Torsten Posted July 23, 2002 SINGAPORE, July 19 (Reuters) - Biscuit and bagel lovers beware -- Singapore's drug squad could have its eye on you. Poppy seeds are the offending ingredient because some varieties contain traces of morphine. British retailer Marks & Spencer has fallen foul of the city state's tough stance on drugs by stocking shelves with poppyseed biscuits that are now the subject of an investigation by the Central Narcotics Bureau. "Because the Misuse of Drugs Act states that morphine is a controlled drug, you're not supposed to have morphine in any amount," a spokeswoman for the drug squad told Reuters. It was too early to say whether any criminal charges would be laid as that would depend on the police and the results of lab tests, she said. Singapore typically hangs people convicted of trafficking in large amounts of heroin, cannabis and other illegal drugs. Last month, a local company was fined S$60,000 ($34,680) for importing poppy seed cake mix containing traces of morphine, which comes from the same chemical family as opium and heroin. Sheriff Salahudeen, a Marks & Spencer food buyer quoted by a local tabloid, referred media queries to a spokeswoman who could not be reached for comment. "Even though we read about the poppy seed mix case, it didn't occur to us that there was an issue because we've been carrying the product for more than five years," Salahudeen told the New Paper. "We wouldn't want to sell something against the law." Marks & Spencer pulled boxes of the biscuits from its half dozen outlets in Singapore on Wednesday, the paper said. "Eating food with poppy seed containing morphine may cause someone's urine specimen to test positive," it added. That scenario was played out in the U.S. comedy series "Seinfeld" when the character Elaine failed a drug test for a new job because of her intake of poppy seed bagels. In Singapore, importers of poppy seeds or products containing them are supposed to send a sample to the Health Sciences Authority to verify that they do not contain morphine. "As far as poppy seeds are concerned, there are different variants depending on where you buy it from. In standard bakery products, there's no problem with it," a dietician at a large hospital told Reuters. By John O'Callaghan Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Auxin Posted July 23, 2002 Oh yeah, that makes sense! I'm sure lots of people eat 50 kg of poppy seed bagles just to get stoned! Or maby they are worried that people are buying $1000 worth of bagles in order to make $5 worth of heroin! And I thought that the USA was the only country that elects the intelectually vacant. I guess I shoulda known better, every time I try to have faith in human logic and wisdom politicians across the world make it a point to prove me wrong Oh well, maby in another 1000 years the world will be able to breed a politician that can do simple math and spell the word potato properly- Too bad I wont live to see it! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MrBumpy Posted July 24, 2002 although, since this is coming from singapore it doesn't surprise me. Considering if you are a citizen of singapore, you can be randomly drug tested on your return from another country and face prison time if you results are positive for marijuana. -bumpy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
spiders Posted July 24, 2002 Im not surprised at all by this one. You name it, they'll outlaw it in Singapore - its great for the tourist shops as they sell t-shirts of all the many things that are banned there with the sad joke 'Singapore is a fine city, because they will fine you for everything.' wank wank Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DaNozz Direct Posted July 31, 2002 An interesting tidbit from the 'making of' show of the first Big Brother series - Todd, the dreads dude, ate a poppy seed bagel on his way to a final interview, took a drug test, and came up positive ! Wow. As bluemeanie said, wank wank. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
planthelper Posted August 2, 2002 never fly singapur airlines, they hardly even serve you a beer, and people are so proud telling all the tourists that there are fines and laws for everything. dont get caught forgetting to flush your loo! happy not to be born there! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gomaos Posted August 2, 2002 Never holiday or travel to Singapore or Malaysia, unless you absolutely have to. Look at that commercial for holiday in Malaysia: "Malaysia, true Asia..." My ass it is. It's rather true 1984... Oh why Malaysia? It's right next to Singapore, and their governments are very much alike and kiss each other's ass! As soon as the present governments are sent to hell, I'll never complain again about these countries. Always remember: It's their governments who are evil, not the people who live there. Most of them are just innocent victims. And no they are not democracies. Look what the malaysian government has done to that Couple, forgot their names, who would have run in an election against them. Imprisoned and tortured them! Boycott them whereever you can! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
