Now Reading: Karnataka suspends Amazon, Swiggy, BigBasket licences over Datura sale
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Karnataka suspends Amazon, Swiggy, BigBasket licences over Datura sale
Karnataka has suspended the food licences of Amazon, Swiggy Instamart and BigBasket after the platforms were found selling toxic Datura fruits and seeds as food. State Food Safety Commissioner K. Srinivas ordered…
Karnataka has suspended the food licences of Amazon, Swiggy Instamart and BigBasket after the platforms were found selling toxic Datura fruits and seeds as food. State Food Safety Commissioner K. Srinivas ordered the removal of all Datura listings, saying the sale violated the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Action has also been ordered against suppliers and sellers, with possible licence cancellation pending legal process.
Datura contains tropane alkaloids that can cause severe poisoning, including hallucinations, seizures and loss of consciousness. Doctors warn that no home remedy or cooking method makes it safe, and urge immediate medical attention if consumed. The platforms appeared before the adjudicating authority on Monday. Amazon did not respond, Swiggy sought more time, and BigBasket said it had stopped selling Datura and would label it as not for human consumption. The department found the replies unsatisfactory.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The Datura controversy exposes a gap in how e-commerce platforms classify and screen listings that straddle ritual use and food sale. Under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, any item offered for human consumption must meet safety standards, and the licensing body can suspend registrations without waiting for a final hearing. The three platforms now face a formal adjudication process where they must show they have removed the listings and added adequate warnings. The outcome will set a precedent for how online marketplaces handle products that are legally sold for non-food purposes but can be misused as food. The next hearing before the adjudicating authority will determine whether the suspensions become cancellations.
Source: hindustantimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
