The department issued notices to Swiggy Instamart, BigBasket and Amazon.
| Photo Credit:
bl-online Administrator
Karnataka’s Food Safety and Drug Administration Department has suspended the food licences and registrations of Amazon, Swiggy Instamart and BigBasket after poisonous Datura fruits and seeds were found being sold on their platforms as food for human consumption.In an order dated August 24, the department directed the three platforms to immediately remove all listings, advertisements and promotional material offering Datura, also known as Dhatura or thorn apple, for human consumption.The department said Datura fruits and seeds have poisonous properties and can cause serious adverse effects on human health. It said their sale, distribution, storage or display as food is not permitted under food safety regulations.The action followed inspections in which officials found Datura products listed on ecommerce platforms using food licences and registrations. Authorities also found packages carrying food licence or registration numbers being stored in warehouses and sold or distributed through the platforms.The department subsequently issued notices to the concerned food business operators, asking them to stop selling Datura, remove related listings and advertisements, and submit explanations.At a hearing on Monday, Amazon did not submit a response to the notice, while Swiggy Instamart sought additional time to provide documents detailing the steps it had taken to comply with the directions.BigBasket told the department that it had stopped selling Datura and removed the listing. The company also said it would change the product labelling to clearly state that the products are “not for human consumption”.The department, however, said the explanations and oral submissions made by the platforms were not satisfactory. It subsequently ordered the suspension of their food licences and registrations under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and the Food Safety and Standards Rules, 2011.The order also covers sellers and organisations supplying Datura products through the three platforms. Their food licences and registrations have been ordered to be suspended with immediate effect by the respective authorities.The platforms and other food business operators have been directed not to sell, distribute, store, display or promote Datura fruits or seeds as food or for human consumption. They have also been asked to submit compliance reports, following which the department will conduct separate hearings to decide whether the suspensions should be lifted.The department warned that any violation of the order could invite further action under applicable laws.The Karnataka action comes as food safety regulators increase scrutiny of ecommerce and quick-commerce platforms. Earlier this month, Maharashtra’s Food and Drug Administration suspended 14 licences linked to Blinkit, Zepto and Swiggy Instamart following inspections of 86 food establishments.Published on August 25, 2026
