Karnataka News: Karnataka’s food safety regulator has suspended the licences of three major e-commerce platforms after uncovering online listings that offered a toxic plant traditionally used in religious rituals as if it were safe for consumption.
What the Investigation Found
The Karnataka Food Safety and Drugs Administration Department’s probe found dhatura fruits and seeds being sold or displayed as food across various e-commerce platforms. In some warehouses, packets even carried FSSAI licence or registration numbers, despite dhatura being a poisonous plant that poses serious health risks if consumed. The regulator said storing, selling, or distributing the plant as food was simply impermissible under food safety norms.
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Licences Suspended Across the Board
The department has suspended the food licences of Amazon, Instamart, and BigBasket with immediate effect. The action didn’t stop at the platforms alone: licences and registrations of the suppliers and sellers who provided dhatura products to these companies have also been ordered suspended. All three platforms have been directed to immediately remove or suspend every online listing and advertisement offering dhatura fruits or seeds for human consumption.
Why Dhatura Was Being Sold At All
Dhatura holds ritual significance during the Sawan month, when it is traditionally offered to Lord Shiva rather than eaten, given its well-documented toxicity. The confusion or misuse appears to have opened a loophole where the plant found its way onto online grocery and quick-commerce listings meant for food purchases, prompting the regulatory crackdown.
What Happens Next
Karnataka News: By targeting the entire supply chain, from individual sellers and suppliers to the platforms hosting their listings, the Karnataka government’s order effectively shuts down every point at which dhatura could reach an unsuspecting buyer online. Whether the suspended licences are reinstated will likely depend on how quickly the companies demonstrate compliance and remove the flagged listings.
