Victorians are being warned about the dangers of consuming large amounts of poppy seeds after at least 11 people across the State presented to hospital with severe poisoning soon after ingestion.
Deputy Chief Health Officer Dr Angie Bone said hospital presentations were suspected to be from ‘thebaine’ toxicity – thebaine being an opioid alkaloid and a naturally occurring chemical in raw poppy seeds.
Dr Bone said reports of unusual and severe symptoms following consumption of home-brewed poppy seed tea had continued within Victoria and across Australia.
“The high levels of thebaine involving some batches of supermarket poppy seeds are due to a quantity of non-food grade poppy seeds incorrectly entering the human food supply chain,” Dr Bone said.
“These seeds are not intended for human consumption and are not safe to consume.”
She said the severe symptoms included seizures, tachycardia (a heart rate over 100 beats a minute), severe muscle pain, spasm and cramping, limb stiffness or jerking movements, and acute kidney injury.
Dr Bone said that not all poppy seeds were involved and a food recall was being undertaken for those from the known affected brands across Australia to remove them from distribution, sale and consumption.
“This supply chain is complex and the investigation to find out which brands and which exact batches are affected is ongoing,” the Deputy Chief Health Officer said.
“Given the uncertainties, consumers may wish to avoid consumption of poppy seeds purchased since September 2022, until the investigation has concluded,” she said.
“The list of affected brands will continue to be updated and published on the Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) website.”
Dr Bone said individuals consuming large volumes of raw poppy seeds, for example as a tea, were at highest risk.
She said toxic effects had not been reported from ingestion of smaller quantities of seeds as food however, the impact of smaller amounts (either cooked or raw) was not known and investigations into them were on-going.
Further information on the recalled poppy seeds can be accessed on the FSANZ website at this PS News link.
