Posted on 11/19/2004 7:11:54 AM PST by Red Badger
An Austrian driver has lost his license because he failed a drug test after eating a dish containing poppyseeds.
Wolfgang L, 39, had his license withdrawn when a test showed traces of morphine in his urine.
But he denies drug abuse, saying he had recently eaten mohnnudeln, an Austrian speciality consisting of noodles, poppyseeds and fruit.
Reinhard Fous, head police doctor in Vienna, told the Kronenzeitung the man 'wasn't under the influence of drugs' since his blood test came back negative.
Yet, the traces of morphine in his urine showed he wasn't fit to drive, the doctor argued.
But fellow doctor and toxicologist Rainer Schmidt says police were wrong to withdraw Wolfgang L's license.
He is convinced that eating Mohnnudeln doesn't affect anybody's ability to drive a car safely.
"Poppyseed contains morphines, which can indeed be traced in a urine test," Mr Schmidt said.
"The one difference between someone who consumes drugs and someone who eats poppyseed is that an addict shows a much higher concentration of morphine in his body."
Yummy......?
I know it seems nuts, but the cuisine in that part of the world is perpetually covered with poppyseeds. I don't quite understand the appeal--the food is wonderful without it.
Wasn't this a Seinfeld episode?
Sounds like an episode of "Seinfeld". I believe it was called "The Showerhead".
During the 30-minute lecture last night I attended at my child's school on nutrition, they failed to mention the poppyseed food group. The only "poppy" Seinfeld reference I recall was the fellow who didn't wash his hands after using the restroom and then made the hand-tossed pizza.
Well, if it wasn't there would be no moh nudeln.....heh heh....
Sure. Poppyseeds. Yeah.
If I were ol' Wolfgang's shyster someone sure would.
That is if Socialist Australia still permits the individual legal recourse if/when wronged via a lawsuit for damage(s).
...should they prove their innocence.
I worked for a 60 year old superintendent who showed positive for heroine on a drug test. He ate his poppy seed bagel every day before the test. He was a clean guy, didn't even drink. Thankfully, the company and the project manager had the wisdom to realize something was wrong.
I wonder how often a life is ruined by false positives.
AUSTRIA!.......ie the one in EUROPE.......
Re-read the article. It is Austria, not Australia.
Austria! Well g'day mate! How about I put another shrimp on the barby?
One of my favorite lines from Dumb & Dumber...
Actually, one poppyseed topped breakfast muffin contains enough for you to pop positive on a whiz quiz.
It was the Shower Head episode. Elaine had to take a urine test for a trip to Kenya with her boss, and she had a false positive after eating poppy seed muffins all the time.
...dyslexia & all that. :o)
Wonder if they pass easily or gets stuck in the intestinal pockets?
I know I don't care for them as they lodge in between my teeth and I find that unpleasant along with they fall all over the place, but then again I have to wear plastic gloves when cleaning chicken or other meats and fish. Don't care for sticky or greasy stuff on the hands and the gloves are perfect. Being a careprovider I have been in the habit for years and discovered it works well in the kitchen too.
Although I rarely cook meat anymore.
Look like smelts.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.