Can You Eat Poppy Seeds During Pregnancy?

In 2023, two New Jersey women filed complaints after they tested positive for opiates after eating poppy seed bagels when they arrived at the hospital to give birth, according to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

News stories like this are alarming: Drug testing before delivery is sometimes done without a pregnant person’s knowledge or consent and can lead to very real consequences.

So are poppy seeds safe to eat while you’re pregnant? And how long do they stay in your system? Your obstetrician can guide you in making the healthiest food choices for you and your unborn baby, but here are some answers to common questions about poppy seeds during pregnancy.

What Are Poppy Seeds?

Poppy seeds are seeds from a species of poppy flower that are used in cooking and baking.

Poppy seeds don’t contain opiates, but the poppy plant is used to make the illegal drug opium and powerful painkillers like morphine and codeine, according to the University of Florida Health.

You cannot eat enough poppy seeds to get high, but, because drug tests are very sensitive, poppy seeds in foods you eat may affect the results of a urine drug test (more on that below).

Foods With Poppy Seeds

Poppy seeds are most often used in baked goods such as lemon muffins and bagels. You might find them sprinkled on top of or throughout cakes, pies, rolls, breads, and buns. They’re also found in some salads and salad dressings. Although they’re small, their dark color makes them relatively easy to spot.

Poppy Seeds and Drug Testing

Research has shown for at least a decade that eating poppy seeds can affect the results of urine drug tests, according to an older report in ‌Forensic Science International‌.

More recently, a small study in the ‌Journal of Analytical Toxicology‌ found that it’s tough to distinguish between poppy seeds and codeine use in urine drug tests (but poppy seeds didn’t show up as morphine in the results).

In fact, the effects of poppy seeds on drug test results are so well known that in February 2023, the U.S. Department of Defense recommended military service members avoid them entirely.

In the ‌Journal of Analytical Toxicology‌ study, codeine concentrations peaked between about four to eight hours after eating foods with poppy seeds. If you know you’re going to be tested for drugs, you may want to avoid eating poppy seeds starting the day before.

Should You Avoid Poppy Seeds During Pregnancy?

But other than drug testing, does eating poppy seeds during pregnancy pose any safety concerns?

In standard amounts, poppy seeds are considered safe and should not pose any health concerns for you or your developing fetus in any trimester. Plus, they’re rich in fiber, magnesium, and calcium. It’s fine to have an occasional poppy seed or everything bagel, or a slice of lemon poppy cake.

That said, it may be possible to overdo it. In one case study in ‌Neonatology‌, for example, an infant was found to have symptoms of withdrawal after the mother reported drinking poppy seed tea five to six days a week for about seven months of her pregnancy.

Alternatives to Poppy Seeds

If you decide you want to avoid poppy seeds during pregnancy out of an abundance of caution, there are some healthy alternatives:

• ‌Chia seeds‌ can replace poppy seeds in some recipes, and they deliver powerful omega-3 fatty acids for fetal development, according to Cleveland Clinic.
• ‌Nuts‌, such as walnuts and almonds, can be baked into your favorite muffins or breads to replace poppy seeds.

Remember, if you have any concerns about the foods you choose while pregnant, talk to your doctor about what’s safe and healthy for you.