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: Regent Sports Recalls Soccer Goal Nets Following Strangulation Death of a Child 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 Products: MacGregor Folding Soccer Goals, Mitre Folding Soccer Goals; Units: About 190,000 units; Distributor: Regent Sports Corporation, of Hauppauge, N.Y.; Hazard: The fixed knot flexible openings in the soccer goal net can pose a head and neck entrapment or strangulation hazard to young children. Incidents/ Injuries: Regent Sports and CPSC have received two reports of head entanglement, including the strangulation death of a 20-monthold child who was found with his arm and neck tangled in the soccer goal net. Description: Both soccer goals have a foldable white frame with a white net that is attached by Velcro strips. When upright, the MacGregor goal measures 6 feet wide by 3 feet high and the Mitre net measures 8 feet wide by 6 feet high. Each has a recalled net with squares measuring 5 inches on each side. The MacGregor soccer goal has model number 97236 printed on the assembly instructions and UPC code number 029807972365 printed on the net's packaging. The Mitre soccer goal has model number 89186 printed on the assembly instructions and UPC code number 029807891864 printed on the net's packaging. Nets manufactured after April 2007 with 4 inch by 4 inch square openings are not included in the recall. Sold at: Wal-Mart, Ace Hardware and sports and toy stores nationwide from May 2002 through May 2008 for $26. Manufactured in: China; Remedy: Consumers should stop using the recalled soccer goal nets immediately and return them to Regent Sports to receive a free replacement net. Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Regent Sports at (877) 516-9707 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.

Q: Where is cotton grown in the U.S.?

A: Ninety-eight percent of the cotton is grown in 14 states: Georgia, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. The remaining 2 percent is grown in Kansas, Florida and Virginia.

Q: What is produced from a bale of cotton?

A: One bale of cotton can make 1,217 men's T-shirts or 313,600 $100 bills. For a list of other items contact our office by mail.

Q: How many acres of cotton are harvested each year in the U.S.?

A: According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, cotton production report for In 2006/2007, an estimated 21.6 million bales were produced.

Q: What is a boll weevil?

The boll weevil is the primary insect enemy of cotton. An adult is ¼ to ½ inch long, appearing tan to dark brown or gray, has a hard humpbackshaped shell and the characteristic curved snout accounting for about ¼ of its length. This pest has plagued U.S. cotton producers since 1892. It can complete an entire lifecycle in three weeks, lay 200 eggs per femaleeach in a separate cotton square or boll, ensuring the destruction of each boll-and spread rapidly, covering 40 to 160 miles per year. The boll weevil has been eradicated in Georgia thanks to our boll weevil eradication program.

Q: We have enjoyed growing shitake mushrooms for several years and sharing them with our friends. Do you have any information about selling mushrooms?

A: Our office of consumer protection advises that unless you begin to sell to other than family and friends a license will not be required. However, should you desire to set up a roadside stand or sell to a retail outlet, licensing will become a requirement. You would need to contact the Georgia Department of Agriculture for basic regulatory requirements.

Q: What is food borne illness?

A: Food born illness is acquired by eating contaminated foods. Food borne illness often presents itself as flu-like symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or fever, so many people may not recognize the illness is caused by bacteria or other pathogens in food. Thousands of types of bacteria are naturally present in our environment. Not all bacteria cause disease in humans. For example, some bacteria are used beneficially in making cheese and yogurt. Bacteria that cause disease are called pathogens. When certain pathogens enter the food supply, they can cause food borne illness. Millions of cases of food borne illness occur each year. Most cases of food borne illness can be prevented. Proper cooking or processing of food destroys bacteria.

Q: What is the difference between distilled and purified water?

A: "Purified Water" means bottled water produced by distillation, deionization, reverse osmosis, or other suitable process and that meets the definition of purified water in the most recent edition of the United States Pharmacopoeia. Water which meets the definition of purified water and is vaporized, then condensed, may be labeled "distilled water". "Distilled Water" means bottled water which has been produced by a process of distillation and meets the definition of purified water in the most recent edition of the United States Pharmacopoeia. To view definitions of water please contact our office of consumer services (Metro Atlanta) 404/656- 3645 or 1-800-282-5852 for a printed copy.

If you have questions or problems with products or services regulated by the Georgia Department of Agriculture, you may contact the Office of Consumer Services, 19 Martin Luther King Drive, Atlanta, Georgia 30334 or call 1-800-282-5852.