Now Reading: Karnataka suspends food licences of Amazon, Swiggy Instamart and BigBasket
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Karnataka suspends food licences of Amazon, Swiggy Instamart and BigBasket
Karnataka suspends food licences of Amazon, Swiggy Instamart and BigBasket
Karnataka’s Food Safety and Drug Administration Department has suspended the food licences of Amazon, Swiggy Instamart and BigBasket until further orders after toxic Datura fruits and seeds were found listed online as…
Karnataka’s Food Safety and Drug Administration Department has suspended the food licences of Amazon, Swiggy Instamart and BigBasket until further orders after toxic Datura fruits and seeds were found listed online as food products. The platforms have been ordered to remove all related listings and advertisements and stop selling or distributing them for human consumption.
Officials found Datura products stored in warehouses and packets carrying FSSAI registration or licence numbers. The department also ordered action against suppliers and sellers, subject to due legal process. Amazon did not respond to the notice, Swiggy Instamart sought more time, and BigBasket said it had stopped the sale and would label the products “not for human consumption”.
The department found the responses unsatisfactory, citing Datura’s poisonous nature. Its fruits and seeds contain toxic compounds that can cause rapid heart rate, confusion, delirium and other severe symptoms. Separate orders will follow after compliance reports and an opportunity for the affected parties to present their arguments.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Both The Hindu and Mathrubhumi present the regulator’s action as a response to a food safety breach, without taking a position for or against the companies. The Hindu gives more space to the licensing process, company responses and the possibility of cancellation, while Mathrubhumi adds medical context on Datura’s toxic compounds and symptoms. Together, the reports show that the issue concerns both platform oversight and the legal classification of what may be sold as food. The immediate measure is suspension, not a final cancellation, and further orders depend on compliance reports and hearings by the department.
Coverage: 2 sources, 2 neutral
Sources (2): thehindu.com (neutral report), english.mathrubhumi.com (neutral report)
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
