The Karnataka Food Safety and Drugs Administration Department has suspended the food licences of Amazon, Swiggy Instamart and BigBasket till further orders after datura (thornapple) fruits and seeds were found listed for sale on their platforms for human consumption.
The regulator, however, found the responses and explanations unsatisfactory. The department has directed the concerned authorities to suspend the food licences issued to Amazon, Instamart and BigBasket until further orders.
It said storing, selling or distributing the products as food was impermissible.
The Karnataka Food Safety and Drugs Administration Department had earlier ordered an investigation into the sale and online listing of datura products following complaints against the quick commerce platforms. Earlier reporting noted: Amazon, Swiggy, BigBasket Lose Food Licences Over ‘Datura’ Sales In Karnataka Amazon, Swiggy, BigBasket Lose Food Licences Over ‘Datura’ Sales In Karnataka Amazon, Swiggy, BigBasket Lose Food Licences Over ‘Datura’ Sales In Karnataka Earlier reporting noted: In a major move against quick commerce apps, the Karnataka Food Safety and Drugs Administration Department suspended the food licences of Amazon, Swiggy Instamart and BigBasket for selling poisonous Datura (Dhatura) fruits and seeds on their platforms for human consumption. Earlier reporting noted: Packets containing datura fruits and seeds were found bearing food licence/registration numbers and that the products had been stored in warehouses and offered for sale or distribution through online platforms.
The investigation also found packets containing datura fruits and seeds bearing food licence or registration numbers. The products had been stored in warehouses and made available for sale or distribution through online platforms.
