BENGALURU — The Karnataka government has directed food safety authorities to immediately suspend the food licences of major e-commerce platforms Amazon, Swiggy Instamart, and BigBasket until further notice. The regulatory crackdown follows investigations revealing the online listing, promotion, and distribution of toxic Dhatura fruits and seeds as food products intended for human consumption.
The order was issued by the Food Safety and Drug Administration under the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, along with its associated rules and regulations. Alongside the actions taken against the e-commerce giants, authorities have ordered the immediate suspension of licences and registrations held by the third-party merchants, vendors, and supply establishments that provided the products to these digital platforms.
The regulatory intervention was initiated after officials discovered packets containing Dhatura fruits and seeds displayed for sale on online channels under legitimate Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) licence and registration numbers. Plant products belonging to the Datura genus—commonly referred to as “thorn apple” in English and “Umathai” in Tamil—contain potent tropane alkaloids and possess dangerous toxic properties. Health authorities warned that ingesting these seeds or fruits poses grave public health risks, which can lead to severe poisoning, coma, or fatal outcomes.
All concerned food business operators and online marketplaces have been ordered to take down all digital listings, advertisements, and promotional campaigns related to Dhatura products immediately. The directive strictly prohibits any future distribution or retail of the item for dietary or edible purposes.
Competent state and central food safety officers have been tasked with enforcing the suspension order on the spot and submitting prompt compliance reports. The department confirmed that the suspension will remain in place indefinitely until these reports are reviewed and each platform is given a formal hearing to present its case.
