South Korea bans Trader Joe's popular seasoning after finding poppy-seed narcotics

South Korean law enforcement has declared Trader Joe’s Everything But the Bagel Sesame Seasoning Blend illegal after forensic analysis revealed poppy seeds containing trace amounts of morphine and codeine, substances classified as narcotics in Korea. The Mapo Police Station worked with the Karrot platform to halt listings, and the item now appears with a “Transaction Restricted” notice. Tourists previously bought the seasoning in the United States and brought it home as a novelty, but the ban, effective since 2022, was reinforced following a recent confiscation at Incheon International Airport.

The National Forensic Service’s findings mean sellers or buyers could face criminal charges. Authorities warned consumers to verify import regulations before purchasing foreign food items, and the seasoning has been removed from Korean e-commerce sites.