India, Aug. 25 -- Karnataka Food Safety and Drugs Administration Department has suspended the food licences of Amazon, Swiggy Instamart and BigBasket until further orders after Datura fruits and seeds were found being listed and sold on their platforms as food products. The action followed complaints and an inquiry into the online sale of Datura, also known as Dhatura. During inspections, food safety officials found packets containing Datura fruits and seeds carrying food licence or registration numbers. The products were also found stored in warehouses and offered for sale or distribution through online platforms. Also Read - Will provide government jobs to one lakh youth within six months: CM Yogi Adityanath Advertisement The department said Datura is poisonous and that storing, selling or distributing the fruits and seeds as food is not permissible because of the potential risk to human health. Representatives of the companies appeared before the authorities during the proceedings. Amazon did not submit a response, while Swiggy Instamart sought additional time to provide documents detailing the action it had taken following the department's notice. BigBasket informed the authorities that it had stopped the online sale of Datura fruits. The company also said it would change the labelling of such products in the future to clearly state that they are not meant for human consumption. Also Read - Scrap existing questionnaire, formulate new one after consulting political parties, experts: Kharge, Rahul to PM on caste census However, the regulator found the explanations and responses unsatisfactory and ordered the temporary suspension of the food licences issued to the three platforms. The suspension will remain in force until further orders and can be considered for revocation after the companies submit their responses and compliance reports and a hearing is conducted. The authorities have also ordered the suspension of the licences and registrations of suppliers and sellers providing the Datura products to the platforms, with immediate effect. The companies and other concerned food business operators have been directed to immediately remove or suspend all online listings and advertisements offering Datura fruits or seeds as food or for human consumption. They have also been instructed not to sell or distribute the products as food in the future. The action has been taken under the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the Food Safety and Standards Rules, 2011. Any violation of the directions could lead to further action under the applicable food safety laws.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.