Hotlines

By Hklbrries

Food Hotlines (Compiled JULY 1998)

Help Is Only a FREE Call Away!

When the instructions say to baste your turkey, do you reach for a needle and thread?

Are you on a special diet and need to know more about a specific product?

Do you need information on safely handling perishable foods?

Do you want to know more about using a particular food in a recipe?

If so, you can call the toll-free numbers listed here for professional help. You'll get the assistance you need, and your call will help the company or organization track what consumers are thinking and what they need to know about food products.

Here are some tips for using toll-free numbers:

To learn if there is a hotline for an organization or company, call directory assistance at 1-800-555-1212.

New food hotlines are continually being added. Also, some numbers change or are dropped. Check product labels for further hotline information if some of these numbers are discontinued. Or call directory assistance at 1-800-555-1212.

Many hotlines are very popular. Grab a favorite book or magazine in case you have to wait before your call goes through.

Some hotlines ask callers with touch tone phones to push various numbers to reach the area of needed assistance. It may help to have a paper and pencil handy. Or, many times, you can wait for a live operator even if you have a touch tone phone.

"Store brands" usually don't carry hotline numbers. Check with the place of purchase if you have a question about these products.

Many food companies will provide recipes for their products. Check with them if you are looking for recipe information.

The hotline numbers in this publication are arranged according to these categories:

Part 1: Food Companies/Food-Related Associations & Organizations

Dairy Foods
Fruits & Vegetables
Grain Products
Meat, Poultry, Fish, Eggs & Legumes
Miscellaneous

Part 2: Food Preservation

Part 3: General Food, Nutrition, Food Safety and Health Information

Part 4: Appliances, Equipment and Cookware

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Part 1: Dairy Foods

Borden's
1-800-426-7336

Dannon Yogurt
1-800-321-2174

Kraft, Inc. (cheeses, macaroni and cheese dinners)
1-800-323-0768

Lactaid, Inc. (source of tablet, "Lactaid" for lactose intolerance - sample available)
1-800-522-8243

Land O' Lakes, Inc. (butter, sour cream, etc.)
1-800-328-4155

Land O'Lakes Holiday Bakeline, 800-782-9606 (Seasonal)
www.landolakes.com

Pet Inc. (Pillsbury) (evaporated/dried milk and other products)
1-800-325-7130

Dairy Council of Central States
1-800-279-2643

Part 1: Fruits & Vegetables

DelMonte Consumer Affairs
1-800-543-3090
Dole (fruit and fruit products)
1-800-232-8800

Freida's Finest Produce (answers questions about calories, storage and cooking of exotic produce)
1-800-421-9477

Green Giant (Pillsbury Company)
1-800-767-4466

Kraft General Foods
1-800-431-1001 (general information)

Minute Maid Juices (Coca Cola Foods)
1-800-438-2653

Mott's (juices & applesauce)
1-800-426-4891

Sunkist (citrus fruits)
1-800-248-7875

Part 1: Grain Products

Duncan Hines (cakes, frosting, other mixes)
1-800-346-6478

General Mills, Inc.
1-800-328-6787 (Gold Medal Flour, Bisquick, Betty Crocker Cake Mixes, Soft as Silk Cake Flour)
1-800-328-1144 (cereals)
1-800-231-0308 (snacks)

Kellogg's (mainly cereals and breakfast products)
1-800-962-1413

Kraft General Foods
1-800-431-1001 (general information)
1-800-431-1003 (Minute Rice/Post cereals)

Nabisco
1-800-932-7800

Nebraska Wheat Board
471-2358 (Lincoln)

Pillsbury
1-800-767-4466

Bread-Making/Bread Machine Information
Red Star Yeast
1-800-445-4746

Part 1: Meat, Poultry, Fish, Eggs & Legumes

Beano (Beano reduces gas that may result when
eating foods such as dried beans. Call for information and/or a free sample.)
1-800-257-8650

Butterball Turkey (answers questions on turkey preparation)
1-800-288-8372 (year-round)
1-800-323-4848 (Nov.-Dec.)

Eggbeaters (Nabisco Brands)
1-800-932-7800

Egg Nutrition Center
1-800-833-3447

Hormel Foods Corporation Consumer Affairs
1-800-523-4635

Nabisco (Fleischmanns Egg Beaters)
1-800-932-7800

Nebraska Beef Council
1-800-421-5326

Nebraska Dry Bean Commission
(no toll-free number, can be reached by writing: 4502 Avenue I, Scottsbluff, NE 69361)

Nebraska Pork Producers Association
472-2563 (Lincoln)

Nebraska Poultry Industries, Inc. (egg and turkey questions)
472-2051 (Lincoln)

Nebraska Soybean Program (includes information about tofu)
1-800-852-2326

Seafood Hotline (FDA) (proper handling, safety, nutrition, and storage of fish)
1-800-332-4010

Taylor Kitchen Thermometer Hotline
1-888-298-2956 (recorded message on food safety temperatures)

Tyson Foods, Inc. (beef, pork, poultry and seafood products - give freezing, thawing and nutritional information)
1-800-233-6332

United Soybean Board (includes information about tofu)
1-800-825-5769

USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline (correct handling, label, nutrition and food safety information)
1-800-535-4555

Part 1: Miscellaneous Artificial Sweeteners

NutraSweet & Equal (aspartame)
1-800-321-7254
Sunette (acesulfame K)
1-800-344-5807

Sweet `n' Low (saccharin)
1-800-221-1763

Sweet One (acesulfame K)
1-800-544-8610

Baby Foods
Beechnut
1-800-523-6633

Gerber
1-800-443-7237

Heinz
1-800-872-2229

Spices and Flavorings

McCormick/Schilling
1-800-632-5847

Mrs. Dash Sodium Information Hotline (answers questions about sodium content of foods and gives recipe ideas using Mrs. Dash, a seasoning blend for people trying to lower the salt content of foods)
1-800-622-3274

Tone Spice's Advice Line
1-800-247-5251

Other

Baker's Chocolate
1-800-431-1001

Bertolli Olive Oil
1-800-908-9789

Butter Buds
1-800-231-1123

Campbell's
1-800-257-8443

Coca-Cola
1-800-438-2653

Con Agra Foods
1-800-722-1344

Cool Whip (General Foods)
1-800-431-1001

Hershey Food Corporation (chocolate products)
1-800-468-1714

International Olive Oil Hotline (also answers questions about oil in general)
1-800-232-6548

Jell-O (Kraft General Foods)
1-800-431-1001

Kraft, Inc. (mayonnaise, dressing)
1-800-323-0768

Land of Lakes Holiday Bake Line
(operates during November and December, answers questions on holiday baking)
1-800-782-9606

Minute Maid
1-800-888-6488

National Honey Board
1-800-356-5941

Nestle Foods Corporation
1-800-456-4117 (general information)
1-800-637-8537 (baking and candy questions)
1-800-637-8539 ( tea, coffee, juices, chocolate, drink mixes)

Pepsi Cola
1-800-433-2652

Proctor and Gamble
1-800-766-7309 (Puritan or Crisco Oil)

Saran Wrap (Dow Brands)
1-800-428-4795

Part 2: Food Preservation

Canning Products/Food Preservation

Ball & Kerr (Alltristra Corp)
(answer canning questions; source of supplies, newsletter)
1-800-240-3340

Certo (Kraft) (a liquid pectin for making jelly)
1-800-431-1001

Dow Brands (SE Johnson & Wax) (answer questions about freezing in ziploc bags)
1-800-428-4795

Ever-Fresh (prevents fruits from browning)
1-800-431-1001

Fruit Fresh (Ball & Kerr) (prevents fruits from browning)
1-800-240-3340

Kitchen Krafts (source of hard-to-find canning supplies, including Clear Jel starch, a thickener used in some canned pie filling recipes)
1-800-776-0575

Mirro (pressure canner information)
1-800-558-7797

Presto (canner information)
1-800-877-0441

Sure Jell (a powdered pectin for making jelly)
1-800-437-3284

Sweet Celebrations (source of Clear Jel A and other unusual products)
1-800-328-6722

Part 3: General Food, Nutrition, Food Safety & Health Information

American Cancer Society
1-800-227-2345 (National)
489-0339 (Lincoln)
American Council on Exercise
1-800-234-9229

American Diabetes Association
1-800-232-3472 (National)
489-5115 (Lincoln)

American Heart Association
1-800-642-8400 (Omaha)
489-5115 (Lincoln)

American Institute for Cancer Research
1-800-843-8114

Arthritis Foundation
421-3311 (Lincoln)

Ask-A-Nurse
473-5500 (Lincoln)

Calcium Information Center
1-800-321-2681

Dial-a-Registered Dietitian
483-9475 (Lincoln)

Federal Information Center (helps you find the agency you need)
1-800-735-8004

Food Allergy Network
1-800-929-4040

Lincoln City Libraries
(source of cookbooks - check phone book for phone number of library nearest you. If you are unable to get to the library because of temporary or extended disability, extended illness, or are otherwise restricted to your home, you are eligible for "Home Outreach by Mail". Call 441-8548 for more information. For the book mobile schedule for additional sites within Lincoln and surrounding towns where books may be obtained, call 441-8547. You can call and order items to be delivered at these sites.

Lincoln Council on Alcoholism & Drugs
475-2694

Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department
441-8000

March of Dimes (birth defects)
464-6612

National Cancer Institute
1-800-422-6237

National Health Information Center
(will direct you to appropriate agency, i.e. cancer, alcohol, allergies, etc.)
1-800-336-4797

National Lead Information Center
1-800-424-5323 (safety of soil & food)
1-800-532-3394 (general topics)

National Osteoporosis Foundation
1-800-223-9994

National Pesticide Telecommunications Network (information regarding specific pesticides)
1-800-858-7378

Nebraska Department of Aging (general health and nutrition information)
1-800-942-7830

Poison Control Center
1-800-955-9119

Safe Drinking Water Hotline, EPA (information on drinking water contaminants)
1-800-426-4791

State Department of Health
471-2781 (nutrition & chronic disease, Kathy Goddard, R.D.)
471-2122 (water testing)

University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension in Lancaster County(nutrition & food safety)
441-7180

Emergency Food Assistance
People's City Mission
475-1303
Lincoln Action Program
471-4515

Part 4: Appliances, Equipment & Cookware

Amana/Corning (retailers, parts/service, product information)
1-800-843-0304

Braun (retailers, parts/service, general questions)
1-800-272-8622

Fridgadaire (retailers, parts/service, general questions)
1-800-451-7007

General Electric (major appliance repair/parts and lightbulb/battery questions)
1-800-626-2000

Kelvinator (retainers, parts/service, general questions)
1-800-323-7773

Mirro, Foley, Wearever, Rema (products, parts, etc.)
1-800-558-7797

Panasonic/Quasar
1-800-545-2672

Revere Copper & Brass
1-800-624-9218

Tappan (retailers, parts/service, general questions)
1-800-537-5530

Weber Steven Products
1-800-446-1071

Whirlpool/Kitchen Aid (retailers, parts/service, general questions)
1-800-253-1301

White-Westinghouse (general product questions)
1-800-245-0600


Use of commercial and trade names does not imply approval or constitute endorsement by University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension in Lancaster County.

Compiled by: Nancy Malone, Extension Assistant, Laura Covey, Extension Assistant,
and Alice Henneman, M.S., R.D., LMNT, Extension Educator, University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension in Lancaster County;
444 Cherrycreek Road; Lincoln, NE 68528; [phone]

(July '98)


University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension educational programs abide with the nondiscrimination policies of the University of Nebraska and the United States Department of Agriculture.

Ingredients

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Details

Adapted from lancaster.unl.edu

Preparation

Step 1

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