Poppy seeds - warning for workers

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.....

Can see why it would be your favourite TDA

I see on the programme Angela Rippon tested positive for opiates. What is the world coming to, watch out for cheese, it contains opiates too. 

That's why I only eat the crusts 

Rgds

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.

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 

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.

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!

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

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.