The China Post staff Sep. 7, 2005
Three out of 78 samples of moon cakes collected from Taipei pastry shops were found to contain dehydroacetic acid, a preservative, reported the city’s health bureau yesterday.The bureau has ordered the pastry shops to take the popular snack off the shelves and fined them NT$30,000 to NT$150,000, it said.
The three samples in question were: “taro cake” sold at Yang Kuo Tsu Pastry Factory, located at No. 5, Tunhua North Road, Lane 155; “green peas cake” sold at Sheng Teh Bakery, No. 461-1, Chunghwa Road, Section 2; and “taro pancake,” sold at Panho Bakery, No. 218, Chungcheng Road.
The city health bureau conducted the random testing just days before Mid-Autumn Festival, one of the most celebrated holidays for the Chinese. It falls on August 15 on the Lunar Calendar, which this year is Sept. 18.The moon cake is a popular snack consumed during this time of the year.Samples were collected from Taipei City’s bakeries, pastry shops, restaurants and gift shops.Dehydroacetic acid is only allowed in certain dairy products, the bureau said.
It further said consumers should place moon cake boxes below room temperature. Once opened, they should consume all moon cakes in the shortest possible time. Those unconsumed should be stored in refrigerators before the expiration date.