This bill prohibits the sale of poppy seeds that contain unsafe levels of morphine and other alkaloid compounds that could harm consumers. The legislation was introduced in response to at least 19 confirmed deaths in the United States from morphine overdoses caused by contaminated poppy seeds, including the death of Stephen Hacala, a 24-year-old from Arkansas. The bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to propose regulations establishing maximum contamination limits within one year of the law's enactment and finalize those rules within two years. The law affects food manufacturers and sellers who distribute poppy seeds directly to consumers, though existing cleaning methods have been shown to reduce morphine contamination to safe levels. No specific funding is allocated in the legislation, as the regulatory work falls under the existing responsibilities of the Health and Human Services Department.
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