FDA, PDEA issue advisory vs sale of poppy seeds in food items

Food and anti-drug authorities are cracking down on poppy seeds, a week after a senator bared some establishments in the country are openly selling poppy seeds in food products sold in "trendy" establishments. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) are ordering "all establishments are hereby ordered to immediately stop the importation, sale, trading, administration, dispensation, delivery, distribution and transportation of Poppy Seeds and Products containing Poppy Seeds," FDA acting director Suzette Lazo and PDEA director general Jose Gutierrez Jr. said in the joint advisory. In the advisory, the FDA and PDEA cited the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act banning the importation, sale, trading, delivery and transportation of dangerous drugs. Among the substances covered by the law are "any and all species of opium poppy, or any part and substances therefrom, even for floral, decorative and culinary purposes." The advisory also directed anyone who brought poppy seeds and products containing them into the country to "discontinue using the same" and surrender these to the PDEA Laboratory Service or the nearest PDEA regional office. Local officials were also urged to assist in monitoring and report to the nearest FDA or PDEA office any activity involving the poppy seeds and products. Earlier this month, Senate majority leader Vicente Sotto III delivered a privilege speech, where he cited a report by the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) showing opium poppy seeds and opium poppy seed-laced food products are openly sold in "trendy" groceries, bakeshops, and supermarkets all over the country. [see story: Senator bares sale of poppy seeds in PHL stores] "I want to call attention to this flagrant violation of RA 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act, by supposedly reputed stores of high-end food and bakery products of selling poppy seeds. We have pictures of the sprouting poppy plants from the seeds bought as food condiments," he said. "They are not harmless. In fact, after an ingestion of these poppy seeds, one will test positive for opium in a drug test, as found by the DDB," he added. According to a family health information website, after the ingestion of food with poppy seeds, significant amounts of morphine and codeine can be detected in urine. While poppy has been used medicinally for ages, the earliest accounts dating back to the Sumerians in Mesopotamia, it is known to be addictive and has been associated with harmful effects including poisoning, sluggishness, and abdominal contractions. Known as hul gil, or "plant of joy" in Mesopotamia, the poppy's derivatives include morphine, codeine and opium, which relaxes the user and enhances pleasure, also blocking pain. In high doses, opium can cause respiratory depression. As little as 300mg of opium can be fatal to humans. Meanwhile, Sotto said authorities recently found an opium poppy plantation in Barangay Paoay, Halsema Highway in Atok town in Benguet. He added the DDB and the National Bureau of Investigation have arrested a foreign national and owner of a chain of restaurants in Metro Manila for alleged trafficking and using opium in their products. — with a report by Carmela Lapeña/LBG, GMA News