Horticulture Department discards watermelon adulteration rumour

Tiruppur: Horticulture Department and Plantation Crops in Tiruppur district have assured the common people that the watermelons that are being grown in the area are fully safe, and they are free from any kind of adulteration.  Therefore, people can eat them without any fear. Earlier, rumours were spread that chemicals were used to increase the taste and colour of fruits. Now, the department has removed the misconception.

According to the department, watermelon is cultivated over 534 acres in the Madathukulam, Udumalpet, and Kundadam blocks of Tiruppur district. Each acre produces around 8 to 10 tonnes of fruit, making the total production nearly 4,800 tonnes. To address public concerns, the Horticulture Department, in coordination with the Food Safety Department, collected watermelon samples from the fields and conducted detailed tests.

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The tests made it clear that no chemicals were used in watermelons. The department further added that rumours circulating on social media or other platforms were baseless, discarding them as null and void. Therefore, an awareness campaign has been started to tell the people that the information was totally wrong.

Horticulture officials asked consumers that the verification was done minutely in the presence of senior officials; they were encouraged to buy watermelons and consume them freely. The department further added that it will keep an eye on the fruits and check them on a regular basis to maintain food safety standards and protect public health as well.