In some countries, such as Germany, only low-morphine poppy varieties are authorised for cultivation and are exclusively destined for the production of food or oil seeds. However, there is poppy seed production for food use from poppy varieties especially bred with high alkaloid content intended for pharmaceutical purposes (EFSA, 2011). While poppy seeds do not contain alkaloids, bound forms may exist in the seed (Fairbairn et al., 1980) and the seeds can become contaminated with alkaloids as a result of insect damage, or through poor harvesting practices (EFSA, 2011). The pressed cake can be contaminated by capsule fragments, so it should be fed to animals with caution. The symptoms of poisoning are excitement, constipation and excessive salivation. Although deaths are rare, the poisoned animals take a long time to recover (Göhl, 1982). Poppy seed cake was once believed to cause drowsiness (Cornevin, 1892) but this was not confirmed in early animal trials (Annett et al., 1919).
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