Poppy seeds - warning for workers
If you are in a 'safety critical' industry which does random drug tests (my OH was) then take heed from the programme Rip Off Britain Food. This morning it's just featured the story of a man, who was a safety engineer, who ate seeded bread, toasted, for breakfast. Later that day he signed in for work, and was picked out for a random drug test. His results proved positive for opiates (morphine), and a second test confirmed this, so he was dismissed from work. He had no history of drug use, wasn't taking any medication, and didn't appear to have eaten anything which might affect the result. He is fighting his dismissal, but this hasn't been successful so far.
However, it has been discovered that the poppy seeds sprinkled on the top of his sliced loaf actually contain small amounts of opiates, which will cause someone who has eaten them to fail a drug test. Warburton's seeded bread now contains a warning to this effect, but I though it worth passing on to anyone who is still working in a job which may involve testing.
Poppy seeds are apparently used in many other ways in food, so watch what you are eating if you are likely to be tested.
Comments
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Crikey ValDa! We choose seeded bread over other kinds for preference! And one of our favourite cakes is a Poppy Seed one, homemade, so loads of the stuff goes into recipe. I collect seed from my poppies and "seed bomb" suitable locations as well.
I do hope the work person wins the dismissal claim, very harsh ruling, needs full investigation and common sense applied. Puts into context just how difficult it can be for athletes and sports people to avoid testing positive quite innocently sometimes. Simple cold remedies, which we would take as a matter of routine are often at the root of positive tests. Without doubt there are cheats as well, but it isn't always as black and white as it seems.
On the plus side, I now know where my feeling of relaxation sometimes comes from.....
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Someone from another forum reports that she proved positive in a drugs test some years ago, but her employers were more sympathetic and after re-testing she was allowed back to work and kept her job.
I would urge everyone to remind their friends who are still working (I know a lot of us using this forum are retired) and their children and even grandchildren, that they need to be aware and if subject to a random test, to ensure they tell the tester that they've been eating poppy seeds.
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I just wonder Valda, if the bobbies stop you for a misdemeanour whilst driving would the 'Opiates' show up in any blood tests that they may do ?? Losing your licence for a silly burst of speed and a cheese and onion sarney does sound a tad horrid !!
A B M
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I reckon I am doomed.....I love artisan seedy bread, cheese that walks up and whacks you in the taste buds.
I would die happy though!
A timely warning though were applicable.
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I would imagine it will show positive, but we all need to say 'I just ate a poppy seed bread cheese and onion sarnie! No case to answer! My innocence was proved by Angela Rippon in Rip Off Britain Food, on 29/05/2017!!!
Don't think it will work with the breathalyser, though!
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I saw some of the programme this morning but just missed what the chap in question was saying. Was his positive test just down to poppy seeds, he must have eating a lot of them!!! I appreciate that some poppy seeds contain more than others. There are a few over the counter medicines that contain opiates I wonder whether he had taken something like that without realising. What would have happened if he had been taking strong painkillers that contained codeine would be have been sacked because of that? It just seems a bit strange to me.
David
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No David, entirely due to poppy seeds, as was Angela Rippon's result. The drug test results don't reach the levels caused by taking or smoking opiates, in that the blood levels are lower, but they do provide enough of an opiate level show a 'positive' result which will cause some employers to start the dismissal process. Apparently different poppy seeds can have different toxicities, and some are much stronger than others. Anyone taking tablets will know what they have taken, and be able to mention this to the testing agency, almost everyone eating seeded bread toast will have no idea that it is a problem - hence my post.
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Val
What I was thinking was that the results of the Angela Rippon's test was minute compared to the amount needed to give a positive result that failed and would lead to dismissal. Now even allowing for the fact that some poppy seeds are much more potent than others you would still have to eat a lot of poppy seeded bread to get you over that threshold.At the end of the day if you consume enough of something to put you over that limit, regardless of how innocently you got there you are still over the limit. I suppose the guy in question would have to take his employer to court but I am not sure on what basis that would take. I suppose the equivalent of someone having their drink in a pub spiked with more alcohol which took them over the drink drive limit. Whilst it is not their action that took them above the limit they as an individual are still responsible. I suppose the guy could always sue the bread company if sufficient warnings were not put on the packaging?
David
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Absolutely terrible. Wonder how accurate these tests are. Surely eating poppy seed bread/cake, etc, should not send you sky high, but should be reading as a trace
, and working at a firm, they should know what type of person they have working for them, especially if they've been there years. I'm so glad I took early retirement to look after my hubby. Its getting worse0 -
I agree, having watched the programme, it was a tragedy that the person concerned lost his job, but talking to my OH, who used to work in safety on the rail network, his employers would have taken the same stance. There are guidelines about what results mean but some employers apparently take the stance that any positive results may lead to dismissal.
I think the warning I posted was to alert everyone to the fact that seeded bread can cause positive results, and if anyone's children, friends, or relatives are ever likely to be tested then it makes sense to alert them. One of my sons bakes bread, and sells it, and is now labelling any bread where he uses poppy seeds with a warning!
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