Warning out vs opium poppy seeds

MANILA, Philippines - The government has warned supermarkets and groceries against selling a popular food dressing and dip product containing opium poppy seeds.

Director General Arturo Cacdac Jr. said the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) supports the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in stopping establishments from including opium poppy seeds in their menu and product preparation.

“PDEA and the FDA jointly caution food companies not to serve and dispense the poppy seeds, being a dangerous drug simply because the law expressly prohibits it,” he said.

Cacdac advised the public to surrender any product containing poppy seeds to the nearest PDEA or FDA regional offices.

Poppy seeds have been used as an active palliative ingredient in pastries, salads and other baking recipes, he added.

Cacdac said opium poppy (any part of the plant of the species Papaver somniferum L., Papaver setigerum DC, Papaver orientale, Papaver bracieatum and Papaver rhoeas) is included in the 1961 United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs as amended by the 1972 protocol.

Republic Act 9165 penalizes the importation of dangerous drugs and/or controlled precursors and essential chemicals, including all species of opium poppy with a penalty of life imprisonment and a fine ranging from P500,000 to P10 million, he added.