Karnataka Suspends Food Licences of Amazon, Swiggy Instamart and Bigbasket Over Datura Sales

The Karnataka government has directed relevant authorities to suspend the food licences of major e-commerce platforms Amazon, Swiggy Instamart, and Bigbasket until further orders. The regulatory action has been taken over the online sale and distribution of Datura fruits and seeds, which authorities cite as a serious public health and food safety concern.

Datura, commonly known as the 'thorn apple' in English and 'Umathai' in Tamil, is a plant that possesses toxic properties. According to the Food Safety and Drug Administration, the consumption of its fruits and seeds may cause serious adverse effects on human health. The issue came to the department's notice after these items were found displayed for sale on the online platforms under FSSAI licences and registrations.

In an official press release, the department stated that the sale, distribution, display for sale, or promotion of the plant for food use or human consumption through online platforms constitutes a matter of serious concern. Consequently, competent authorities have been directed to take necessary action for the immediate suspension of the food licences issued to Amazon, Swiggy Instamart, and Bigbasket, and to submit a compliance report forthwith.

The suspension of the licences will remain in force until further orders. The department noted that upon receipt of compliance reports, the issue of revoking the suspension will be considered separately after providing the concerned parties an opportunity to be heard.

In addition to penalizing the front-end platforms, the state government has directed State and Central Designated Officers and Food Safety Officers to take immediate action to suspend the licences and registrations of establishments and sellers that supplied the products to these online entities.

All food business operators and online platforms concerned have been instructed to ensure strict and immediate compliance with these directions in the interest of public health and safety.

"This regulatory action highlights the critical importance of stringent compliance and catalog oversight for e-commerce and quick-commerce platforms operating in the food sector. As marketplaces scale, platforms must implement robust vetting mechanisms to prevent restricted or toxic items from being listed under FSSAI licences. Ensuring consumer safety is foundational, and this development serves as a reminder that regulatory bodies are closely monitoring digital supply chains and third-party sellers." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes