Contact: Caroline Tabler or James Arnold (202) 224-2353

Washington, D.C. - Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today released the following statement after the Food and Drug Administration issued a new directive on Poppy Seed Wash:

"The FDA is right to recognize unwashed poppy seeds for what they are: a deadly drug that can destroy lives. This directive is an important first step towards solving this problem."

Earlier this year, Steve and Betty Hacala of Rogers, Arkansas, spoke with the FDA about the dangers of unwashed poppy seeds after their son, Stephen, died tragically from a poppy-seed-tea overdose. The Hacalas shared with Commissioner Gottlieb the findings of the Arkansas Crime Lab, which performed the autopsy and discovered the link between poppy seeds and Stephen's death. Click here to read more.