Business · India Bureau
Karnataka suspends food licences for Amazon, Swiggy Instamart, BigBasket
The Karnataka food safety regulator has revoked licences for three major e-commerce platforms following the discovery of poisonous Datura seeds being sold through their channels. The department has also initiated action against suppliers and sellers involved in the illicit sales.
LSN India ·
The Karnataka Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSSAI) has suspended food business licences for Amazon, Swiggy Instamart, and BigBasket after investigations revealed that toxic Datura seeds were being sold on their platforms. The action marks a significant regulatory crackdown on e-commerce food safety compliance in the state.
Datura, a highly poisonous plant containing tropane alkaloids, poses severe health risks including hallucinations, organ failure, and death if ingested. The discovery of its seeds being distributed through mainstream online retail channels has raised serious concerns about the adequacy of quality control measures across these platforms.
Beyond the licence suspensions, the food safety department has initiated enforcement action against multiple suppliers and sellers whose accounts were used to list Datura for sale. Investigators are working to identify and prosecute all parties involved in the supply chain for these prohibited substances.
The incident underscores growing challenges in regulating online food commerce in India, where the rapid expansion of e-grocery platforms has sometimes outpaced regulatory oversight. The state regulator's action signals heightened scrutiny of e-commerce food safety protocols across major platforms operating in Karnataka.