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: Composite Decks Recalled by Louisiana-Pacific; Decks Can Deteriorate and Break, Posing 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: Composite Decks; Units: About 48 million linear feet (decks vary in size); Manufacturer: Louisiana-Pacific (LP) Corp., of Nashville, Tenn. Hazard: The recalled decking can prematurely deteriorate and unexpectedly break. Consumers can fall through broken decking and suffer serious injuries. Incidents/Injuries: LP has received 37 reports of composite decks breaking, resulting in 14 injuries, including a broken wrist, sprained ankle, minor lacerations and bruises. Description: The recall includes outdoor deck board and railings sold under the brand names LP WeatherBest(r), ABTCo., and Veranda(r). They are composite products that look similar to natural wood and were sold in various colors including Tuscan Walnut/Chestnut, Driftwood Grey/Greystone, Pacific Cedar and Western Redwood. Veranda decking products were manufactured by multiple firms; only products manufactured by LP are included in this recall. Sold at: The Home Depot (Veranda(r) brand) and building product dealers (LP WeatherBest(r) and ABTCo. brands) nationwide from January 2005 to August 2008 for between $1.50 and $2.25 per linear foot. Manufactured in: United States; Remedy: Consumers with the recalled decking should immediately contact LP for a free inspection. If the decking is affected by premature deterioration, LP will arrange for a free replacement. Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact LP toll-free at (888) 325-1184 between 6 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's Web site at www.deckingnotice.com.

Q: How do you prepare to cook your food outside?

A: There are basically two kinds of grills; the gas or electric grill and the charcoal grill. The gas or electric grill takes little preparation. Follow manufacturer's directions for igniting or preheating a gas or electric outdoor cooker. The charcoal grill takes longer to prepare for cooking than the gas or electric grill. There are two types of cooking on the grill; the direct heat method and the indirect-heat method. The direct-heat method implies you are cooking food over the top of the coals. Remove grill lid and cooking rack. Open all vents. Mound 40 to 50 charcoal briquettes in center of bottom rack. Use only APPROVED FIRE STARTERS—never use gasoline, for example. Burn briquettes until they are ashy gray. This takes about 20-30 minutes. Spread the coals evenly over the bottom rack. Position the CLEAN cooking rack on the grill. If the cooking rack has food and grease build-up, use a grill brush to clean the surface. The indirect-heat method implies that food is not cooked directly over the coals. Heat charcoals using directions given for direct-heat method except place the mound of charcoals to one side of the grill. Place a drip pan directly under where the food will cook. When coals are hot, arrange coals to one side of drip pan or for a hotter fire, place coals around the drip pan. USE PRECAUTIONS WHENEVER USING FIRE TO COOK - Place the grill in well-lit, well ventilated areas away from trees, shrubs and buildings. Keep children and pets away from the fire. Have a squirt bottle of water nearby to control flare-ups.

Q: Do frozen steaks and roasts need to be thawed before grilling?

A: Frozen roasts and steaks can be grilling but the meat will be somewhat drier. For best results, thaw roasts and steaks before cooking. Always thaw meat under refrigeration, never at room temperature. To reduce the loss of moisture when grilling, turn steaks and chops with tongs rather than using a fork and never press hamburger patties on the grill while cooking. Basting meat cuts during cooking greatly reduces the amount of surface moisture lost and allows you to add a flavoring spice to the meat. Use salt sparingly during cooking, because salt draws the moisture out of the meat. Basting also improves the color and yield of grilled meat.

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 steaks need to cook to only 145 degrees F because they have been cooked during processing.

Before barbecuing a whole pig should the skin be removed first? When cooking whole hogs, pigs or pork sides, it is recommended that the skin and fat be left intact. This will reduce shrink and increase heat penetration during cooking. The fat and skin can easily be removed before the meat is served. The skin can also be served as a side dish.

Q: Can you give me examples of food safety precautions that should be taken when preparing foods to cook on the grill?

.. Wash hands before and after preparing foods.

.. Thaw foods in the refrigerator or in the microwave oven. Note: If the microwave is used for thawing, the meat must be cooked immediately after thawing.

.. Do not place cooked food on plates that were used to prepare or carry raw meats.

.. Marinate meat in the refrigerator, NOT at room temperature.

If you have questions, or problems with services or products regulated by the Georgia Department of Agriculture you may write Consumer Services, 19 Martin Luther King Drive, Room 224, Atlanta, Georgia 30334 or contact us toll-free, 1-800-282- 5852 (statewide).