Karnataka suspends food licenses of e-commerce apps for selling Datura fruits

BENGALURU: The Karnataka Food Safety and Drugs Administration Department has suspended the food licenses of Amazon, Big Basket, and Swiggy Instamart for listing and selling poisonous Datura (Dhatura) fruits and seeds on their platforms for human consumption.

The action comes after the department initiated an inquiry into the online sale of Datura products, following concerns over their availability to consumers through quick-commerce and e-commerce platforms. The reported sale, including instances where Datura fruits were allegedly distributed as freebies, has raised concerns over the possibility of unsuspecting consumers mistaking the poisonous plant material for edible fruit.