Question: Does a blood spot mean an egg is contaminated?
Answer: No. You can’t see bacteria with the naked eye. Blood or meat spots are occasionally found on an egg yolk and are merely an error on the part of the hen. They’re caused by the rupture of a blood vessel on the yolk surface when it’s being formed or by a similar accident in the wall of the oviduct. Most eggs with blood spots are detected by electronic spotters and never reach the market. But, even with mass scanners, it’s impossible to catch them all. Both chemically and nutritionally, eggs with blood spots are fit to eat. You can remove the spot with the tip of a knife, if you wish.
Q: How should I store leftover egg whites and yolks?
A: You can refrigerate raw whites for up to four days and unbroken raw yolks, covered with water, for up to two days in a tightly sealed container. If you can’t use the yolks quickly enough, hard cook them just as you would cook whole eggs in the shell, drain them well and refrigerate them in a tightly sealed container for up to four or five days. For longer storage, freeze raw whites, sugared or salted yolks and cooked yolks for up to one year.
Q: I recently purchased bottled water that said it was filtered and ozonated. What does ozonated mean?
A: What you are describing is a method currently used to purify air and water without the use of chemicals.
When ozone is produced, it is in essence, supercharged oxygen that sterilizes water and air.
Q: Can you cook ice cream?
A: Actually, you should always make an egg-based ice cream from cooked, stirred custard. After cooking and cooling, transfer the custard to a small container, then quickly and thoroughly chill it before freezing. Custard that cools too slowly provides an ideal temperature for bacterial growth. If you are making several batches and your refrigeration facilities are not adequate for quick cooling, substitute pasteurized shell eggs or refrigerated liquid or frozen eggs for the eggs in your recipe.
Q: Are there any requirements for selling eggs from a yard flock?
A: It depends on how the eggs are featured for sale. If the eggs are distributed to retail and wholesale outlets you must comply with the Georgia Egg Law and supporting regulations, similar to other egg producers operating in the state. If the eggs are sold to consumers on your farm some regulations may not apply for example, transportation requirements. We will mail a copy of the Georgia Egg Law and supporting regulations.
Q: Are dairy farms and their cattle inspected by the state and if so on what schedule?
A: According to our state veterinarian the Georgia Department of Agriculture requires a tuberculosis test on the dairy cattle every six years and a brucellosis ring test every 90 days on milking herds. There is no inspection on animals with regards to body condition, feeding schedules, etc. Dairymen that do not take care of their animals will not be able to maintain the business.
Product recall
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Pacific Cycle Inc., of Madison, Wis., announces a voluntary recall of several models of some 7,000 children’s trailer bicycles. Consumers should stop using the trailer bicycle immediately and contact the firm for a free repair kit.
The products being recalled are: InStep "Pathfinder," Schwinn "Run About," and Mongoose "Alley Cat" Trailer Bicycles; Units: About 7,000; Manufacturer:
The coupler connecting the children’s trailer bike to the adult’s bicycle has welds that can fail, posing a fall hazard to children. Pacific Cycle has received one report of the coupler failing, resulting in a fall and abrasions to the rider.
The "Pathfinder," "Run About" and "Alley Cat" are single-wheeled, children’s bicycles that connect to an adult’s bicycle by a coupler. The recall includes model numbers: 12-PF250, 13-SC250, 13-SC350 and M5101. The model number is located on the lower seat tube of the frame. The affected couplers have welded plates; bicycles that have couplers with cast parts are not included in this recall. The models were sold at bicycle stores and retailers nationwide from January 2007 through August 2007 for between $80 and $120.
For additional information, contact Pacific Cycle toll-free at 877-564-2261 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit www.instep.net, www.schwinnbikes.com, or www.mongoose.com.
If you have questions or problems with services or products regulated by the Georgia Department of Agriculture you may write the Office of Public Affairs, 19 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Room 226, Atlanta, GA 30334 or call (800) 282-5852. This column appears Sundays.