This bill prohibits the sale of poppy seeds contaminated with dangerous levels of morphine and other opioid alkaloids. The legislation was introduced after Stephen Hacala and at least 18 other Americans died from morphine poisoning caused by eating contaminated poppy seeds, which can contain up to 2,788 milligrams of morphine per kilogram of seeds. The bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services to establish safe contamination limits for poppy seeds within one year and finalize those regulations within two years, based on existing cleaning technologies that can reduce morphine levels to 4 milligrams per kilogram or less. The law affects food manufacturers and retailers who sell poppy seed products directly to consumers, as well as anyone purchasing poppy seed-containing foods. This addresses a significant public health concern that has also led to false positive drug tests among military personnel and hospital patients undergoing childbirth.
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