Poppy

Allergies and intolerances

These are about people with an allergy, an intolerance or coeliac disease. The signal is about the ingredient itself, and these are about the person eating it, so the signal does not count them.

• Allergy to seeds in cakes²

  Some children have serious allergic reactions to poppy seeds in cakes, even from tiny traces.

• Severe allergic reactions in children⁶

  In children, poppy seed allergy is rare but can cause severe reactions, and many also react to sesame and tree nuts.

• Allergic reactions to food⁸

  Some people reacted badly after eating poppy seeds, and their blood showed poppy seed proteins and sugars can trigger allergy signs.

Single cases of misuse or overdose

One person or one incident, such as an accidental overdose or a mistake in a kitchen or factory. They are real, but a single case does not show what happens at normal amounts, so the signal does not count them.

• Allergic reaction to food⁴

  A boy got red, swollen skin, itchy eyes and trouble breathing after breathing in poppy seed.

• Severe food allergy⁷

  A young woman had a severe allergic reaction to ground poppy seeds in cake, but not to whole ones.

How it’s made and used

• Opiate drug tests³

  Eating poppy seeds can make a drug test show opiates, and scientists can't yet tell poppy food apart from heroin use.

• Drug test results⁵

  Eating poppy seeds can make a urine drug test show opiates, even when people feel completely normal.

The signal at the top counts the findings in people and in animal and lab studies. A concern in studies of people outranks animal and lab studies, and “No concerns” needs at least one finding in people. When most findings in people point one way, the page leans that way (“Mostly”), and every finding is still shown. Findings whose study type is not stated are shown but not counted. This page is a reference, not medical advice. It describes what regulators and published research say. Talk to a doctor or dietitian about your own diet.