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Consumer Q's for 05/01/08

Contact:  Teresa Jenkins
(404) 656-3645
1-800-2282-5852

CONSUMER Q’s
Prepared by the Georgia Department of Agriculture, Office of Public Affairs
Tommy Irvin, Commissioner
Call Consumer Q’s Hotline at 1-800-282-5852

 

Consumer Alert/Recall:  Waxcessories® Recalls Electric Simmer Pots Due to Risk of Fire and Shock

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product.   Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.   Name of Product: Electric Simmer Pots; Units:   About 830,000; Importer:   Waxcessories® Inc., of Dracut, Mass.  Hazard:   The simmer pots have wire connections that can become loose, posing a risk of fire and electric shock to consumers.  Incidents/Injuries:   There have been 161 reports of discolored cords, loose wires, and wires separating from the pot.   No injuries have been reported.  Description:   The electric simmer pots were sold in a variety of styles and were designed to melt scented wax in a ceramic cup.   The cup sits on a ceramic base that contains a 40-watt bulb, socket and electric cord.   The recall includes all designs of the electric simmer pots and all item numbers.   The words “ELECTRIC SIMMER POT” and the design name are printed on the bar code label, which is located on the bottom of the base.   For a complete list of individual item numbers and photos, visit the firm’s recall Web site at www.simmerpotrecall.com.  Sold at:   Gift and novelty shops nationwide from April 2002 through April 2008 for between $17 and $25.  Manufactured in:   China; Remedy:   Consumers should stop using the simmer pots immediately and contact Waxcessories for instructions on receiving a free replacement product.  Consumer Contact:   For further information, call (800) 899-5884 between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the recall Web site at www.simmerpotrecall.com

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What are sprouts?   My husband likes to use them on his salads.

Sprouts are the germinating form of seeds and beans.   They require no soil, only water and cool temperatures.   They emerge in two to seven days, depending on the type of seed or bean.   In addition to raw alfalfa sprouts, other varieties include clover, sunflower, broccoli, mustard, radish, garlic, dill, and pumpkin, as well as various beans, such as mung, kidney, pinto, navy and soy, and wheat berries.   Many are sold individually, some in mixtures.

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I have seen bottled water marked for use in preparing infant formula.   What does this mean?

Some water companies wish to make available bottled waters which are marketed for infants and for use in mixing with infant formula.   When manufacturers label their water as intended for infants, the water must meet the same standards established for tap water by the Environmental Protection Agency.   The label must also indicate that the bottled water is not sterile.   As with tap water, consumers should boil bottled water one minute before mixing with infant formula.   Water that is sterilized by the manufacturer and intended for

use with infants must meet certain strict FDA standards.   Most manufacturers of infant formula provide directions for mixing their products with water and usually do not specify the source of water other than to indicate that the water should be safe to drink.   In most situations, it is safe to mix formula using ordinary cold tap water that is brought to a boil and boiled for one minute or as directed on the label of the infant formula.

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I received a gift of a smoked pheasant from a mail order company.   It was packed in a box with no dry ice or frozen gel packs.   It wasn't cold even though the label said "keep refrigerated."  Is it safe to eat?

Poultry and hams are smoked for flavor, not preservation.   If a product is labeled "keep refrigerated," that's a warning that it must be kept cold to be safe.   The only exceptions are country hams and dry sausages which are safe at room temperature.   Bacteria doesn’t grow in them because of the high salt content and dryness.   You should request a refund from the mail-order company.   It is the shipper's responsibility to deliver the product on time, properly packaged and handled safely; the customer's responsibility is to have someone at home to receive it and refrigerate it immediately.

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What should I do to insure that my dried jerky is safe to eat?

Before drying, the meat should first be heated to 160 degrees F to destroy all bacteria present.  During the drying process dehydrators or low temperature ovens will evaporate the moisture first which absorbs most of the heat.  The meat itself does not begin to rise in temperature until most of the moisture has evaporated.  At this stage, the bacteria have become much more heat resistant and are more likely to survive.  If these surviving bacteria are pathogenic, they can cause food borne illness to those consuming the jerky.

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Can I collect some live snails in Spain this summer and bring them back home with me?   I’m a kindergarten teacher and I will be using them in my classroom this fall.

No live snails may be brought into the United States without a permit from U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal, and Plant Health Inspection Service.   In 1966, a small boy brought two giant African snails into Florida from Hawaii.  He eventually discarded them, and shortly thereafter these voracious consumers of foliage and fruit were infesting a 16-block area near his home.  It took years and half a million dollars to eradicate them.  To obtain a list of banned or prohibited foods, plants, animals, birds or insects contact your local APHIS office.

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If you have questions, or problems with services or products regulated by the Georgia Department of Agriculture you may write Consumer Services, 19 Martin Luther King Drive, Room 224, Atlanta, Georgia 30334 or contact us at 404.656.3645 (Atlanta) or toll-free, 1-800.282.5852 (statewide).