Karnataka Suspends Amazon, Swiggy Instamart, BigBasket Food Licenses Over Datura Sale

The Karnataka Food Safety and Drugs Administration Department has suspended the food licenses of Amazon, Swiggy Instamart, and BigBasket after an investigation found toxic datura fruits and seeds being sold online as food products. The action, ordered by Food Safety Commissioner K. Srinivas, requires the platforms to immediately remove all listings and advertisements for datura and halt its sale or distribution for human consumption. The suspension will remain in effect until further orders from the department.

The decision followed inspections by food safety officials who discovered datura products stored in warehouses and listed for sale on the e-commerce platforms. Some packets were found carrying Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) registration or license numbers, raising concerns about how the toxic items were being marketed. Officials emphasized that selling or distributing datura as food is illegal under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, due to its poisonous nature.

Representatives of the three companies appeared before an adjudicating authority to respond to the department's notice. Amazon did not submit a response, while Swiggy Instamart...