The annual Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching. Recently, the Shenzhen Consumers Committee has issued a consumer alert, reminding citizens of the issues to pay attention to when selecting and eating mooncakes.
The Shenzhen Consumers Committee specifically reminds citizens to distinguish between high-quality and inferior mooncakes. The consumer alert states that high-quality mooncakes have an even color, non-greenish grooves on the crust, and a glossy surface from egg wash and oil; inferior mooncakes have a severely underbaked surface, green grooves, and a collapsed top. High-quality mooncakes have well-shaped, round, and uniform pieces with clear patterns, no cracks, and no filling exposed; inferior mooncakes have unevenly sized pieces with significant sugar leakage and filling exposure. High-quality mooncakes have a balanced crust-to-filling ratio, no air pockets, and no impurities; inferior mooncakes have hard, dry, and cracked crusts and fillings, large air pockets, and contain foreign impurities. High-quality mooncakes have a moderate sweetness, a moist and smooth filling that is not sticky, and a fresh aroma without any off-odor; inferior mooncakes have a coarse crust and hard filling with an off-odor or signs of spoilage and mold.
The Shenzhen Consumers Committee also reminds citizens that mooncakes are high in oil and sugar and should not be consumed excessively. They should also not be paired with sugary soft drinks or juices. When eating mooncakes, one must reduce the intake of rice and oil, or eat more pomelos, which are rich in vitamin C and fiber. Additionally, special groups should be very cautious when eating mooncakes, such as patients with duodenitis or gastritis, patients with cholecystitis or gallstones, people with dental caries, the obese, diabetics, patients with hypertension, hyperlipidemia, or coronary heart disease, infants, and the elderly.