Now Reading: Karnataka suspends Amazon, Swiggy, BigBasket food licences over datura sales
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Karnataka suspends Amazon, Swiggy, BigBasket food licences over datura sales
Karnataka suspends Amazon, Swiggy, BigBasket food licences over datura sales
The Karnataka Food Safety and Drug Administration Department has suspended the food licences of Amazon, Swiggy Instamart and BigBasket after finding toxic Datura seeds and fruits being sold as edible products on…
The Karnataka Food Safety and Drug Administration Department has suspended the food licences of Amazon, Swiggy Instamart and BigBasket after finding toxic Datura seeds and fruits being sold as edible products on their platforms. The order was issued by the Court of the Commissioner and Adjudicating Officer of the Food Safety and Drug Administration Department in Bengaluru.
During proceedings, Amazon did not submit a formal reply, Swiggy Instamart sought more time without detailing corrective measures, and BigBasket said it had stopped sales and planned to add a 'NOT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION' warning. The authority found these responses inadequate, stating toxic substances cannot be marketed under a food business framework.
The suspension under the Food Safety and Standards Act will remain until the platforms submit full compliance reports and a separate hearing is conducted. The department also ordered the suspension of licences of third-party suppliers involved and directed the permanent removal of all Datura listings.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Both sources present the same factual account without editorial slant. The coverage is uniform straight reporting: both name the same three platforms, cite the same legal basis, and report the companies' differing responses verbatim. Neither source questions the department's action or gives space to industry pushback. The implication is that e-commerce platforms face heightened regulatory scrutiny over unlisted toxic products sold under food licences. The key next step is the compliance hearing, which will determine whether the suspensions are lifted.
Coverage: 2 sources, 2 neutral
Sources (2): ndtvprofit.com (neutral report), timesnownews.com (neutral report)
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
