Poppyseed / Drug test myth...

Hey guys...

Have you ever heard of the myth that if you eat anything with poppyseeds in it, you'll test positive for opiates on a drug test within 72 hrs of eating it?

Well, I'm currently watching a show called Mythbusters, where they explore various myths, and this is the one they're doing right now.

So, they both ate a poppyseed bagel, and up to 18 hours later, they were still testing a very CLEAR positive for opiates!

So...warning ladies...if you're doing a drug test for employment or any other purposes, DON'T eat anything with poppyseeds in it. :shock:

I heard the "myth" in high school and really thought it false, but evidentally it's not!!

Much love to all,

Rosie*

Wow~I had also heard that before. Thanks for sharing that!

I heard about a train driver over here who got fired for that.

There was a Seinfeld episode about that, too.

I'm not surprised that poppyseeds could cause a positive opiate test, but it still is shocking that such a small amount could cause a positive test!

Yeah, the poppyseeds we eat are from an entirely different species of poppy.
You'd actually have to eat pounds at least for anything to show up (not test wise, effect wise).

DEA has made exclusions because of it

That is a curious result as many medically sactioned studies have shown in the ave person you would need to eat a lb of poppyseeds with 8 hours of a urine test to test postive for opiates..

the results can also be further investigated and found to be poppy or other allowed substances

Originally Posted by semiferal

There was a Seinfeld episode about that, too.

I'm not surprised that poppyseeds could cause a positive opiate test, but it still is shocking that such a small amount could cause a positive test!

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Yes...I've seen the episode as well. I was surprised that it was still positive 18 hours later on the testing they did on Mythbusters! And they are extremely careful in their testing. They had a doctor come on to talk about it a little, and he said that he recommends to people that are drug-testing (for whatever reason) to not eat anything with poppyseeds in it for at least 72 hours before the test, as it creates many false positives. On the show, they weren't even disputable positives...it was very obvious.

One other thing they mentioned is that if the employer used a (I think I've got this right...not sure) Mass Spectrometer testing method, they would get more accurate results. I can't find the exact amount of bagels they ate, except for a site that mentioned that they ate one. I missed the beginning of the show, but I can state from my personal experience in watching the show, it wouldn't have been anymore than two bagels each. They're very precise in their testing of myths, as they could get sued for results if they're not accurate.

It's not the type of show where they do above what the myth suggests, just to get a positive result. Yes, when they test the exact specifications of the myth (like in this case, they ate an average amount to prove either way), and they get a busted myth (which was not the case here), they'll up the ante, so to speak to try to see if they can prove the myth correct...but only when they've done the correct amounts of things first. And when they get a result that way, they label it "plausible" not "proven". They have about equal amounts of busted vs proven myths.

Another thing mentioned in the episode is the fact that the reason you don't hear much about it is because the drug-testing companies have tried to play it down. Wouldn't you think they would want to really let people know about this anomaly? Heck, I would think it would be worth reporting...but companies can be so weird...they don't want to admit their product could ever be inaccurate, I guess.

Anyway, I thought it was interesting, and worth sharing...I think it's worth it to have the information out there! I'm not one to normally believe myths, but like I said, I know they're extremely concerned about accuracy and exactness in testing their myths on the show, so I trust their results. They don't just do this for TV...they have to consider the weight of everything they do.

I love Mythbusters!! I don't get to watch it much but it's very interesting. I've heard about that poppyseed thing too, and always wondered if it was true.......

Originally Posted by LoveAllCats!

I love Mythbusters!! I don't get to watch it much but it's very interesting. I've heard about that poppyseed thing too, and always wondered if it was true.......

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Yeah, me too...that's why I turned it on. I've seen just about every show of theirs (I'd seen the Goldfinger part of this episode, where they paint Jamie in gold paint, but not the poppyseed portion), so it was nice to see a part I hadn't seen.

P.S. LOVE your signature...very true!!

I know someone personally who had this experience. He tested positive for opiates in a routine drug test, quite a shock to both him and his employer. As it turns out, he ate poppyseed bread almost daily. After removing this from his diet, he tested clear.

Originally Posted by maherwoman

Yeah, me too...that's why I turned it on. I've seen just about every show of theirs (I'd seen the Goldfinger part of this episode, where they paint Jamie in gold paint, but not the poppyseed portion), so it was nice to see a part I hadn't seen.

P.S. LOVE your signature...very true!!

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Thanks. I saw the gold episode, too! It was awhile ago. I used to watch it almost every day, but now I watch it uhh maybe every other weekend or so......

And I was just admiring your siggy..., I was wondering, did you make it??

Originally Posted by dawnofsierra

I know someone personally who had this experience. He tested positive for opiates in a routine drug test, quite a shock to both him and his employer. As it turns out, he ate poppyseed bread almost daily. After removing this from his diet, he tested clear.

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Oh, wow...hey, they're good!! I don't blame him!! Lol...

Good that his employer was nice enough to listen to him and retest! There are so many that aren't!

Originally Posted by LoveAllCats!

Thanks. I saw the gold episode, too! It was awhile ago. I used to watch it almost every day, but now I watch it uhh maybe every other weekend or so......

And I was just admiring your siggy..., I was wondering, did you make it??

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Me, too. Everytime I check to see which episode it is anymore, it's one I've seen. Lol...

Thank you! Nope, didn't make it myself. A friend of mine on a bunny site I visit made it for me. If I had, though, I would volunteer to make you one, if it's any consolation...

Originally Posted by maherwoman

Me, too. Everytime I check to see which episode it is anymore, it's one I've seen. Lol...

Thank you! Nope, didn't make it myself. A friend of mine on a bunny site I visit made it for me.

If I had, though, I would volunteer to make you one, if it's any consolation...

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Haha well your cats - and bunny - are adorable!

They did a great job on it. Tell them I said that!

Suppose they're really sensitive tests, aren't they! This man is my Mom's best friend's husband and is in his 50's. He has driven for this train station for about 30 years, so his employer knew this was quite out character for him. It seems his wife (who, by the way, bakes the best bread ever!) was having a poppy seed phase and had started baking it into all of her bread. It was a real eye opener for me, as I had never heard of this happening!

Wow! That is a good thing to keep in mind when you are going to have a blood test for your job.

Would many employers actually believe you if you said "No! Really it was from a bagel?"

Originally Posted by LoveAllCats!

Haha well your cats - and bunny

- are adorable!

They did a great job on it. Tell them I said that!

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Thank you!! I will...and they will probably offer to do yours, too. If they do, I'll let them know your username, and ask them to join the site so they can get your info, ok?

Originally Posted by stormy

Wow! That is a good thing to keep in mind when you are going to have a blood test for your job.

Would many employers actually believe you if you said "No! Really it was from a bagel?"

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I know...that's what I keep thinking, too. I don't think many would listen, or for that matter, I don't think many people know about it! That's one of the reasons I thought it would be good to post something about it.

Originally Posted by maherwoman

Thank you!! I will...and they will probably offer to do yours, too. If they do, I'll let them know your username, and ask them to join the site so they can get your info, ok?

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Oh, wow, thanks so much!
But... I don't have a digital camera, so only if they're willing to do one with just text....

Originally Posted by dawnofsierra

Suppose they're really sensitive tests, aren't they! This man is my Mom's best friend's husband and is in his 50's. He has driven for this train station for about 30 years, so his employer knew this was quite out character for him. It seems his wife (who, by the way, bakes the best bread ever!) was having a poppy seed phase and had started baking it into all of her bread. It was a real eye opener for me, as I had never heard of this happening!

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They must be sensitive. I think they have to make them sensitive, so they can pick up on even the most trace amounts...to see if someone's tried to get the drugs they took out of their system, or did them the day or two before, etc. I'm sure there aren't many people that take the drug THAT DAY, ya know?

That's great that he'd been there so long and had a great enough character, that his boss knew it wasn't like him to take an opiate. I BET the bread was great...just by him eating it for so long!!