I tested an employee today for a pre-employment drug screen and.....?

Opiates (morphine and codeine) can be detected in urine for at least 48 hours after one eats food containing poppy seeds. As little as a single bagel covered with poppy seeds could produce a false positive test for these drugs.

Other common problems.Substances known to cause false positive readings in tests and the drugs they mimic:

Advil - marijuana

nasal sprays - amphetamines

Sudafed - amphetamines

tonic water - cocaine or heroin

Benadryl - methadone

Vicks inhaler - heroin

Motrin - marijuana

Some antacids - marijuana

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You "Human Resource" ninnies all need to get a life: she said she tested an EMPLOYEE...meaning the person ALREADY works under the asker....geez....u people REALLY scream a need for a new life!

True: the poppy seed thing NO longer holds merit. Today's drug screens are far more advanced than those 20 years back. If this person works a job where the lives/safety of others are in her hands or responsibility, then I'd say suspend (at 50% less pay) her pending successful EAP run (you "HR" geeks might recognize that as being an 'Employee Assistance Program') first.

This serves the common good because it allows for the chance to save a valued employees standing within the company, one that up till now showed productivity. And it also allows ON RECORD that the company tried in all FAIRNESS to set the wayward employee straight. This is espicially important should the company face a civil courtroom to have documented.

After the employee successfully goes through the EAP, she then signs a legal notice that not only can she be called at any time to be drug screened, but one more positive result for ANY illegal drug......and she's fired. Just like that....SNAP!!!

As for the rest of you witch burning "HR" people: get off the Internet and get some sleep and time out in the REAL world.

I think that there has been enough testing that eating a poppy seed muffin may at times give a false positive. My suggestion is to switch over to the hair follicle test. Poppy seeds would pop positive for the opium group, cocaine is made from coca leaves in the opposite side of the world. Checking on the urban legends website, they do agree that poppy seeds could give a positive for opium or opiates in general. It sounds like this person is too stupid to do the job to begin with. Cocaine is totally different than opiates. I would consult with the lab first to verify that it is coke and not opium that is positive.

No, sorry. Eating a poppy seed muffin will not trigger a cocaine test.

Silliest excuse I've ever heard.

The person is not being honest with you. The poppy seed would trigger a positive for opium, not cocaine.

Cocaine comes from the Coca plant. Opium, Heroine and Morphine come from Poppy plants. If she tested postive for opiates a very slight maybe. If she tested for Cocaine as positive then she positively does it.

No way!!! can poppy seed make one positive for cocaine. but it's up to you if you wish to have her as an employee are not. if you do then LOCK all the doors put your cash in the safe. and tell every one else to do the same.

I work in human resources, and poppy seed muffin does not contain cocaine..Poppy seed contains opium..Depending on the job, this person should not be hired..For one they are lying..

Tests are so precise now that poppy seeds would not affect test results. This is an urban myth.

Also, her story is improbable. If she knew what she claimed about poppy seed muffins, she wouldn't have eaten one so soon into her job, and if she knew the truth about said muffins, she would not have used the excuse at all.