Karnataka suspends food licences of Amazon, Swiggy Instamart and BigBasket over toxic datura sales

Karnataka’s Food Safety and Drugs Administration Department has directed that the food licences of Amazon, Swiggy Instamart and BigBasket be suspended pending further notice, after investigations revealed datura fruits and seeds being offered as food on their sites. The poisonous “thorn apple,” a night-shade plant, can cause serious illness or fatality if consumed without proper processing, officials said. The department ordered immediate removal of all datura listings and advertisements and prohibited its sale as a food product.

Inspections found the items packaged with FSSAI licence numbers and stored in warehouses linked to the platforms. While two firms requested additional time to supply information, one asserted the product was not intended for human consumption. The suspension also extends to the licences of any suppliers and sellers who provided the datura items.