In a major move against quick commerce apps, the Karnataka Food Safety and Drugs Administration Department suspended the food licences of Amazon, Swiggy Instamart and BigBasket for selling poisonous Datura (Dhatura) fruits and seeds on their platforms for human consumption.
Amazon did not submit a response, while Swiggy Instamart sought additional time to submit its documents regarding the action it took. BigBasket said in its response that it had stopped the online sale of the fruits.
Packets containing datura fruits and seeds were found bearing food licence/registration numbers and that the products had been stored in warehouses and offered for sale or distribution through online platforms. It has directed concerned departments to temporarily suspend, until further orders, the food licences issued to Amazon, Swiggy Instamart and BigBasket. The suspension may be reversed only after a hearing, given that the platforms submit a response.
However, the regulator said the responses and explanations were unsatisfactory, and said storing, selling or distributing the products as food was impermissible.
