothers to restrict reasonable poppy seed intake when used occasionally as an ingredient in baked goods or other recipes.
Do Poppy Seeds Provide Any Health Benefits?
Poppy seeds have some nutritional value and provide a few health benefits. In particular:
- Fiber – Poppy seeds provide 5 grams of fiber per ounce, helping promote fullness and gut health.
- Calcium and iron – Poppy seeds contain higher amounts of minerals like calcium and iron than many other seeds.
- Anti-inflammatory effects – Poppy seeds have plant compounds that may help reduce inflammation.
- Heart health – The fiber and anti-inflammatory effects help promote heart health.
Additionally, poppy seeds provide other nutrients like protein, unsaturated fats, vitamin E, and some B vitamins. They can be a healthful addition to a balanced diet when consumed in moderation.
Conclusion
Overall, normal poppy seed intake through foods like breads, muffins, and bagels is considered very safe in pregnancy and breastfeeding. While poppy seeds come from opium poppies, they contain negligible levels of opiates not likely to cause issues.
To exercise maximum caution, pregnant women can avoid excessive poppy seed intake before drug testing. But there are no guidelines limiting reasonable poppy seed consumption, so women can feel at ease enjoying poppy seed foods in moderation as part of a healthy pregnancy diet.
