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: Hammock Stands Recalled by the Algoma Net Co. Due to Fall 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: Hammock Stands; Units: About 3,000; Importer; The Algoma Net Co., of Algoma, Wis.; Manufacturer: Danlong Industries Ltd., of China; Hazard: The foot brackets on the hammock frame can crack or tear, causing a consumer to fall to the ground. Incidents/Injuries: Algoma has received 28 reports of foot brackets cracking or tearing, including eight reports of users falling to the ground. One consumer reported lower back pain and nerve damage, and one consumer reported cutting her lip. Description: The recall includes Algoma hammock stands model numbers 6250, 6250BH, and 6290W88B. They were sold with a cotton rope hammock with wood spreader bars and attached chains. The frame is made of steel and has five separate tubular pieces, including two foot brackets. The model number is located at the top of the instruction sheet that was provided with the hammock stand. Sold at: Kohl's, D.S.I./ Supervalu, Fingerhut, Mills Fleet Farm, Shopko Stores, Inc. and Target.com from December 2006 through May 2007 for between $100 and $150. Manufactured in: China; Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the hammock stands and contact Algoma for instructions on returning the foot brackets for a free replacement. The recalled units should not be returned to the retailer. For additional information, contact Algoma at (800) 800-7083 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's Web site at www.algomanet.com.

Q: My mother insists on cutting the moldy parts off of bread and other foods and feeding them to my preschooler. Is this safe to do?

A: No, it isn't safe to cut off the moldy parts of bread and feed the rest to young children. Mold on foods is similar to spoiled or curdled milk, it's often a sign that a food is past its expiration date and should be thrown away. Simply cutting away the mold is not enough for most foods. According to the USDA, molds are not only found on the surface of foods. So while you cut away the visible mold, "when a food shows heavy mold growth, 'root' threads have invaded it deeply." Although it is good to not waste food, it is far better to plan ahead and buy less if you find your food often getting moldy.

Moldy Cheese: Surprisingly, mold is actually used to make some foods. Many popular cheeses, including Brie, Requefort, blue, Gorgonzola, Camembert, and Stilton, are made using mold and are safe to eat. Food safety experts consider cheese safe to eat as long as it was made with pasteurized milk, which is from molds that are not part of the manufacturing process, then that is different though. In the case of hard cheeses, you can often trim off the mold, and at least 1 inch around the mold spot, and still eat the cheese. Soft cheeses should be discarded like most other foods.

Q: How should ground beef 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 was hands, utensils, counters, cutting boards, and sinks with soap and hot water to prevent cross-contamination of cooked food with raw products.

If you have any questions or problems with products or services regulated by the Georgia Department of Agriculture, you may write the office of Public Affairs, Room 224 Martin Luther King Drive, Atlanta 30334 or 1-800-282-5852.

MILKY SPORE Using milky spore disease (Bacillus popilliae) for Japanese beetle control is most effective in neighborhoods where most residents use it, say experts with the University of Georgia Extension Service. Otherwise, Japanese beetle larvae hatching in other yards will reinfest your property.