- Karnataka suspended food licenses of Amazon, Instamart, BigBasket.
- Action followed discovery of poisonous datura sold as food online.
- Regulator deemed company explanations unsatisfactory, sales impermissible.
- Suppliers also suspended; companies must remove datura listings.
The Karnataka Food Safety and Drugs Administration Department has ordered the suspension of food licences issued to Amazon, Instamart and BigBasket over the alleged sale and distribution of datura fruits and seeds through their online platforms.
The action followed complaints against the quick-commerce and e-commerce platforms and an earlier inquiry ordered by the department into the online listing of datura products.
During its investigation, the department found that datura fruits and seeds were being displayed for sale on multiple e-commerce platforms. In some instances, the packages carried FSSAI licence or registration numbers despite datura being poisonous and posing a serious health risk if consumed.
ALSO READ | FDA Busts Major Milk Adulteration Racket In Navi Mumbai; 4,710 Litres Of Milk Seized
Datura Products Found In Warehouses
The department said packets containing datura fruits and seeds were found carrying food licence or registration numbers. The products had also been stored in warehouses and made available for sale or distribution through online platforms.
Representatives of the companies appeared before the authority during the proceedings. According to the order, Amazon did not submit a response, while Instamart sought additional time to provide documents relating to the action it had taken, reported NDTV.
BigBasket, meanwhile, told the authority that it had stopped selling the fruits online. It also said it would amend the labelling of such products in the future to clearly state: “Not for human consumption.”
Regulator Rejects Companies’ Explanations
The food safety authority said the responses and explanations provided by the companies were unsatisfactory. It maintained that storing, selling or distributing datura as food was impermissible.
The department has therefore directed the concerned authorities to temporarily suspend the food licences of Amazon, Instamart and BigBasket until further orders. The suspensions can be reconsidered after the companies are given an opportunity for a hearing and submit their responses.
ALSO READ | FDA Suspends Licences Of 5 Maharashtra Cricket Association Food Outlets Over Safety Lapses
Suppliers Also Face Licence Suspension
The order also directs the suspension, with immediate effect, of the licences and registrations of suppliers and sellers providing the products to the three online platforms.
The concerned food business operators have further been ordered to immediately remove or suspend all online listings and advertisements offering datura fruits or seeds for food or human consumption.
