# Karnataka intensifies food safety enforcement and e-commerce > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/bengaluru-food-safety-enforcement-drives > Updated: 2026-08-24T01:41:28.000Z. Sources: 56. Developments: 6. Food safety and drug administration officials in Karnataka have intensified enforcement drives targeting luxury hotels, logistics hubs, and e-commerce platforms to ensure compliance with the Food Safety and Standards Act. A recent statewide crackdown was triggered by a customer complaint regarding a KFC outlet in Mangaluru, where an online order of chicken was allegedly stale and foul-smelling. Following a raid, officials found unhygienic conditions and stale meat, leading to the sealing of the outlet’s godown. While KFC denied the allegations, stating the information “doesn't depict the true facts,” authorities have since expanded inspections to thousands of establishments, including schools, hostels, and bus stand stalls. In Bengaluru and Mysuru, raids on luxury hotels and eateries resulted in the seizure of hundreds of kilograms of expired or rotten meat, fish, and vegetables. Enforcement has also targeted the digital marketplace. The Karnataka Food Safety and Drug Administration suspended the food licenses of Amazon, Swiggy Instamart, and BigBasket after discovering they were listing toxic Datura fruits and seeds for human consumption. Some listings even carried FSSAI registration numbers. During regulatory hearings, Amazon failed to provide a formal response, Swiggy Instamart requested more time, and BigBasket stated it had halted sales and intended to use “not for human consumption” labels. Regulators deemed these responses unsatisfactory due to the severe health risks, such as intoxication or death, posed by Datura. Consequently, authorities ordered the immediate suspension of licenses for the supplying vendors and the removal of all Datura-related advertisements. In response to these issues, Health Minister U. T. Khader announced an initiative to introduce QR codes outside hotels and pharmacies to allow the public to file direct complaints. ## Claims - The Karnataka Food Safety and Drugs Administration suspended the food licences of Amazon, Swiggy Instamart, and BigBasket. (corroborated by 18 sources) - The suspension follows the discovery of poisonous Datura fruits and seeds being listed and sold as food products on these platforms. (corroborated by 18 sources) - Some Datura product packets were found to be carrying FSSAI licence or registration numbers. (corroborated by 14 sources) - The regulator also suspended the food licences and registrations of the suppliers and vendors providing Datura products to the platforms. (corroborated by 13 sources) - Amazon did not submit a formal response to the department's notice during the hearing. (corroborated by 9 sources) - Swiggy Instamart requested more time to present documentation regarding the actions taken following the notice. (corroborated by 9 sources) - BigBasket stated it had stopped selling Datura products and would implement 'not for human consumption' labeling in the future. (corroborated by 9 sources) - Food safety officials conducted a surprise raid at a KFC outlet in Mangaluru. (corroborated by 5 sources) - The KFC outlet in Mangaluru was sealed and food samples were sent to a laboratory in Mysore for analysis. (corroborated by 4 sources) - The Food Safety and Drug Administration Department conducted inspection drives in Bengaluru to check food quality and safety. (corroborated by 3 sources) - A Zepto warehouse in Hoskote, Bengaluru Rural District, was sealed due to unhygienic conditions and FSSAI violations. (corroborated by 2 sources) - Authorities seized 9kg of expired chicken from Rio Meridian Hotel and 68kg of meat from Grand Mercure Hotel in Mysuru. (corroborated by 2 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-08-24: Karnataka FDA suspends food licences for Amazon, Swiggy, and BigBasket Karnataka's FDA has suspended food licences for Amazon, Swiggy Instamart, and BigBasket after finding poisonous Datura fruits and seeds being sold as food products on their platforms. 37 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/karnataka-suspends-food-licenses-for-amazon-swiggy-instamart-and-bigbasket ### 2026-08-18: Karnataka launches food safety crackdown and QR code complaint system Karnataka has launched a QR code-based complaint system and intensified food safety inspections, seizing over 1,000 kg of unsafe food from hotels and restaurants across the state. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/karnataka-launches-qr-code-system-for-food-and-drug-safety-complaints ### 2026-08-15: Karnataka food safety officials launch statewide crackdown following KFC raid Karnataka food safety officials have launched a massive statewide crackdown following a complaint against a KFC outlet in Mangaluru, leading to numerous raids, seizures, and new digital complaint systems. 10 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/kfc-outlet-in-mangaluru-sealed-following-food-contamination-complaint ### 2026-08-12: Bengaluru food safety officials seal Zepto warehouse and multiple outlets Food safety officials in Bengaluru have sealed a Zepto warehouse and an Indira Canteen kitchen following inspections that revealed unhygienic conditions, pests, and regulatory violations. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bengaluru-food-safety-officials-seal-zepto-warehouse-and-multiple-outlets ### 2026-08-10: Karnataka food safety authorities conduct widespread raids and issue strict hygiene advisories Karnataka authorities have intensified food safety inspections, sealing a Zepto warehouse and seizing expired food from luxury hotels. Meanwhile, India launched a new mobile food testing lab scheme. 12 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bengaluru-food-safety-officials-seize-132-kg-of-spoiled-food ### 2026-08-07: Bengaluru luxury hotels raided over food safety violations Food safety officials in Bengaluru raided 26 luxury hotels, seizing large quantities of expired meat, milk, and vegetables while uncovering unhygienic storage and labeling violations. 16 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/karnataka-raids-bengaluru-hotels-seizes-expired-meat-and-unsafe-food --- Cite as: Karnataka intensifies food safety enforcement and e-commerce. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/bengaluru-food-safety-enforcement-drives