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 Recall: Toy Boats Recalled Due to Burn Hazard.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. Name of Product: Battery Operated Toy "Speed Boats"; Units: About 200,000; Importer: Dollar General Merchandising Inc., of Goodlettsville, Tenn. Hazard: The two battery terminals can come into contact with each other, causing the battery to overheat, posing a burn hazard to consumers. Incidents/Injuries: Dollar General has received two reports of the batteries overheating. No injuries have been reported. Description: The recalled toy speed boats are lightweight plastic toy boats supported by an inflatable hull with "outboard" motors on them. The motor uses two AA batteries. The toy boat measures about 12 inches long by 8 inches wide and comes in various colors and designs. Sold at: Dollar General nationwide from March 2008 through July 2008 for $3 each. Manufactured in: China; Remedy: Consumers should take these toys 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.

Regional Reminders:

.. Plant Trees and Shrubs - October is a good time for setting out new landscape plants. The soil is warm, encouraging strong root growth, but the air temperatures have moderated, so plants are under less stress. Be sure to water plants during dry spells.

.. Plant Fall Vegetables - Set out transplants of fall crops, such as broccoli, collards, and cauliflower. These plants grow best in the cooler temperatures of fall and will withstand light frosts. Look for transplants at local garden centers.

.. Prune Dead Branches - Avoid heavy pruning on most trees and shrubs in fall, but do go ahead and remove dead branches and limbs that could pose a hazard during strong winds.

.. Sow Spinach - Sow seeds of fastmaturing greens, such as spinach, for a harvest well into fall. A simple cold frame, made from straw bales covered with old windows, will extend the season further into the winter.

.. Save Leaves - Start collecting fallen leaves for composting. Shredding the leaves will make them decompose faster, but even whole leaves will decompose to yield valuable leaf mold. Till this into your soil in spring, or use as a mulch around perennial plantings.

Q: How can I get rid of those sticker-briars that are forever invading my flower beds?

A: I am not sure what you mean by sticker briers unless they are wild blackberry or dewberry vines. They seem to be vines that grow in azaleas. These pest come up from roots. In digging them out, if you don't get all the root, they will come back again. If you can protect your good plants by covering them and concentrating the spray onto the vines, the herbicide Round-up will kill them. If you decide to try this, be sure to wait until the Round-up dries before removing the cover. The reason for this is so that the Round-up will not drip from the cover and get onto the plants you want to save. Always read and follow label instructions. Be very careful in using Round-up on the vines that come up in azaleas. Keep pulling the vines out and hope a lack of sunlight will get them. If you do this, be sure to wear gloves to protect your hands from the stickers.

Q: Is it safe to use bacon after the date on the package? My children refuse to eat food that is even one day pass this date.

A: Open dating which is a calendar date as opposed to a code, is a date stamped on the package of a product that store management use to determine how long a product can be legally sold. This date is a quality date and not a safety date. Open dating is found primarily on perishable foods such as meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products. If immediately adjacent to the date the phrase "Use-By," the date is the last date recommended for the use of the product while at peak quality.

Q: What is the safest way to thaw a frozen turkey?

A: In the refrigerator is the best way to thaw a frozen turkey, but you must plan ahead. A large frozen turkey requires at least 24 hours for every 4 to 5 pounds of weight. In other words, it will take about 4 to 5 days to thaw a 20-pound turkey. Using cold water baths is faster than refrigerator thawing, but the turkey will require more attention. It should be place in leak-proof packaging or a plastic bag and submerge in cold tap water. The water should be changed every 30 minutes. This method will thaw a 20-pound turkey in about 10 hours or 30 minutes for each pound. If a microwave is used to thaw a turkey, it must be cooked immediately because some areas of the bird may begin to cook during the thawing process. Partially cooked food will allow any bacteria present to grow because it has not reached the temperatures at which the bacteria would be destroyed.

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, Room 224, 19 Martin Luther King Drive, Atlanta 30334 or call 1-800-282-5852