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Consumer Q's for Nov. 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

 

People including myself will be buying a lot of fresh produce over the holidays.  How can we reduce the chances of getting salmonella from fresh produce?

The Food and Drug Administration continues to emphasize consumer advice to reduce the risk of food borne illness, including Salmonella-related illness, from fresh produce.

Buying Tips for Fresh Produce:

Purchase produce that is not bruised or damaged.

When selecting fresh cut produce - such as a half a watermelon or bagged mixed salad greens choose only those items that are refrigerated or surrounded by ice.

Bag fresh fruits and vegetables separately from meat, poultry and seafood products when packing them to take home from the market.

Storage Tips for Fresh Produce:

Certain perishable fresh fruits and vegetables (like strawberries, lettuce, herbs, and mushrooms) can be best maintained by storing in a clean refrigerator at a temperature
of 40° F or below.  If you're not sure whether an item should be refrigerated to maintain quality, ask your grocer.

All produce that is purchased pre-cut or peeled should be refrigerated within two hours to maintain both quality and safety.

Keep your refrigerator set at 40° F or below.  Use a refrigerator thermometer to check!

Separate for Safety:

Keep fruits and vegetables that will be eaten raw separate from other foods, such as raw meat, poultry or seafood - and from kitchen utensils used for those products.

In addition, be sure to:

Wash cutting boards, dishes, utensils and counter tops with hot water and soap between the preparation of raw meat, poultry and seafood products and the preparation of produce that will not be cooked.

For added protection, kitchen sanitizers can be used on cutting boards and counter tops periodically.  Try a solution of one teaspoon of chlorine bleach to one quart of water.

If you use plastic or other non-porous cutting boards, run them through the dishwasher after use.

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"DON’T GET BURNED WHEN BUYING FIREWOOD"

When used wisely, wood is an efficient source of heat.  A fire in the morning or evening can heat a large open space more quickly than a central air system.  However, all your good intentions can go up in smoke if you pay too much for your fuel.

The Georgia Department of Agriculture has regulations designed to protect consumers as well as firewood dealers.

Any type of wood sold as fuel for fireplaces or stoves must be sold or advertised by the cord, according to regulations administered by the Department’s Weights and Measures Division.

A cord is defined as 128 cubic feet (4’x4’x8’) of wood, stacked in a line or row, with individual pieces touching and stacked n a compact manner.  The cord can be four feet high, four feet wide and eight feet long, or any combination of these measurements that add up to 128 cubic feet.

Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Tommy Irvin said, “Many people sell wood by the truckload, face cord or rack, but selling by the cord makes it easier to market wood and provides an assurance of volume for both buyers and sellers.”

Smaller units of firewood sold by grocery stores and convenience outlets must be bundled as a fraction of a cord or by weight and count.  The measurements on the packaging are required to be clearly spelled out so that the customer knows the exact amount of wood being purchased.

Besides regulating volume, Department rules state that wood must be designated by type or species, within 10 percent accuracy.  For instance, a cord may be advertised as 50 percent hickory, 30 percent pine and 20 percent assorted softwoods, as long as each measurement is not off by more than 10 percent.

“More than 50 percent of Georgia homes now use wood as a secondary heating source,” Irvin said, “so it really is important to regulate firewood sales.”

 

A full cord is a large amount of wood.   It measures four feet high by four feet wide by eight feet long (4' x 4' x 8') and has a volume of 128 cubic feet.

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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 Consumer Services, 19 Martin Luther King Drive, Atlanta, Georgia 30334, or call 404/656-3645 (Metro Atlanta) or toll free  800/282-5852 (state wide).