South Korean police blocked sales of Trader Joe's Everything But The Bagel seasoning on the Karrot marketplace after the National Forensic Service reported traces of morphine and codeine. Authorities say poppy-seed contamination during harvesting is the likely source and note the product falls under the Narcotics Control Act. Karrot removed listings after July 27, and officials warn travelers not to bring the seasoning into South Korea.
South Korea Blocks Trader Joe's 'Everything But The Bagel' Seasoning After Morphine, Codeine Detected
Trader Joe's Everything but the Bagel seasoning is legally sold in the United States but is prohibited from being brought into South Korea, according to authorities.
South Korean police have moved to block sales of Trader Joe's popular Everything But The Bagel seasoning after forensic tests found controlled opiate compounds in the product.
The Mapo Police Station in Seoul identified listings for the seasoning on Karrot, a major secondhand marketplace, and worked with the platform to remove and block transactions involving the item. Authorities said travelers are not allowed to bring the seasoning into South Korea.
Trader Joe's Everything but the Bagel seasoning contains poppy seeds, an ingredient that has drawn scrutiny from authorities in South Korea.
Forensic Findings and Legal Concern
Analysis by South Korea’s National Forensic Service reportedly detected morphine and codeine in the seasoning. Both substances are classified as controlled narcotics under South Korea’s Narcotics Control Act, meaning possession, sale or trade of products containing them can lead to criminal charges.
How Pop�y Seeds Factor In
Officials pointed to the seasoning’s poppy seed content as the likely source of the opiate alkaloids. While poppy seeds themselves do not contain opium, they can become contaminated with opium alkaloids such as morphine and codeine during harvesting and processing. Because of that contamination risk, South Korean regulators treat some poppy-seed-containing products as potential narcotics.
South Korean authorities said Trader Joe's Everything but the Bagel seasoning falls under the country's narcotics regulations because of concerns involving its poppy seeds.
Platform Response And Background
Karrot agreed to restrict transactions and removed related listings after July 27. Police said some sellers had returned from overseas trips with the seasoning and attempted to resell it unaware of the contamination risk.
Restrictions on the seasoning first emerged in South Korea in 2022 amid growing concern about poppy-seed contamination. In 2023, the U.S. Department of Defense also warned service members that consuming poppy-seed-containing foods could trigger a positive urinalysis for codeine.
“Even if a product is legally sold overseas, it may be classified as a narcotic substance or a prohibited import in Korea, so particular caution is required,” a police official told reporters.
Trader Joe's has been contacted for comment. Consumers planning to bring food items from abroad are urged to check South Korean import rules and the Narcotics Control Act to avoid potential legal consequences.
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