Police won't take action against using poppy seeds in cooking

The police have never prohibited the use of poppy seeds or kas-kas in cooking.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said, the amount of the spice used in cooking was minimal and did not pose any health risks.

"It would not cause any harm to those who consume the poppy seeds unless you consume a kilogramme of it.

"Only a small amount of the spice is used in soups and fish head curry dishes, among others. There is no need to worry as poppy seeds have often been used as a spice to enhance the flavour of our dishes.

"The police will not take action against those who use poppy seeds in cooking," he told reporters after an event at the Police Training Centre (Pulapol) here, today.

Khalid was commenting on the Health Ministry’s statement which said a decision to ban the use of poppy seeds as a spice in cooking had yet to be made.

Yesterday, its minister Datuk Seri S. Subramaniam said, the Food and Drug Authorities (FDA) had labelled poppy seeds as safe due to its low morphine content and the risk of addiction was insignificant.

However the ministry would monitor the situation to ensure there was no abuse and excess usage of the product.