Karnataka Suspends Food Licences of Amazon, Swiggy Instamart, and BigBasket Over Sale of Toxic Datura

The Karnataka Food Safety and Drug Administration Department has suspended the food licences of Amazon, Swiggy Instamart, and BigBasket until further orders. The action follows the discovery that toxic Datura fruits and seeds were being sold on these platforms as food products. The department also ordered the suspension of licences for the sellers and establishments supplying the products to these platforms. Datura is a poisonous plant containing tropane alkaloids that can cause hallucinations, delirium, coma, and death if consumed. Officials found that the products were being stored in warehouses and listed for sale using Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) registration or licence numbers.

During a hearing on Monday, the three companies provided varying responses. Amazon did not submit a response to the notice. Swiggy Instamart requested more time to provide documentation regarding the actions it had taken. BigBasket stated that it had stopped selling the fruits and proposed labeling such products as Not for Human Consumption in the future. The department found these responses unsatisfactory due to the severe public health risk posed by the plant. The platforms have been directed to remove all listings, advertisements, and promotional materials for Datura and must submit compliance reports before the department considers revoking the suspensions.

Outlets with a center lean highlighted the broader legal implications of the order, specifically whether this sets a precedent for holding e-commerce platforms directly liable as Food Business Operators rather than treating them as neutral marketplaces. Outlets with a center-left lean focused on the specific public health risks and the details of the warehouse inspections. Outlets with a center-right lean emphasized the illegal nature of the fruit and the government's directive to ensure strict compliance to protect consumers.