MensHealth
  • News
  • Health
  • Fitness
  • Sex
  • Nutrition
  • Style
  • Weight Loss
  • Life
  • Podcasts
  • Subscribe
  • Motoring
  • Video
MensHealth
  • News
  • Health
  • Fitness
  • Sex
  • Nutrition
  • Style
  • Weight Loss
  • Life
  • Podcasts
  • Subscribe
  • Motoring
  • Video
Bjornsson Deadlifted 1,026 pounds On The Elephant Bar To Win 2020 Arnold Classic
Watch 0:10

Bjornsson Deadlifted 1,026 pounds On The Elephant Bar To Win 2020 Arnold Classic

{headline}

{headline}

An 'Exercise Pill' Is On The Way, According To Scientists

An 'Exercise Pill' Is On The Way, According To Scientists

Alcohol More Harmful To The Brain Than Marijuana

Alcohol More Harmful To The Brain Than Marijuana

Here’s What MMA Legend Georges St-Pierre Eats In Real Life

Here’s What MMA Legend Georges St-Pierre Eats In Real Life

How To Dial Into Your Diet When You’re Injured

How To Dial Into Your Diet When You’re Injured

{headline}

{headline}

Here's What Tom Brady Eats Every Day, And On Game Day

Here's What Tom Brady Eats Every Day, And On Game Day

How Home And Away’s Ethan Browne Works Every Muscle Group

How Home And Away’s Ethan Browne Works Every Muscle Group

What NRL Players Eat To Fuel Performance

What NRL Players Eat To Fuel Performance

{headline}

{headline}

Tyson Fury Has Overhauled His Diet Ahead Of Rematch With Deontay Wilder

Tyson Fury Has Overhauled His Diet Ahead Of Rematch With Deontay Wilder

Vegan Influencer Suggests Ditching The Meat Cured His Cystic Acne

Vegan Influencer Suggests Ditching The Meat Cured His Cystic Acne

8 Mistakes To Avoid If You're Doing A Ketogenic Diet

8 Mistakes To Avoid If You're Doing A Ketogenic Diet

The Best And Worst Diets For 2020

The Best And Worst Diets For 2020

The 10:14 Diet Is The Latest Fad That Could Help You Drop Kilos Fast

The 10:14 Diet Is The Latest Fad That Could Help You Drop Kilos Fast

One-Off Ketamine Dose Could Reduce Heavy Drinking, Scientists Say

One-Off Ketamine Dose Could Reduce Heavy Drinking, Scientists Say

These Guys Tried To Eat All Of Terry Crews' Cheat Day Meals

These Guys Tried To Eat All Of Terry Crews' Cheat Day Meals

  1. Home
  2. Nutrition

This Common Food Could Make You Fail A Drug Test

Here's how it affects you, and how much is safe to eat - by Scott Henderson
  • 09 Aug 2018
This Common Food Could Make You Fail A Drug Test
Getty Images

Eating a poppy seed muffin will make you fail a drug test; Hollywood myth or scientific fact? The idea was brought to the mainstream in a classic Seinfeld episode (a classic TV show from the 90’s, ask your parents about it) where Elaine fails a drug test at a new job after eating the tasty snack. In a rare case, the writers were actually bang on. Poppy seeds will return a positive drug reading.

The debate was reignited this week when a woman in the US was reported to the State authorities when giving birth. After going into labour, Elizabeth Eden is said to have tested positive to opiates, placing her new born daughter in care for 5 days… all because she ate a poppy seed bagel the morning of the birth. 

"I was in labor. I was sitting in the bed. I was having contractions. I was on a... drip, and the doctor came in and said, 'You've tested positive for opiates,'" Eden told WBAL TV.

The Oc Bagels GIF - Find & Share on GIPHY

Poppy seeds are harvested from the same plant that is used in the production of heroin, the opium poppy. Every gram of poppy seeds contains anywhere between 1 and 10 micrograms of morphine, with illegal levels clocking in at 1.3 micrograms according to the World Anti-Doping Agency.

"Even though most of the opium is removed from the poppy seeds during processing (usually more than 90%), in some cases, the seeds sold for use in foods still have a significant amount of opium – and thus morphine – on them," advises the US Anti-Doping Agency.

The traces of morphine are picked up during urine tests, and normal procedures for positive drug tests usually follow identification, which can include full investigations depending on the circumstances.

But don’t get any ideas. Smashing a bag of poppy seed bagels is not going to get you high. Poppy seeds “don’t have a drug effect on humans that are eating typical amounts of poppy seeds,” said Christopher Baird, assistant professor of physics at West Texas A&M University, when talking to the Huffington Post.

  • News
  • Nutrition
Scott Henderson
Scott Henderson
Scott is the Editor of Men's Health Australia, where he oversees all editorial content of the country's largest men’s magazine. As a fitness addict, adventure sport lover, and passionate story-teller, Henderson is committed to living the Men’s Health brand.

Subscribe Now-

Subscribe Now
Subscribe Now

Subscribe Now-

Subscribe Now
Subscribe Now

Recommended to you

Bjornsson Deadlifted 1,026 pounds On The Elephant Bar To Win 2020 Arnold Classic
Watch 0:10

Bjornsson Deadlifted 1,026 pounds On The Elephant Bar To Win 2020 Arnold Classic

{headline}

{headline}

An 'Exercise Pill' Is On The Way, According To Scientists

An 'Exercise Pill' Is On The Way, According To Scientists

Alcohol More Harmful To The Brain Than Marijuana

Alcohol More Harmful To The Brain Than Marijuana

Here’s What MMA Legend Georges St-Pierre Eats In Real Life

Here’s What MMA Legend Georges St-Pierre Eats In Real Life

How To Dial Into Your Diet When You’re Injured

How To Dial Into Your Diet When You’re Injured

{headline}

{headline}

Here's What Tom Brady Eats Every Day, And On Game Day

Here's What Tom Brady Eats Every Day, And On Game Day

How Home And Away’s Ethan Browne Works Every Muscle Group

How Home And Away’s Ethan Browne Works Every Muscle Group

What NRL Players Eat To Fuel Performance

What NRL Players Eat To Fuel Performance

{headline}

{headline}

Tyson Fury Has Overhauled His Diet Ahead Of Rematch With Deontay Wilder

Tyson Fury Has Overhauled His Diet Ahead Of Rematch With Deontay Wilder

Vegan Influencer Suggests Ditching The Meat Cured His Cystic Acne

Vegan Influencer Suggests Ditching The Meat Cured His Cystic Acne

8 Mistakes To Avoid If You're Doing A Ketogenic Diet

8 Mistakes To Avoid If You're Doing A Ketogenic Diet

The Best And Worst Diets For 2020

The Best And Worst Diets For 2020

The 10:14 Diet Is The Latest Fad That Could Help You Drop Kilos Fast

The 10:14 Diet Is The Latest Fad That Could Help You Drop Kilos Fast

One-Off Ketamine Dose Could Reduce Heavy Drinking, Scientists Say

One-Off Ketamine Dose Could Reduce Heavy Drinking, Scientists Say

These Guys Tried To Eat All Of Terry Crews' Cheat Day Meals

These Guys Tried To Eat All Of Terry Crews' Cheat Day Meals

MensHealth
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Subscribe to Digital
  • Terms
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Statement
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Subscribe to Digital
  • Terms
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Statement

Brands

  • Women's Health

Our Network

  • Paragon Media Pty Ltd
© 2021 Are Media PTY LTD
Get more from Men's Health

Magazine Subscription Offer

Subscribe Now-

Shop This Offer
Subscribe Now