The Mid-Autumn Festival is an occasion to express affection, appreciation, and respect for one another. Hence, when people give each other colorful and delicious mooncakes, it reflects the cherished feelings of the giver. This is a beautiful cultural tradition of the Vietnamese people.
Every Mid-Autumn season brings a surge of mooncake kiosks adorning the streets, creating a vibrant atmosphere throughout the city. Families and individuals enjoy the festival by purchasing and savoring mooncakes. One of the significant concerns is how to choose tasty and intact mooncake boxes, especially since mooncakes are sold quite early, and their shelf life is relatively short due to their seasonal nature.
This time of year witnesses a variety of mooncakes from well-known brands, restaurants, hotels, and even individuals, contributing to the diversity of this traditional delicacy. However, consumers often find themselves puzzled when trying to select mooncakes that are not only delicious and hygienic but also visually appealing for gifting.
Currently, there are many counterfeit and substandard mooncakes that fail to meet hygiene standards. So, how can you choose mooncakes to ensure the health of your family?
This period also marks the change of seasons, leading to unpredictable weather. If not stored properly, mooncakes can spoil quickly. Today, we would like to introduce some tips for choosing mooncakes when purchasing directly from mooncake kiosks.
To prepare a mooncake, a variety of food ingredients are needed, including different types of flour, fresh meat, meat products, spices, additives (coloring agents, preservatives, anti-mold agents), and packaging materials. They are especially processed using various technologies, from artisanal methods to industrial production in factories or even at home.
Mooncakes have a short shelf life (only 1 – 2 months).
Each type of ingredient carries the risk of microbial contamination that can lead to illness (molds, yeasts, staphylococcus, cholera, dysentery, typhoid, parasites…), as well as contamination from toxic chemicals (growth promoters, banned antibiotics, preservatives, pesticides, banned colorants, and unapproved food additives, along with expired products that might be toxic due to improper preservation…). Additionally, the hygiene conditions of the preparation area, tools used, storage equipment, and the hands of both the preparer and consumer can all pose contamination risks to the mooncakes.
Mooncakes cannot be stored for long (with a shelf life of only 1 – 2 months), and the Mid-Autumn Festival is brief, leading to sudden spikes in consumer demand that often exceed production capacity… However, due to “profit,” many producers and businesses disregard food safety regulations and the quality of ingredients used for production.
The ultimate consequence of not ensuring food safety during the production of mooncakes is that contaminated products can pose risks of acute and chronic food poisoning, foodborne illnesses, and negatively impact the health and lives of consumers.
Therefore, to ensure food safety in the mooncake market, consumers play a crucial and decisive role. Each consumer should become a “Smart Consumer”: knowing how to choose and use mooncakes while ensuring food safety and hygiene.
It is advisable to purchase mooncakes from reputable establishments that are monitored and inspected by health authorities. (Illustrative image).
How to Choose Mooncakes
According to the Food Safety Administration, delicious mooncakes that ensure food safety typically have a uniformly yellow crust, a thin skin, and a filling that does not crumble when cut. It is advisable to buy mooncakes from reputable establishments that are monitored and inspected by health authorities, and to carefully check the labels to ensure they include the production date and expiration date.
Mooncakes that are stored for too long or in hot, humid environments are very prone to mold and spoilage, so they must be inspected before purchase even if the shelf life is still valid. Do not buy or use mooncakes that lack labels.
Dr. Lam Quoc Hung from the Food Safety Administration recommends choosing mooncakes that ensure food safety based on the following criteria:
- Baked Mooncakes: Choose those with a moderate sheen; when pressed, they should feel soft and slightly elastic, indicating quality. Avoid overly shiny mooncakes, as this may indicate that they have been stored for too long.
- Soft Mooncakes: Look for those lightly dusted with flour on the surface. When pressed, the skin should feel soft but not sticky or mushy. Avoid mooncakes that have misshapen forms, unclear patterns, or unnatural colors.
- Products must have clear origins: They should include the manufacturer’s name, production address, and usage/storage instructions… Absolutely avoid purchasing cheap, unbranded mooncakes that may contain unsafe ingredients, leading to food poisoning.
- Products must indicate the production date, expiration date, and still be within the expiration period.
- Products should be sold in clean environments, with adequate covering to prevent dust, rain, sunlight, insect intrusion, and stored according to the regulations specified on the manufacturer’s label.
- Consumers should use their senses to evaluate the product to ensure it is not crushed, deformed, has intact packaging, does not have unusual colors, does not smell rancid, damp, spoiled, or emit any strange odors.
- Under no circumstances should you choose or purchase floating products, those without a clear origin, expired items, damaged packaging, deformed products, or counterfeit goods…
- Currently, mooncakes come in a variety made from different ingredients. Pay attention to the ingredients to select a mooncake that fits your taste and needs, or those of the recipient. For instance, if selecting for someone with diabetes, opt for mooncakes made with sugar substitutes that ensure safety for health. Additionally, mooncakes made from fresh ingredients like mung beans, red beans, lotus seeds, and egg yolks will not only taste better but also provide health benefits.
How to Store and Use Mooncakes
- Purchased mooncakes must be stored in a clean area, covered to prevent dust, rain, sunlight, and insect intrusion, and preserved according to the manufacturer’s label.
- Only consume mooncakes that are still within the expiration date, not crushed or deformed, with intact packaging, and no unusual colors, rancidity, dampness, spoilage, or strange odors. Especially, avoid letting mice chew on them or insects like ants puncture the packaging, as this can lead to mold and spoilage. If possible, store mooncakes in the refrigerator, but consume them as soon as possible.
- Wash your hands thoroughly before cutting, sharing, or eating mooncakes.
- Avoid eating too many mooncakes and other high-protein, high-fat, and high-sugar foods in your meals to prevent digestive disturbances.
- If you experience any unusual health issues due to rapid eating, go to the nearest healthcare facility for timely professional consultation and assistance.
Where did the Mid-Autumn Festival originate?
