Karnataka Suspends Food Licences Of E-Commerce Platforms Over Datura Listings
The Karnataka Food Safety and Drugs Administration Department has banned the food licence of three popular ecommerce platforms, Amazon, BigBasket and Swiggy Instamart, for their alleged sale of poisonous Datura (or Dhatura) fruits and seeds for human consumption.
The action follows a departmental investigation into an online and quick commerce report of Datura products becoming available. Authorities have also raised concerns about reports that Datura fruits were given away as ‘freebies’ which could create the risk of unsuspecting people confusing the Datura plant material with edible fruit.
Experts are warning against the use of Datura
Toxic experts have emphasized that Datura is very poisonous and not suitable for eating. Dr MJ Prabhu, director of the Karnataka State Medicinal Plants Authority, stated that although the plant is called Kanaka in Sanskrit, it has some medicinal properties but is not meant for sale and consumption as the fruit.
Datura has toxic constituents such as Atropine. Capsules may lead to severe poisoning when taken in large amounts, such as loss of consciousness and psychosis.
Dr Prabhu says some Ayurvedic medicines use Datura to treat such diseases as severe asthma, bronchitis, but only after proper processing and in controlled dosage under expert supervision. He said that products sold for religious use should have a clear statement that they are not edible.
Plant Can Be Mistaken For Edible Fruit
The mature plants of Datura are green and have sharp spines, said Dr GR Smitha, principal scientist at the ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research in Bengaluru. It may cause confusion to non-botanists if not recognized as the plant it is.
Datura is rich in tropane alkaloids including atropine, scopolamine and hyoscyamine. Some of these compounds are used medicinally, but excessive exposure can result in symptoms such as dry mouth, hallucination, confusion and seizures.
Consumption of Datura fruits or seeds can have an impact on the brain, heart and nervous system, said Dr Aravinda SN, Lead Consultant, Internal Medicine, Aster RV Hospital, Bengaluru.
Initial signs of poisoning can be dry mouth, excessive thirst, dilated pupils, blurred vision, flushing and rapid heart rate.
The suspension of the food licences is related to the fact that Datura is found on the market without any restrictions and the concern of the possibility of its use in food by people who have no knowledge about the toxicity of the plant.