Observe Moon Cake Safety Tips Enjoy the Mid-Autumn Festival

At the mention of the Mid-Autumn Festival, people naturally think of moon cakes. Seeing that this festive treat has become so popular, manufacturers are quick to seize the opportunity by introducing a great variety of moon cakes. Presently, there are three main types of moon cakes offered for sale on the market: moon cakes made by conventional baking methods, snowy moon cakes and ice-cream moon cakes. However, even moon cakes of the same type come with different ingredients. For example, the ingredients of conventional moon cakes may include not only the usual mashed lotus seeds and egg yolks, but also fruits, mashed beans, nuts and even the expensive abalones and bird's nests, etc., in order to meet the needs and suit the tastes of different people.

With the return of the moon cakes that have parted with us for so long, we just can't wait to purchase and take them home for savouring. However, we must observe proper food hygiene when buying, storing and eating moon cakes, especially the more risky snowy moon cakes and ice-cream moon cakes. It is because conventional moon cakes are baked at about 300℃ for 15 to 25 minutes, and all bacteria present in the moon cakes are eliminated in the process. In the absence of such a high-temperature treatment during the manufacturing process, snowy moon cakes and ice-cream moon cakes tend to pose a higher microbiological risk. We must, therefore, be very careful and observe proper food hygiene when buying and storing these types of moon cakes. Here are some safety tips for consumers:

General tips

	Buy moon cakes from reputable shops;
	Check expiry dates of moon cakes at the time of purchase and consume them before the expiry dates;
	When purchasing moon cakes, make sure that they are properly packaged;
	Wash hands thoroughly before handling and eating moon cakes.

For conventional moon cakes

	Store moon cakes in a refrigerator at 4℃ or below if they are not eaten in a short time;
	Cover and wrap moon cakes properly to prevent cross-contamination during storage.

For snowy and ice-cream moon cakes

	Make sure snowy moon cakes are kept in a chiller at 4℃ or below at the time of purchase;
	Check whether ice-cream moon cakes are kept in a freezer at -18℃ or below at the time of purchase;
	After purchase, take snowy or ice-cream moon cakes home immediately and keep them in a refrigerator;
	Never leave snowy or ice-cream moon cakes under room temperature for a long time as this could lead to speedy multiplication of micro-organisms in the temperature danger zone of 4℃ to 60℃.

When eating snowy and ice-cream moon cakes outdoor

	Use a cooler with ice to keep snowy or ice-cream moon cakes when carrying the cakes outdoors;
	Take moon cakes out of the cooler only when it is about time to serve them;
	Discard snowy and ice-cream moon cakes that have been kept at room temperature for more than two hours;
	Bring along wet towels to clean the hands if hand-washing facilities are not available nearby.

Moreover, consumers are advised to eat moon cakes moderately as most of them are rich in sugar and fat. Patients with chronic illnesses should consult dieticians before eating moon cakes.

Center for Food Safety
Reference:http://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/whatsnew/whatsnew_sfst/whatsnew_sfst_mooncake_2003.html