Consumer Q - February 15 2007
February 15, 2007
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
Consumer Alert/Recall: ConAgra Recalls Certain Jars of Peter Pan and Great Value Peanut Butter
Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Tommy Irvin is alerting consumers to a recall Peter Pan Peanut Butter and Great Value Peanut Butter beginning with product code 2111 imprinted on the lid of both brands. ConAgra Foods announced the voluntary recall last night and is working with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to investigate a statistical report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that these products may be linked to foodborne illness caused by Salmonella.
As a precautionary measure, ConAgra has voluntarily closed its
Symptoms of foodborne illness caused by Salmonella include fever, diarrhea and abdominal cramps. In persons with poor health or weakened immune systems, Salmonella can cause life-threatening infections. Individuals who have recently eaten Peter Pan and Great Value brand peanut butter beginning with product code 2111 and have experienced any of these symptoms should contact their doctor or health care provider immediately.
If consumers have any of this Peter Pan or Great Value brand peanut butter that has been purchased since May 2006, they should discard it. For a full refund, consumers must return the product lid along with their name and mailing address to ConAgra Foods,
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What is the best way to store ground beef?
Ground beef, like other fresh meats, should be refrigerated or frozen as soon as possible after purchase. If you plan to use the ground beef within a day or two, it can be stored in the coldest part of the refrigerator or in a "meat keeper" if your refrigerator has one. Ground beef wrapped in transparent film can be refrigerated without re-wrapping. But, ground beef wrapped in butcher paper should be unwrapped and repackaged in transparent film or wax paper. If ground beef is to be stored in a freezer for two weeks or less, it may be kept in transparent film without moisture loss. For longer storage, it should be wrapped tightly in moisture-resistant material like aluminum foil, freezer paper or plastic bags. Ground beef kept frozen at 0 degrees F. can be stored for up to three months with little loss of quality. Mark your packages with the date that they were placed in the freezer so you can keep track of storage times.
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Why is prepackaged ground beef often red on the outside and dull, grayish brown in the inside?
The pigment responsible for the red color in meat is oxymyoglobin, a substance found in all warm-blooded animals. When exposed to air, this natural pigment combines with oxygen to produce the red color, which is referred to as “bloom.” The interior of the meat does not have the red color due to a lack of oxygen to cause the “bloom” to appear.
Is there really any danger in eating rare or raw ground beef?
Eating or even tasting raw ground beef is not recommended. Harmful food-poisoning bacteria could be present. For the same reason ground beef should be thoroughly cooked for safety’s sake. When grilling hamburgers, thaw the patties before cooking. Cooking frozen hamburger is not recommended since the center of the patty may remain uncooked. And be sure to handle ground beef, hamburger and all other meats carefully to minimize the risk from harmful bacteria.
How long will a whole turkey keep in my home freezer?
According to food safety experts with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a whole turkey may be kept frozen for up to one year at 0 degrees F. without significant loss of quality. It should be wrapped in heavy freezer paper to prevent freezer burn.
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Can you tell me how to remove the film from glassware? It looks this way even after washing with dishwashing liquid and rinsing thoroughly.
Try washing your glassware in a solution of ammonia and water and rinsing with plain water or, when using dishwashing liquid, add a little vinegar to the rinse water.
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Can I use the fire ant bait I bought last year again this year? I have about one-third of the container left.
Fire ant bait is best when it is fresh. However, if you tightly resealed the container and the bait has not been stored for more than two years, you should achieve satisfactory results. Try to buy only enough bait to use this year.
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If you have questions or problems with products or services regulated by the Georgia Department of Agriculture, you may write the Office of Public Affairs, Room 224, 19 Martin Luther King Drive, Atlanta 30334 or call 404/656-3645 (Atlanta area) or 1-800-282-5852 (state wide).
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