Consumer Q's - September 14, 2006
September 14, 2006 Contact: Teresa Jenkins
(404) 656-3645
1-800-282-5852
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
Are there different types of lime? I want to use it on my lawn and for pickling cucumbers.
There are several types of agricultural lime. They may be powdered or palletized and may or may not contain magnesium. All are used to reduce soil acidity. For making pickles, use food grade “pickling lime” sold in grocery stores or from food suppliers.
**************
My neighbor has used ammonia to force cuttings from her shrubs. How do you do it?
Yes, this common practice is relatively safe. In late winter or early spring, prune some twigs or branches of favorite flowering shrubs or trees such as quince, forsythia or cherry, and put them in a bucket of warm water. Place the cut end in the water and drop in a piece of cotton that has been dipped in ammonia. Enclose the cuttings, along with the bucket in a plastic bag. The fumes from the ammonia will help force the cuttings to bloom.
**************
My sister makes a gourmet garlic flavored vinegar that is delicious. What does she have to do in order to bottle and sell this product to a local grocery store?
She needs to contact our Consumer Protection Division for assistance. The Agriculture Department must license all food handling establishments in the state, except restaurants. Consumer Protection field personnel conduct routine inspections of all processing and packaging facilities to ensure that food products offered for sale to the public are prepared under strict sanitary conditions. In addition to licensing and inspecting large commercial operations, this office can offer advice to consumers, like your sister, who are considering starting a small business to process a specialty food item.
**************
Can I sell fish and shrimp out of my pickup truck? I plan to keep the seafood in plastic coolers until it is sold.
No. Georgia law prohibits the sale of seafood, meat or any other perishable food product from a mobile unit unless it is equipped with proper refrigeration or insulation. This law was designed to prevent the sale of unsafe and unsanitary food products to the public. If you would like to start a traveling seafood business, contact our Consumer Protection Office for assistance.
**************
Can empty pesticide containers be disposed of with other household trash? The pesticides were lawn and garden chemicals.
Empty pesticide containers are hazardous waste unless you clean them properly before disposal. Rinse each empty container at least three times with water. The rinse water from each container should then be applied to the site where it was originally used. Punch holes in metal, plastic or cardboard containers, crush them, wrap them in newspaper and put them in the garbage.
***************
If you have questions or problems with products or services regulated by the Georgia Department of Agriculture write the Consumer Services office, 19 Martin Luther King Drive, Room 226, Atlanta, Georgia 30334, or call 404/656-3645 (metro Atlanta) or toll free, (800) 282-5852 (state wide).
Print this