"Don't Eat Poppy Seed Topping Bagels"…Excluded from US Military Meals

Yang Gwibi Seeds, Used in Europe and the Middle East
Banned Due to Concerns Over Detection of Narcotic Painkillers

Poppy seed bagels, commonly seen in the United States, will be removed from the diets of U.S. military personnel for the time being. This is because the U.S. Department of Defense has issued new guidelines regarding poppy seeds.

According to a report by Yonhap News on the 21st (local time), a memo from Deputy Secretary Gilbert Cisneros of the U.S. Department of Defense advised service members to avoid all types of poppy seed consumption, including food and bakery products.

Poppy Seed Bagel Sandwich
Photo by AP·Yonhap News

Deputy Secretary Cisneros stated, "As a precautionary measure to protect service members and to enhance the consistency of drug testing, we warn against the consumption of poppy seeds."

Poppy is known as a source of opium, but poppy seeds themselves contain almost no opium. They are widely used as ingredients in confectionery and baking in the U.S., Europe, and the Middle East.

However, according to the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), poppy seeds can absorb some opium during the harvesting process, which can be metabolized in the body to produce small amounts of morphine and codeine, narcotic analgesic components.

This can be detected in urine within 48 hours after consumption, and this possibility is already reflected in current drug testing standards. U.S. military personnel are required to undergo drug testing during their service, with the timing determined randomly.

The Department of Defense explained, "Recent investigations have shown that some poppy seeds may contain more codeine than previously known," adding, "Consuming foods containing poppy seeds could undermine the reliability of illegal drug tests."

The Department of Defense did not disclose the exact duration of the poppy seed consumption ban but added that related guidelines will be revised soon.

Meanwhile, unlike in the U.S., Europe, and the Middle East, the distribution of poppy seeds is extremely restricted in Korea.