Isn't it wonderful how poppy seeds add an extra zing to our morning bagels, salads, and desserts? A tiny ingredient with a mighty flavour profile.

However, recent news has shed a cloud over this joy—a consumer falling ill after consuming potentially poisonous poppy seeds.

A statement by Coles highlights a case where a customer fell ill after consuming Royal Fields poppy seeds. Despite initiating a recall back in November, a few packets escaped the safety protocol. You can read more about that here.

The Food Standards Authority at the national level has released a product recall notice for Royal Fields Poppy Seeds in three different sizes: 250g, 500g, and 5kg. Source: Food Standards Authority AUNZ

The supermarket, expressing regret, is joining hands with the supplier and government bodies to investigate.

'We urge customers not to consume Royal Fields poppy seeds with a best-before date of 25 June 2024.' Coles advised.

You might now wonder how something as innocent as poppy seeds is harmful.

A statement issued by Victoria's Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton stressed that a particular batch of poppy seeds contained elevated levels of thebaine.

Thebaine is a substance that is naturally produced as part of the process of making morphine in living organisms. It plays a role in the creation of morphine, which is a powerful pain-relieving drug. However, thebaine itself is not typically used as a medication.

When these seeds were brewed into a concentrated form, such as tea, they led to instances of severe toxicity.

Victoria’s Chief Health Officer, Brett Sutton, highlighted a dangerous scenario—making a concentrated brew like tea could escalate the toxicity.

He advocated, 'Anyone who's consumed large quantities of poppy seeds and experiences any unusual and severe symptoms should immediately head to their nearest emergency department.'

Key Takeaways

• Coles supermarket chain has issued a recall for Royal Fields poppy seeds after a customer fell ill.
• The supermarket has urged customers not to consume the poppy seeds with a best-before date of 25 June 2024.
• Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton warned that the batch of poppy seeds was high in thebaine, leading to cases of severe toxicity when brewed into a concentrated form.

If you have purchased Royal Fields poppy seeds with a best-before date of 25 June 2024, we strongly urge you not to consume them.

We echo the advice of Victoria's Chief Health Officer, Brett Sutton, who emphasised the potential dangers of consuming large quantities of poppy seeds and experiencing unusual and severe symptoms.

If you have consumed these poppy seeds and are facing any concerning symptoms, we encourage you to seek medical attention at your nearest emergency department.

Members, what are your thoughts on the recent Royal Fields poppy seeds recall due to potential toxicity? Do you have any of these poppy seeds at home?

 

[ToniaKisliakov]

Isn't it wonderful how poppy seeds add an extra zing to our morning bagels, salads, and desserts? A tiny ingredient with a mighty flavour profile.

However, recent news has shed a cloud over this joy—a consumer falling ill after consuming potentially poisonous poppy seeds.

A statement by Coles highlights a case where a customer fell ill after consuming Royal Fields poppy seeds. Despite initiating a recall back in November, a few packets escaped the safety protocol. You can read more about that here.

View attachment 23907

The Food Standards Authority at the national level has released a product recall notice for Royal Fields Poppy Seeds in three different sizes: 250g, 500g, and 5kg. Source: Food Standards Authority AUNZ

The supermarket, expressing regret, is joining hands with the supplier and government bodies to investigate.

'We urge customers not to consume Royal Fields poppy seeds with a best-before date of 25 June 2024.' Coles advised.

You might now wonder how something as innocent as poppy seeds is harmful.

A statement issued by Victoria's Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton stressed that a particular batch of poppy seeds contained elevated levels of thebaine.

Thebaine is a substance that is naturally produced as part of the process of making morphine in living organisms. It plays a role in the creation of morphine, which is a powerful pain-relieving drug. However, thebaine itself is not typically used as a medication.

When these seeds were brewed into a concentrated form, such as tea, they led to instances of severe toxicity.

Victoria’s Chief Health Officer, Brett Sutton, highlighted a dangerous scenario—making a concentrated brew like tea could escalate the toxicity.

He advocated, 'Anyone who's consumed large quantities of poppy seeds and experiences any unusual and severe symptoms should immediately head to their nearest emergency department.'

Key Takeaways

• Coles supermarket chain has issued a recall for Royal Fields poppy seeds after a customer fell ill.
• The supermarket has urged customers not to consume the poppy seeds with a best-before date of 25 June 2024.
• Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton warned that the batch of poppy seeds was high in thebaine, leading to cases of severe toxicity when brewed into a concentrated form.

If you have purchased Royal Fields poppy seeds with a best-before date of 25 June 2024, we strongly urge you not to consume them.

We echo the advice of Victoria's Chief Health Officer, Brett Sutton, who emphasised the potential dangers of consuming large quantities of poppy seeds and experiencing unusual and severe symptoms.

If you have consumed these poppy seeds and are facing any concerning symptoms, we encourage you to seek medical attention at your nearest emergency department.

Members, what are your thoughts on the recent Royal Fields poppy seeds recall due to potential toxicity? Do you have any of these poppy seeds at home?

 

[ToniaKisliakov]

Australian Health Standards have fallen a lot lately. Too many recalls. Why?

 

[KSS]

The thing is, poppy seeds are just fine when used appropriately. It's when people take their advice from social media like Tik Toc and start consuming them in volumes they should not, such as in teas. A few sprinkled on your bagel or in say an orange and poppy seed cake are not going to do any harm. After all Apple seeds contain amygdalin, a substance that releases cyanide into the bloodstream when chewed and digested. Yet we don't suggest recalling every apple. Let's have some perspective here.