May contain pain-relieving compounds

Morphine, codeine, thebaine, and other opium alkaloids with painkilling, sedative, and sleep-inducing characteristics are found in the poppy plant. Pharmaceutical medications created for these purposes frequently contain these substances. The milky, white liquid that comes from the poppy pod and is also known as poppy latex usually contains these alkaloids. Opium-like substances are not normally present in poppy seeds, although they can infect them after harvest or as a result of insect damage.

Thus, poppy seeds are often washed to remove any opium alkaloids they may have come into touch with before being placed on supermarket shelves. Unwashed poppy seeds, on the other hand, may be found and bought, and they contain more of these opiates. Unwashed poppy seeds are frequently recommended as a healthy substitute for several prescription medications. The most serious health danger associated with eating unwashed poppy seeds is accidental death. They should only be ingested under a doctor's care as a result.