South Korean police block Trader Joe's bagel seasoning sales due to poppy-seed opiates

South Korean police are investigating resales of Trader Joe's Everything But the Bagel seasoning on marketplace Karrot, saying tests found poppy-seed traces of morphine and codeine, making sales potentially criminal. Police asked Karrot to block transactions, and the platform removed public listings and added a "Transaction Restricted" warning. Investigators are examining sellers under the Narcotics Control Act, noting some were unaware the seasoning contained substances classified as narcotics. The blend, popular among US travellers, has been banned since 2022; customs confiscations at Incheon and US embassy warnings drew attention in 2024. Poppy seeds can carry trace opiate residues during harvesting.