Wed Apr 16 12:30:29 UTC 2025: ## Madras High Court Orders Assurance on Watermelon Safety Amidst Panic

**Chennai, April 16, 2025** – The Madras High Court intervened on Wednesday to quell concerns about the safety of watermelons sold in Tamil Nadu, ordering the Horticulture department to issue public statements assuring consumers of their quality. The order follows a writ petition filed by the president of the Chengalpattu Farmers Welfare Association, alleging that a Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) official’s claims of chemically-enhanced watermelons had created panic, severely impacting farmers’ sales.

The petitioner argued that the FSDA official’s statements, suggesting artificial dyes were being injected into the fruit, had led to a drop in demand and prices. Farmers in Chengalpattu district, who invested heavily in cultivating approximately 16,000 acres of watermelons, faced significant financial losses as a result.

The court heard that the Horticulture department, which distributed watermelon seeds to farmers, had conducted random inspections finding no evidence of chemical injections. Based on this, Justice D. Bharatha Chakravarthy directed the department to issue press releases reassuring consumers. The court also issued a notice to the FSDA official, requiring an explanation of their statements by June 9th. The judge’s order aims to protect farmers from further financial hardship and restore consumer confidence in the quality of locally grown watermelons.

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