Consumers get answers from department of agriculture

Prepared by the Georgia Department of Agriculture, Office of Public Affairs Tommy Irvin, Commissioner. Call Consumer Q's hotline at 1-800282-5852.

Consumer Recall: Husqvarna Outdoor Products, Inc. recalls lawn tractors for fire hazard. 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: Lawn Tractors; Units: About 174,000; Manufacturer: Husqvarna Outdoor Products, Inc. of Augusta, Ga., formerly known as Electrolux Outdoor Products, Inc.; Hazard: The fuel line on these lawn tractors can separate from the fuel tank outlet. If this occurs, fuel will spill out, posing a fire hazard; Incidents/Injuries: Husqvarna Outdoor Products, Inc. received 886 reports of fuel lines that separated from the fuel tank outlet and 16 reports of fires related to this issue. There are three reports of minor personal injury; Description: The lawn tractors were sold under the Husqvarna, Craftsman, Poulan Pro, Poulan, Weed Eater, Southern States and Murray brand names. To determine if a tractor is included in the recall, check the lawn tractors' product, model and serial numbers located on a label under the seat of the tractor; Sold at: Home centers, retailers, hardware stores and dealers nationwide from September 2005 through June 2006 for between $820 and $1,500; Manufactured in: Orangeburg, S.C.; Remedy: Consumers should stop using the tractor and contact the applicable firm; Consumer contact: For more information call Husqvarna Outdoor Products, Inc., toll-free at 866-284-8872 or visit their website at www.husqvarna.com. Consumers with Craftsman brand tractors should call 800-659-5917. Consumers with Poulan Pro, Poulan, Weed Eater, Southern States or Murray brand tractors should call tollfree at 866-284-8872.

Q: During the summer my sons live on hot dogs. Are there any food safety guidelines I should follow for hot dogs?

A: Although hot dogs are fully cooked, they should be steamy hot throughout when heated. When you leave your local grocery store with hot dogs, you should head straight home and refrigerate or freeze them immediately. If there is a date on the package, follow that guideline for use. Generally, hot dogs can be safely stored in the unopened package for two weeks in the refrigerator; once opened, only one week. For maximum quality, freeze hot dogs no longer than one to two months. And, of course, caution your sons never to leave hot dogs at room temperature for more than two hours, or in the hot summer months when the temperature goes to 90 degrees F or above, no more than one hour.

Q: How should ground poultry be cooked, stored and handled?

A: Ground poultry may be substituted for ground beef or combined with ground beef in many recipes. Ground poultry patties, loaves or any combination should always be cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. Leftovers should be refrigerated immediately and reheated to 165 degrees F. Always wash hands, utensils, counters, cutting boards and sinks with soap and hot water to prevent cross-contamination of cooked food with raw products.

Q: How can I make sure that the meat I cook on the grill is done?

A: The only sure way to determine when meat is done is to use a meat thermometer. To check the temperature, insert the tip of the thermometer into the center of the thickest part of the cut without touching a fat pocket or bone. Whole poultry should be cooked to an internal temperature of 180 degrees F. The temperature should be checked in the thickest part of the thigh. For poultry parts, the thickest part of the meat should reach 180 degrees F for dark meat and 170 degrees F for white meat. Whole pork cuts such as hams, shoulders, and butts should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. Cured pork chops or ham steak need to be cooked at only 145 degrees F because they have been cooked during pro