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Consumer Q's for Oct.18, 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:  Dollar General Recalls Tumblers Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.  Name of Product:  Frankenstein Tumblers; Units:  About 63,000; Importer:  Dollar General Merchandising Inc., of Goodlettsville, Tenn.  Hazard:  Surface paint on the center of the eyes of some of the cups can contain high levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.  Incidents/Injuries:  None reported.  Description:  The recall includes green, plastic, Frankenstein head-shaped tumblers.  Sold at:  Dollar General stores nationwide in September 2007 for about $1.  Manufactured in: China; Remedy:  Consumers should immediately take these tumblers away from young children and return them to the store where purchased for a refund or replacement product.  Consumer Contact:  For additional information, contact Dollar General at (800) 678-9258 between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.dollargeneral.com

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I have some pomegranates that are not quite ripe.  How can I ripen them now that they are off the tree?

Pomegranate are to be harvested before they are fully mature and stored in the refrigerator to ripen.  The fruit continues to ripen in cold storage and the flavor only improves.  They can be kept this way for up to six months. I'm interested in growing edible sprouts with my kids indoors.  Which ones are edible and how should we do it?

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There are many types of seeds to sprout and eat, so you and your child may want to experiment with different kinds to see which ones you like best.  Be sure that the seeds you purchase are specifically intended for this purpose and have not been chemically treated (with a fungicide to prevent rotting at planting time, for instance).  Here are some seeds you might want to try sprouting:  alfalfa, barley, broccoli, buckwheat, celery, dill, lentil, lettuce, pumpkin, radish, sunflower and wheat.

What is a good method for children to use to sprout seeds?

A simple method of seed sprouting that children can enjoy would be:  Sprinkle some seeds on a single layer, damp paper towel, fold the paper towel in half, wrap it in plastic so it stays moist, and set it in a warm location (70 degrees F is ideal) out of direct sunlight.  Check it every day, and when the seeds sprout (usually within about three days or so) peel them off the towel right away, rinse and eat.

For older children you might want to try this method:  To let the sprouts grow larger before you eat them, you will need to use a more elaborate procedure. You could use a commercial seed sprouting kit or simply use a wide-mouthed jar covered with nylon, plastic mesh or cheesecloth held in place with a rubber band. Special screens are also sold, usually in health food stores, to fit standard canning jars.

To begin, soak about a tablespoon of seeds in plain water overnight, then pour off the water. Rinse the seeds twice in cool water, draining out the excess through the screen. Repeat the rinsing and draining twice a day, morning and evening, to keep the seeds fresh. Older children can be relied upon to do this, but younger children may need help, especially if the jar is made of glass.

The seeds should sprout in a few days and can remain in the jar for about four more days. Rinse the sprouts daily. Some sprouts are more bitter than others, and children seem to be more sensitive to the bitterness than adults your child may prefer some of the mild-flavored sprouts, such as mung bean and alfalfa.

If you grow the sprouts in a bright location, they will be green. When grown in the dark, they are pale and may be less flavorful. Rinse the sprouts well before eating, but you don't need to separate out the hulls. You can store leftovers in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for a few days. Sprouts make great snacks for kids and can even be packed in lunch boxes!

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What do your inspectors do when they go into a food establishment?

Our inspectors are responsible for enforcing state laws, rules and regulations by conducting sanitation inspection of retail food stores, salvage food operations, mobile meat trucks and rolling stores to insure good manufacturing practices.  Various tests are performed during inspection including fat tests to check fat content in ground beef, candling shell eggs for wholesomeness and black light for signs of rodent infestation.  We also check scanners and scales to insure accuracy of pricing and weight and also the shelves of retail and wholesale stores for out-of-date food products.

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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 metro area) or 1-800-282-5852 (state wide).