While poppies play an important role in the manufacture of heroin and opium, their seeds can also be used to make a delicious, harmless dipping sauce for hot-pot meals.

That's the message a supplier of a poppy-seed sauce is trying to spread after several local residents have called the police after spotting the product on local shelves.

Police have investigated the product but ruled that it isn't illegal in China. Stores, however, are still being very cautious before stocking anything customers might relate with opium.

The sauce first appeared in Shanghai in March. It will begin popping up in many of the city's hypermarkets next month, according to the supplier and several local retailers.

"The poppy-seed trade company contacted us last Friday, hoping to sell the goods in our stores," said Feng Yumei, an official with Shanghai Hualian GMS Shopping Center Co Ltd.

After viewing copies of certificates issued by the Ministry of Health and the Shanghai Health Bureau stating the product is harmless, the company agreed to stock the product in its many hypermarkets. But it still wants to see the original certificates first - just in case.

Feng said the sauce is manufactured using poppies grown in a state-authorized farm in Gansu Province, while two local trade companies are responsible for the product's marketing.

The black-and-gray seeds look like sesame seeds, but smaller.

Shanghai Taihong Electronic Technology Development Co Ltd said it started selling the seeds in the city in March.

"Poppy seeds don't contain the substance that makes people addicted," said Xu Daofu, Taihong's manager. He said similar products are very popular in Guangdong Province.

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