Food
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The quality of an egg involves both the exterior and interior qualities of the egg. Egg quality includes the cleanliness of the shell, soundness of the shell, thickness of the albumen, and color of the yolk. Good egg quality is critical to maintaining the hatching potential of eggs, as improper handling or storage of eggs will reduce the ability of the eggs to hatch and produce good quality chicks. For table eggs, improper handling and storage of eggs will reduce the grade of the eggs and could pose a potential health hazard.
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Many third-party audits, buyers, and standard operating procedures for produce packinghouses or other food facilities require regular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) or protein swabs to verify the effectiveness of the cleaning and sanitation protocols. This video demonstrates how to collect ATP and protein swabs, how to interpret swab results, and provides advice to help determine an acceptable baseline when implementing a new swabbing program.
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B 1526
Country Cured Ham
Country cured hams are considered a delicacy and are widely accepted by Georgians. Our forefathers cured country hams during the winter months in order to have a summer supply of meat. Country hams, properly cured, develop a distinct flavor during aging. Modern methods of curing and aging country hams are somewhat different from the methods used 50 to 100 years ago. The loss of meat due to spoilage is much less when it is cured under controlled refrigeration and aged under controlled environmental conditions for uniform quality. With a continued demand for country cured hams, there are more establishments being constructed. Country cured hams and bacon are a major source of income in many rural communities in our state. Cured pork valued at many thousands of dollars is lost each year in Georgia due to improper curing and storage. Refrigeration, either by machinery or from our normal weather conditions in the fall and winter, is essential in a ham curing operation. Sometimes the latter is not dependable and may cause ham spoilage. The method of curing described in this publication can be applied to on-the-farm curing for family use or for commercial ham operations. It is not difficult to cure pork if a few basic principles in curing, salt equalization, and aging are closely observed.
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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) defines a recall as actions taken by a firm to remove a product from the market. A well-designed recall plan will help to effectively locate the recalled product, remove it from the market, and locate the source of error in the product. It serves a guide for the company to follow if a situation requiring a recall presents itself. Recalls can be conducted on a firm’s own initiative, by FDA request, or by FDA order under statutory authority. If a situation requiring a recall does present itself, it is in the company’s best interest to recall a product before an outbreak occurs.
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Companies and individuals who process and sell food must provide a Nutrition Facts label (NFL) on their food products. However, the technical aspects of creating an NFL and meeting federal and state regulatory requirements have always challenged small and very small processors. The FDA mandates that most packaged food products bear an NFL to inform consumers of the nutritional value of the product. The FDA website provides comprehensive detail on federal regulations, but the wealth of regulatory information appears complex and overwhelming to owners of small and very small companies.
This bulletin provides a simplified guide to understanding NFL components, formatting, regulatory exemptions to labeling requirements, and answers to general questions on creating a complete and accurate NFL. The topics covered are based on questions frequently received by UGA Extension Food Science on creating NFLs for small and very small food processing companies.
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B 1438
Is Your Label Gluten Free?
With the increased demand for “gluten-free” products in the market place, food processors and manufacturers have started to develop more and more better-tasting and nutritious food products that are also gluten-free. However, the federal food labeling regulations for gluten-free products can be very confusing for small food processors and new food product entrepreneurs.
The purpose of this bulletin is to assist small food processors and food entrepreneurs in their understanding of the FDA labeling requirements for putting “gluten-free” on the label of packaged food products. The authors do not claim interpretation or replacement of any other federal or state regulations about labeling requirements.
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This bulletin is written to provide some of the basic information required to make various types of sausage. It is for those who enjoy good homemade sausage and who wish to obtain the greatest satisfaction from the trimmings and variety meats generated from farm slaughtered livestock or the results of a good hunt.
The recipes listed in this publication collected from various sources and have been prepared and tested. They are suitable for beginners and experts alike. Also included is information on the history of sausage making, sausage types and ingredients, sausage making equipment and procedures, and food safety concerns and procedures.
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B 989
So Easy To Preserve
The 6th edition of this popular book is available for purchase only. The 388-page book covers topics on Preserving Food, Canning, Pickled Products, Sweet Spreads and Syrups, Freezing and Drying. There are 10 new products and two revised product recommendations in this edition. It’s suitable for both new and veteran food preservers.
Information on how to purchase this for-sale publication is available at: http://setp.uga.edu
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C 717
Winemaking at Home
This publication provides essential material and detailed instructions for successfully making wine at home. The information is designed for beginners who do not know where to begin and for experienced amateurs who run into difficulties.
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