Food licences of Amazon, Swiggy Instamart, BigBasket suspended by Karnataka regulator

Bengaluru: The Food Safety and Drug Administration Department of Karnataka has suspended food licences and registrations of Amazon Swiggy, Instamart and BigBasket until further orders over the online sale of toxic Datura fruits and seeds as food products.

The department has also directed the three ecommerce platforms to immediately remove listings and advertisements for Datura, also known as Dhatura, and stop selling or distributing the products as food or for human consumption.

The action follows inspections by food safety officials, who found Datura fruits and seeds stored and sold through ecommerce platforms with Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) registration or licence numbers.

The matter was heard on 24 August, when representatives of the concerned businesses appeared before the adjudicating authority.

Amazon did not submit a response to the notice, while Swiggy Instamart sought additional time to provide documents detailing the action taken following the department’s notice.

BigBasket informed the authority that it had stopped selling Datura and changed the method of sale. It also said the labelling would be changed to clearly state ‘Not for human consumption’.

The department, however, said the responses were not satisfactory considering the toxic nature of Datura fruits and seeds and the potential risk to public health.

According to a department official, action has also been ordered against suppliers and sellers providing Datura products to the ecommerce platforms, with their food licences and registrations directed to be suspended under the Food Safety and Standards Act.

The official said a separate order would be issued after compliance reports were received and the concerned parties were given an opportunity to present their arguments. The department has also directed the competent state or central licensing authorities to cancel the registrations of the concerned online organisations or vendors with immediate effect, subject to the applicable legal process.

During inspections, food safety officials found packets containing Datura fruits and seeds carrying food registration numbers. The products were also found stored in a warehouse and sold or distributed through online ecommerce platforms.

The authority said Datura fruits and seeds have toxic properties and that their use as food or for human consumption could pose a serious public health risk.

The order stated that, considering the poisonous nature of Datura fruits and seeds, collecting, selling or distributing them as food products was unlawful.

The department said the action was being taken under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the Food Safety and Standards Rules, 2011.

The concerned food business operators have been directed to immediately stop selling, distributing, displaying for sale or promoting Datura fruits and seeds online as food or for human consumption. They have also been directed not to display the products as food or for human consumption, or sell or distribute them in any manner in the future.

Suppliers and vendors involved in selling Datura through the ecommerce platforms have also been directed to comply with the orders and face action under applicable food safety laws.

The department said the concerned food business operators and ecommerce platforms would be required to comply with the directions, with any violation of the order liable to invite further action under applicable laws. (BVI)