Contaminated Poppy Seeds: FDA

This lawsuit seeks to compel the FDA to take a commonsense step to address the health and safety concerns related to the consumption of contaminated poppy seeds.

FDA denies request to limit levels of opiate contamination in poppy seeds

Letter from FDA denying CSPI's citizen petition asking for maximum limits on opiate contamination in poppy seeds

Opiates and poppy seeds: CSPI sues FDA for failing to protect consumers

CSPI vs. FDA: complaint for declaratory and injunctive relief introduction

The Center for Science in the Public Interest is suing the Food and Drug Administration for failing to act on a regulatory petition asking the agency to protect consumers from poppy seeds contaminated with dangerous levels of opiates. Click "View Resource" to see the complaint

Opiates in our food supply

Poppy seeds and heroin originate from the same plant - the opium poppy. The seeds themselves naturally contain negligible amounts of opiate alkaloids, but other parts of the plant produce substantial amounts, including morphine, codeine, and thebaine. Because seeds can become contaminated with opiates from the plant’s sap and dust during harvest, thorough washing and processing are needed to reduce the opiate content of the seeds to safe levels. View the resource below for more information.

Letter requesting update on petition on opiate contamination in poppy seeds

In February of 2021, CSPI asked the FDA to clean up America’s poppy seed supply by setting a maximum limit for opiate contamination and establishing controls on imported seeds. A year later, CSPI is asking the FDA for an update on the petition.

CSPI seeks update from FDA on poppy petition

A year ago the Center for Science in the Public Interest urged the Food and Drug Administration to protect consumers from unprocessed poppy seeds contaminated with naturally occurring opiate residues.

The Dark Side of Poppy Seeds: Potential Opiate Contamination

On April 3rd, 2016, the Hacala family’s world shattered with a simple knock on the door. On this seemingly average Sunday, a police officer informed Steve and Betty Hacala that their son, Stephen Patrick Hacala Jr., had died unexpectedly in his apartment at the age of 24.

Injured families ask FDA to keep poppy seed imports free from dangerous levels of opiates