Karnataka's Food Safety and Drug Administration has ordered Amazon, Swiggy Instamart and BigBasket to immediately remove all Datura fruit and seed listings. The move, under the 2006 Food Safety and Standards Act, follows rising concerns over the plant’s lethal toxicity.

  • Immediate removal of Datura fruit and seed listings
  • Licences of Amazon, Swiggy Instamart and BigBasket suspended
  • Strict enforcement to protect public health

Regulatory Action Against Online Datura Sales

Karnataka's Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSSAI) issued an order compelling three major e‑commerce platforms—Amazon, Swiggy Instamart and BigBasket—to delete every advertisement, listing and sale of Datura fruit and seeds. The directive is grounded in the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and the accompanying 2011 regulations.

Datura, often called “thorn apple,” “jimsonweed,” or “devil’s trumpet,” is a highly poisonous flowering plant. Its fruits, seeds and leaves contain potent alkaloids that can cause severe hallucinations, respiratory failure, and even death when ingested.

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Historical Background

Cases of Datura poisoning have surfaced repeatedly across India. In 2020, during the COVID‑19 pandemic, twelve people in Andhra Pradesh fell ill after drinking a liquor made from “coronavirus‑shaped” Datura seeds, believing it would protect them from infection. In May 2026, four residents of Kakinada district were hospitalized after consuming a curry laced with Datura leaves, mistaking it for a health‑boosting ingredient.

These incidents highlighted the danger of misinformation on social media and prompted state authorities to extend their vigilance to online marketplaces.

Company Responses

When summoned on August 24, 2026, Amazon did not file a formal reply, Swiggy Instamart requested additional time to submit documentation, and BigBasket claimed it had halted Datura sales and would re‑label the product as “not for human consumption.” The department deemed these responses inadequate, citing ongoing public‑health risks.

Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that unchecked online sales of toxic botanicals like Datura can undermine public health safeguards, especially in regions where traditional remedies are shared via social media. The crackdown signals a broader regulatory shift toward stricter digital marketplace oversight in India.

"Selling poisonous plants online without clear warnings is a grave public‑health violation," says Dr. Anita Sharma, epidemiologist.
Did You Know?: The Datura seeds that caused the 2020 incident were deliberately shaped to resemble the coronavirus, fuelling a dangerous myth that they could ward off the virus.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Datura considered dangerous? The plant contains scopolamine, hyoscyamine and atropine, which are neurotoxic and can cause delirium, cardiac issues, and respiratory failure.

Will other poisonous plants face similar bans? Regulators indicate that any botanical proven to pose a significant health risk could be subject to comparable restrictions in the future.