Coles poppy seeds recalled over ‘poisoning’ fears

A popular Coles product has been urgently recalled after 32 Aussies were poisoned due to the presence of a dangerous chemical.

Poppy seeds are being urgently recalled after 32 Australians were poisoned. Picture: Shae Beplate.

Poppy seeds are being urgently recalled after 32 Australians were poisoned by the presence of a dangerous chemical — one of whom went into cardiac arrest.

NSW Health announced the recall on Friday after it was alerted to a number of contaminated products that had been sold at Coles stores in recent weeks.

The government body urged shoppers to check the poppy seeds in their pantries after a “batch of non-food grade poppy seeds was found to have re-entered the supply chain”.

Basfoods Royal Fields Poppy Seeds have been recalled over poisoning fears. Picture: Food Standards Australia

The affected product was confirmed as Basfoods’ Royal Fields Poppy Seeds with a best before date of 25 June 2024, sold through Coles.

“This product was previously recalled in November 2022, but Coles has identified that some units of the product were purchased from their stores in recent weeks,” NSW Health said.

“This product is not safe to consume and people who have purchased this recalled batch of poppy seeds should throw it out or return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.”

In November, the same Basfoods product was recalled at both Woolworths and Coles after a slew of poisonings due to the presence of highly toxic chemical thebaine.

It was recalled alongside Hoyts’, Eumarrah, East West Foods Wholesale, Gaganis and Uttam poppy seeds, which were all believed to be potentially contaminated.

Hoyts poppy seeds were recalled for the same reason in November. Picture: Food Standards Australia.

Melbourne man Andy Jordan was one of the 32 Australians who ended up in hospital with poisoning symptoms, and recounted the terrifying moment he thought he would die.

Mr Jordan said he had been mixing the poppy seeds into a drink to help with stomach issues when he felt the muscle spasms come on.

“I drank the poppy seeds in the morning, about five minutes later my eyes locked up, it felt like strychnine poisoning,” he said.

“My muscles started spasming I knew I was in trouble. I was convulsing, every muscle was spasming through my chest, through my back, it felt like my kidneys were being squeezed to death and around my heart, it was insane.

“It felt like a chemical weapon had been mixed up in the bag. I thought I was going to die probably about 10 minutes in.”

At least one of the Australians who were poisoned by the drug suffered cardiac arrest, while several ended up in ICU.

Reported symptoms after eating the contaminated seeds can be “severe”, including severe muscle cramping, muscle spasms and abnormal movements, seizures and cardiac arrest.

Anyone who is concerned about exposure to the product was urged to call the NSW Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26. Anyone with severe symptoms was urged to call triple-0.