During the Chinese New Year, every household enjoys dumplings; during the Dragon Boat Festival, the aroma of sticky rice dumplings fills the air; and on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, mooncakes take the center stage. These delicacies carry the profound cultural traditions of the Chinese nation. But as the full moon of the Mid-Autumn Festival wanes, what should be done with the wide array of mooncakes?
Generally, the shelf life of mooncakes is about two months. Although the specific expiration date varies depending on the production date, the ideal time to savor them is undoubtedly on the Mid-Autumn reunion night. Prior to the festival, major shopping centers and online platforms offer mooncakes at varying prices, ranging from a few yuan to several tens of yuan, with flavors including mixed nuts, egg yolk, durian, and even “luxury” mooncakes with elaborate packaging.
However, after the Mid-Autumn Festival, mooncakes are promptly put on sale, even so, businesses still face the challenge of surplus stock. To handle the remaining mooncakes, they employ the following strategies:
– Firstly, as a form of employee benefit, a part of the stock is consumed internally. If there is still excess, – Secondly, unopened and reusable gift boxes are retained to be paired with mooncakes for sale in the following year. – Additionally, mooncakes are resold at a lower price to farms, such as poultry farms, pig farms, duck farms, or fish ponds, to serve as animal feed. In reality, the edibility of mooncakes does not solely depend on whether the Mid-Autumn Festival has passed, but rather on their shelf life. Consumers should prioritize consuming products nearing the end of their shelf life, while mooncakes that have expired should not be consumed to prevent potential health risks.
Finally, for mooncakes that have indeed expired and are no longer suitable for reuse, as a safety measure, they are disposed of.
