Key facts
- Trader Joe's Everything But the Bagel seasoning has been pulled from e-commerce platforms in Singapore and South Korea.
- The removal is due to the presence of poppy seeds, which are banned in both countries.
- Poppy seeds can become contaminated with opiates during harvesting.
- Authorities in Seoul detected morphine and codeine in the seasoning.
- Singapore authorities stated that possession of controlled drugs, even in trace amounts, is an offense.
Singapore and South Korea have taken action to remove Trader Joe's popular 'Everything But the Bagel' seasoning from e-commerce platforms due to its poppy seed content. While poppy seeds do not naturally contain opiates, they can become contaminated with opiates during the harvesting process, leading to their prohibition in both nations.
Singapore's Central Narcotics Bureau reported on Wednesday that more than 20 online listings for the seasoning have been removed. Last week, authorities in Seoul announced that the seasoning tested positive for morphine and codeine, which are opiates derived from the poppy plant.