Determination of the presence of morphine and codeine in urine and underwear samples of people consuming poppy buns

The poppy plant has been known for centuries for its use in both culinary and medicinal contexts. However, in recent times, the detection of opiate derivatives in biological fluids following the consumption of poppy-containing food products has led to significant debates, particularly in the field of forensic toxicology. The presence of compounds such as morphine and codeine in urine samples after the ingestion of poppy- seed baked goods, like poppy-seed buns, may result in false-positive interpretations related to drug abuse. This situation highlights the need for cautious interpretation of biological analyses, especially in forensic and medical decision-making processes where the stakes are high. Similarly, sweat has emerged in recent years as an alternative biological matrix, especially when collected via worn underwear, offering advantages such as ease of collection and reduced risk of external contamination. However, data regarding the presence of opiates in sweat following the consumption of poppy-containing products remains limited. In this study, a novel method was developed for the detection of morphine and codeine using an orbitrap-based LC-MS/MS (Liquid Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry) system equipped with high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) technology. Using the developed method, urine and sweat-soaked underwear samples were collected from 15 volunteers who had consumed poppy-seed buns under controlled conditions, and these samples were analyzed to evaluate the qualitative and quantitative distribution of morphine and codeine. The findings showed that both morphine and codeine were detected in all urine samples, whereas codeine was found in only six of the sweat samples, and morphine was not detected in any. These results demonstrate that relying on a single biological matrix for opiate analysis may be insufficient, and that the simultaneous evaluation of multiple matrices is necessary, particularly in distinguishing food-related opiate positivity from potential substance abuse. Keywords: Urine, Sweat, Opiates, Poppy seed bun consumption, Underwear sampling, HRMS-LC-MS/MS, Controlled practice