Lawsuits Allege Unwashed Poppy Seed Tea Can Lead to Death, Stroke
Last Updated on December 17, 2025
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At A Glance
- This Alert Affects:
- Anyone who suffered a stroke after drinking unwashed poppy seed tea, as well as family members acting on their behalf in cases of death or incapacitation.
- What’s Going On?
- Lawsuits are being filed against companies that continue to sell and market unwashed poppy seeds, which can be steeped in water to make tea, despite being well aware that the seeds contain dangerous levels of opium and have been responsible for several deaths around the world.
- How Could a Lawsuit Help?
- A lawsuit could help individuals and their families recover money for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.
- Does It Cost to Speak to Someone?
- It’s completely free to speak to one of the attorneys we work with, and you’re under no obligation to take legal action after learning more about your rights.
If you or a family member was injured after drinking tea made from unwashed poppy seeds, you may be able to take legal action.
Lawsuits are now being filed alleging companies knew that ingesting unwashed poppy seeds could have lethal effects yet continued sales without so much as a safety warning. In fact, it has been alleged that some sellers continue to aggressively market these products, including by providing recipes on how to make poppy seed tea for pain and/or anxiety relief, despite worldwide reports of people dying from these drinks.
What’s Involved in Filing a Poppy Seed Tea Lawsuit?
Before filing your lawsuit, your attorney will need to gather some information to help support your claim that one or more companies involved in the sale of unwashed poppy seeds are responsible for the harm suffered by you or a family member. He or she may need to review medical records, receipts and financial documents, as well as ask you some questions about the effect the injury or death has had on your life.
Once the attorney is finished gathering the relevant information, he or she will put together what’s known as a “complaint.” This is a document that is filed with the court – marking the official start of your lawsuit – and will detail the injury, how the seeds were acquired and the damages (i.e., losses) you are seeking. It will also include your claims against the defendants (i.e., the companies or individuals being sued) and why they should be held legally accountable for the injury or death.
For instance, your suit may allege that one or more poppy seed sellers, suppliers or distributors:
- Knew or had reason to know the seeds were unfit for human consumption and contained potentially fatal levels of opiate alkaloids, such as morphine and codeine
- Failed to provide proper warnings that consumption of unwashed poppy seeds, including drinking tea made from unwashed poppy seeds, could lead to injury or death
- Failed to warn against brewing tea with the seeds, even though they knew or had reason to know this was a common use for the product
- Ignored, suppressed and/or disregarded medical and scientific information linking the use of unwashed poppy seeds to opiate intoxication and death
- Had the ability to provide safer alternatives for sale, such as washed poppy seeds or herbal teas, and failed to do so
- Continued selling the seeds after multiple reports of death from unwashed poppy seeds
After your lawsuit is filed, your attorney will engage with the lawyers for the defendants, as well as the court, to help resolve the matter. He or she may take depositions, file additional documents (memos, motions, briefs, etc.) with the court, prepare responses to the defendant’s arguments, speak with experts, attend hearings and more. If the attorneys cannot agree on a settlement – and the lawsuit does not get dismissed by a judge – the case will proceed to jury trial.
How Much Does an Attorney Cost?
Attorneys working with ClassAction.org are handling these lawsuits on a contingency-fee basis, which means you will only pay if your case is successful. In these instances, your attorney will be given a percentage of your settlement or jury award.
Is This a Class Action Lawsuit?
No. Attorneys working with ClassAction.org are handling this matter on an individual basis and not as a class action in which one or more people sue on behalf of a larger group. To find out why most cases involving serious injuries or death are handled individually rather than as class actions, visit this page.
What Could I Get from a Lawsuit?
If your case is successful, you may be able to receive money for:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Physical pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Lost wages and loss of earning capacity
- Loss of life’s enjoyment
A family may also be able to collect money for funeral expenses, as well as loss of companionship, support, affection and a sexual relationship, if the injury resulted in death. A successful lawsuit could also require the defendant(s) to stop selling the seeds and discourage others from doing so.
How Could Poppy Seed Tea Cause Stroke or Death?
Poppy seeds generally do not contain any opium; however, they can become contaminated with opiate alkaloids from sap or other parts of the plant while in the field or during harvest. If the seeds are not washed and are sold to the public as is, consumers have in hand a product that, according to the Arkansas attorney general, contains “substantial amounts” of morphine, codeine and thebaine – schedule II narcotics.
When unwashed poppy seeds are brewed into a tea, opium from the seeds is transferred to the liquid, putting the user at risk for overdose and/or death. Studies have also shown that abuse of opioids may be linked to an increased risk of stroke.
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