Army regulation calls on Soldiers to avoid foods with poppy seeds

Poppy seeds are an ingredient in foods that people consume which normally would not be associated with abuse-potential drugs. Depending on how they were harvested and processed, these poppy seeds may contain morphine, codeine, and other similar drugs. Soldiers who consume baked foods containing poppy seeds risk failing their drug tests.

From Military.com:

While poppy seeds are often an ingredient in baked goods and pastries, they also — depending on how they are harvested and processed — can contain opium alkaloids such as morphine and codeine, which are Schedule II drugs with potential for abuse and are banned for service members to use under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

Much like the plot of an episode of the hit 1990s sitcom “Seinfeld” where Elaine fails a work drug test after eating poppy seed muffins, Army officials worry that ingesting foods with poppy seeds can lead to codeine showing up in a drug test.

“Soldiers are encouraged to avoid consuming foods containing poppy seeds, as newer seeds variety may contain elevated levels of codeine,” the updated regulation states. “Although drug testing laboratories have implemented additional measures to distinguish poppy seeds ingestion from codeine misuse, soldiers should make every effort to avoid these food products.”

Spokespeople for the Army did not respond to questions sent to them Tuesday asking about the policy.

The Army’s new regulation follows a Department of Defense memo last year that shared a similar warning. Military.com previously reported the Pentagon became aware of the issue in 2022 and began investigating some codeine-positive drug screenings since 2019.

Additional Reading:

Novelly, T. (2024, October 9). Army says Soldiers should avoid poppy seeds in updated regulation over drug- testing concerns. Military.com. Link.

Category: Army, Army News