Karnataka Suspend Licences of Amazon, BigBasket and Instamart Over Datura Sales

Karnataka has intensified its crackdown on food products sold through online platforms, suspending the food licences of Amazon, BigBasket and Swiggy Instamart over allegations that poisonous Datura fruits and seeds were listed and supplied as edible items.

The action, outlined in an August 24 order issued by the Karnataka Food Safety and Drug Administration Department, is notable because the regulatory measures extend beyond the individual sellers involved. The platforms themselves have been targeted, highlighting growing scrutiny of the responsibility online food marketplaces hold for products offered through their services.

Datura, also known as dhatura, contains toxic substances that can lead to serious poisoning, delirium, hallucinations, coma and, in severe cases, death. While the plant has been associated with certain religious and traditional practices, its fruits and seeds are considered unsafe for consumption as food.

Compliance Emerges as the Immediate Challenge

Karnataka has directed the platforms to take down all Datura-related listings, advertisements and promotional content while strictly prohibiting the products from being offered or presented as food. The suspension of the licences will continue until further notice. The companies are also required to submit compliance reports and appear for hearings before any decision is taken on whether the licences should be revoked.
The companies’ replies also underscore the complexities surrounding regulatory compliance. BigBasket said it had discontinued the sale of Datura and suggested adding a “Not for Human Consumption” warning. However, the food safety department did not consider the proposed measure adequate. Swiggy Instamart requested additional time to submit the required information, while Amazon reportedly failed to respond during the proceedings.

Wider Implications for India’s Quick-Commerce Sector

The Datura controversy comes at a time when quick-commerce platforms are facing heightened scrutiny over food safety and regulatory compliance. Previous inspections have raised concerns around expired or damaged products, hygiene standards, labelling practices and valid food licences. Karnataka’s latest action, however, takes the issue into a more serious territory by involving a product that can be inherently toxic when consumed.

The development could also prompt regulators in other states to examine how food products are listed, verified and sold through online marketplaces.

If the affected platforms decide to challenge the suspension, the matter could eventually raise important legal questions about the limits of intermediary protection and the extent of a platform’s responsibility as a food business operator. For India’s fast-growing quick-commerce industry, the outcome could have a lasting impact on seller verification, product-listing controls and ongoing monitoring of goods after they are made available to consumers.