Bengaluru: Karnataka authorities have taken strong action against Amazon, Swiggy Instamart and BigBasket after poisonous Datura fruits and seeds were found being offered online as food products. The Karnataka Food Safety and Drugs Administration has suspended the food licences and registrations of the three major online platforms until further orders, saying the sale of the toxic plant material created a serious risk to public health.
The action followed complaints and an investigation into the online sale of Datura, also known as Dhatura. Food safety officials found that the fruits and seeds were being stored and offered for sale through online platforms. In some cases, packets carrying food safety registration or licence numbers were reportedly found among the products.
Datura is not an ordinary edible fruit. The plant contains powerful toxic substances that can seriously affect the brain, heart and nervous system when consumed. The fruits and seeds can cause severe poisoning, confusion, hallucinations, rapid heartbeat, loss of consciousness and other dangerous symptoms. In serious cases, poisoning can become life threatening.
The Karnataka Food Safety and Drugs Administration said the products were being offered for food or human consumption, which raised major concerns because of their poisonous nature. The department directed the three companies to immediately remove all listings, advertisements and promotional material connected with Datura products. They were also told to stop the sale, distribution and display of the fruits and seeds as food.
The authorities have also ordered action against suppliers and sellers who provided the products to the online platforms. Their food licences and registrations have been ordered to be suspended as part of the regulatory action.
The decision came after representatives of the companies appeared before the food safety authorities. The responses given by the companies were not considered satisfactory by the department.
Amazon reportedly did not submit a response during the hearing. Swiggy Instamart asked for additional time to provide documents showing what action it had taken regarding the listings. BigBasket told the authorities that it had stopped selling the Datura fruits and seeds. The company also indicated that it would correct its labelling and clearly state in future that such products were not meant for human consumption.
The regulator nevertheless concluded that the explanations were insufficient considering the potential danger involved. It therefore ordered the temporary suspension of the food licences of all three platforms.
The suspension does not mean that Amazon, Swiggy Instamart or BigBasket have been permanently banned from operating in Karnataka. The order remains in force until further directions. The companies can submit compliance reports and responses, after which the authorities can consider whether the suspension should be lifted.
The controversy has also raised questions about how potentially dangerous products are identified and monitored on online shopping and quick commerce platforms. Unlike traditional shops, online marketplaces can offer thousands of products from different sellers, making effective monitoring particularly important when products are presented as food.
The case has attracted additional attention after reports that Datura may have been supplied as a free item with an online order. Such an incident could be especially concerning because a customer who does not recognise the plant could mistake it for an edible fruit.
Experts have stressed that Datura should never be consumed as food. Although parts of the plant have limited uses in traditional medicine and other specialised settings, such use requires proper preparation, controlled quantities and expert supervision. That does not make the raw fruit or seeds safe for ordinary consumption.
The Karnataka action has therefore become a wider warning for online food sellers and consumers. Food products sold through digital platforms are still subject to food safety laws, and companies cannot rely entirely on third party sellers to ensure that dangerous products do not reach consumers.
For shoppers, the incident is also a reminder to be cautious about unfamiliar fruits, seeds and herbal products offered online, particularly when their intended use is unclear. A product appearing on a trusted shopping platform does not by itself guarantee that it is safe to eat.
The immediate priority for Karnataka authorities is now to ensure that the Datura listings are removed, suppliers are dealt with and the affected platforms comply with food safety requirements. The case also highlights the growing responsibility of online marketplaces to strengthen checks on products that can directly affect consumer health.
The episode has turned an unusual online listing into a major food safety issue and could lead to closer scrutiny of how e commerce companies verify products sold through their platforms in the future.