my %Categories;
while (<>)
{
    my( $category, $item ) = split /\t/, $_, 2;
    push @{$Categories{$category}}, $item;
}

print "$_\n" for sort @{$Categories{'dairy'}};

##</code><code>##

eggs
milk

##</code><code>##

%Categories = (
	fruit => \@fruit,
	meat  => \@meat,
	dairy => \@dairy,
);