China’s Toxic Mooncakes: Even Dogs Won’t Eat Them, and They Might Explode

Summary

The video discusses growing concerns about the safety and quality of mooncakes in China, particularly during the 2024 Mid-Autumn Festival. Both humans and animals, including dogs, have reportedly rejected mooncakes, raising questions about the use of harmful preservatives like sodium dehydroacetate. Explosive incidents and deaths of ants after consuming mooncake crumbs add to the controversy. Additionally, scandals involving counterfeit and low-quality mooncakes, alongside a declining market due to economic struggles, have further tainted the tradition, leaving consumers skeptical and concerned about food safety.

Takeaways

• 🐕 Dogs refused to eat mooncakes, raising concerns about their ingredients and quality.
• 🚫 Commentators suggested that this year's mooncakes may be inedible due to the use of additives.
• 💥 In one incident, a mooncake exploded in a family’s home, caught on security camera, which shocked many people.
• 💀 There are reports of mooncakes containing sodium dehydroacetate, a preservative linked to toxic effects, which has killed ants in tests.
• 🇨🇳 In China, mooncakes with preservatives like sodium dehydroacetate and potassium sorbate have raised health concerns.
• ⚠️ Long-term use of sodium dehydroacetate has been linked to harmful effects on the liver, kidneys, and nervous system.
• 📉 Mooncake sales have drastically declined in 2024 due to economic factors and changing consumer preferences.
• 🛑 Fake mooncakes and food fraud are on the rise, with some brands falsely claiming high-end quality or misleading production locations.
• 🔍 Investigations found that some mooncakes from China were banned in South Korea for containing illegal preservatives.
• 🎩 Special mooncakes made for Chinese Communist Party officials do not contain preservatives, highlighting a privilege not extended to the general public.

Q & A

What is the main issue with moon cakes as described in the transcript?

The main issue is that moon cakes, traditionally eaten during the mid-autumn festival, are being rejected by both humans and dogs due to potential problems with the ingredients, such as preservatives. Many people and animals, including dogs, are refusing to eat them.

Why did the dogs refuse to eat the moon cakes in the video?

The dogs refused to eat the moon cakes after sniffing them, which suggests there may be something wrong with the cakes, possibly due to artificial additives or preservatives.

What preservative is commonly found in moon cakes and has caused concern?

Sodium dehydroacetate, a preservative used to prevent mold and bacterial growth, is commonly found in moon cakes and has raised concerns due to its potential toxic effects, especially on small animals like ants.

What was the reaction of consumers to the discovery of preservatives in moon cakes?

Consumers reacted with shock and disgust, especially after videos showed dogs and ants refusing to eat moon cakes. Many people expressed their distrust in the product, leading to a decline in sales.

What did a Chongqing resident discover about her moon cakes that raised concerns?

A Chongqing resident discovered that two moon cakes she had kept for three years showed no signs of mold, which was suspicious. The moon cakes contained preservatives like potassium sorbate and sodium dehydroacetate, raising concerns about their long-term effects.

What potential health risks are associated with long-term use of sodium dehydroacetate?

Long-term use of sodium dehydroacetate can harm the liver, kidneys, and central nervous system. It may cause symptoms like reduced liver and kidney function, seizures, tremors, loss of coordination, weight loss, and chronic lung issues.

How has the economic downturn in China affected the sales of moon cakes during the mid-autumn festival?

The economic downturn, rising unemployment, and reduced gift budgets have led to a sharp decline in moon cake sales. Sales dropped by nearly half compared to the previous year, and many companies cut back on moon cake orders.

What scandal involving fake moon cakes is mentioned in the transcript?

The transcript discusses the 'Mang moon cakes' scandal, where moon cakes claimed to be from a high-end Hong Kong brand were discovered to be manufactured in Guangdong, China. Consumers were misled by false branding and low prices.

What food safety issues are associated with moon cakes in China?

The transcript highlights concerns about the use of preservatives like sodium dehydroacetate in moon cakes, as well as instances of fake moon cakes and other food fraud in China. These issues have raised concerns about the safety and quality of Chinese food products.

What actions have other countries taken regarding the safety of Chinese moon cakes?

South Korea issued emergency recall orders for Chinese moon cakes containing sodium dehydroacetate, a banned substance in South Korea. These moon cakes were deemed unfit for consumption and had to be returned to China or destroyed.

Outlines

00:00

🐕 Dogs Reject Mooncakes, Raising Concerns

The video depicts dogs refusing to eat mooncakes, sparking concerns about the quality and ingredients of the traditional Chinese pastries. Despite dogs' natural inclination toward meat, they avoided the mooncakes after sniffing them. This, along with public reactions, raised suspicions about harmful additives in the mooncakes. Some viewers even tested mooncakes on dogs and found similar results, reinforcing fears that this year's mooncakes might be inedible due to excess preservatives.

05:01

💥 Exploding Mooncakes and Health Risks

A mooncake unexpectedly exploded on a family’s coffee table, causing panic and sparking online discussions. Many joked about 'remote-controlled mooncakes,' while others speculated about preservatives or expired products. Sodium dehydroacetate, a commonly used preservative, was highlighted as a potential cause of such incidents. Tests showed that ants died after consuming mooncakes, further raising concerns about the mooncakes’ safety. There is growing evidence linking sodium dehydroacetate to health risks, including liver and kidney damage, prompting future regulatory bans.

10:03

🎥 Scandal of the Fake Mang Mooncakes

A controversy emerged involving Chinese influencer Crazy Young Brother, who promoted 'Mang' mooncakes, marketed as a high-end Hong Kong product with Michelin chef credentials. However, consumers soon discovered that the mooncakes were not from Hong Kong but produced in Guangdong. The scandal caused public outrage, leading to further investigation, which revealed that the company falsely claimed Hong Kong origins. The incident raised broader concerns about food fraud and deceptive marketing practices in China.

15:03

📉 Declining Mooncake Sales Amid Economic Woes

Mooncake sales significantly dropped in 2024 due to China's economic downturn and changing consumer preferences. Rising unemployment led to reduced spending on traditional mooncake purchases, especially for corporate gifting. Physical store sales were down nearly 50% from the previous year. Factories have cut production, and major brands like Maxim’s offered steep discounts early, signaling weakened demand. The shift toward healthier options and the collapse of gifting culture during economic hardship played a crucial role in this year's lackluster sales.

🐉 Food Safety Scandals and CCP Negligence

China has experienced repeated food safety scandals, including counterfeit products like fake salted egg yolks and plastic rice. Despite these widespread issues, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has done little to address food safety. Many believe that the CCP prioritizes regime stability over public health, allowing food fraud and dangerous products to proliferate. Reports of fake rice and mooncakes with harmful chemicals continue to surface, leading to further public distrust of food safety regulations in the country.

🍰 Special Mooncakes for CCP Officials Highlight Double Standards

A photo showing specially-made mooncakes for high-ranking CCP officials without preservatives or additives circulated online, drawing criticism. While the general public consumes mooncakes filled with preservatives, CCP elites enjoy safer, custom-made treats. This highlighted the stark contrast between the food available to the Chinese public and the privileges of the political elite, underscoring why food safety issues persist without serious government action, as the ruling class is shielded from the problem.

Keywords

💡Mooncakes

Mooncakes are traditional Chinese pastries typically eaten during the Mid-Autumn Festival. In the script, they are described as being unappealing to both humans and dogs, suggesting potential quality issues. The video highlights various concerns about mooncakes this year, including the use of additives and preservatives, which may make them inedible or even dangerous.

💡Mid-Autumn Festival

The Mid-Autumn Festival is a traditional Chinese celebration where people gather to eat mooncakes and enjoy the full moon. The festival is central to the video as it sets the context for the discussion about the decline in mooncake quality and sales. It is suggested that fewer mooncakes were sold this year due to economic issues and concerns over food safety.

💡Sodium Dehydroacetate

Sodium dehydroacetate is a preservative used to prevent mold and bacterial growth in food. The video discusses concerns over its use in mooncakes, suggesting that it may be harmful to health. It mentions that even ants died after consuming mooncakes containing this chemical, raising questions about its safety.

💡Food Safety

Food safety refers to the practices and conditions needed to ensure that food is safe to eat. The video highlights numerous food safety issues in China, including the use of harmful additives in mooncakes and fake food products like plastic rice. These issues suggest systemic problems in the food industry and regulatory oversight.

💡Economic Downturn

An economic downturn refers to a decline in economic activity and consumer spending. The script suggests that China's economic downturn has affected mooncake sales, as fewer people have the financial means to purchase them as gifts. This decline in sales is also attributed to rising unemployment and reduced corporate gift budgets.

💡Fake Food Products

Fake food products are counterfeit items that mimic real food but are made from non-traditional or harmful ingredients. The video mentions various instances, such as fake eggs and plastic rice, reflecting broader concerns about food authenticity and safety in China. This issue exacerbates public distrust in food products, including mooncakes.

💡Consumer Trust

Consumer trust refers to the confidence that buyers have in the safety and quality of products. The video indicates that consumer trust in mooncakes has declined due to reports of harmful additives and fake products. This lack of trust is evident in reduced mooncake sales and public skepticism about the ingredients used.

💡Additives

Additives are substances added to food to preserve flavor, enhance taste, or improve appearance. The script criticizes the excessive use of additives in mooncakes, such as sodium dehydroacetate, which are suggested to be responsible for making the mooncakes inedible and harmful. This issue is part of a broader problem of food safety in China.

💡Hong Kong Mooncakes

Hong Kong mooncakes refer to a specific type of high-end mooncake brand that became embroiled in a controversy in the video. It was revealed that the ‘Mang Mooncakes,’ promoted as a premium Hong Kong brand, were actually produced in mainland China. This deception led to public outrage and questions about the integrity of the brand.

💡Food Scandals

Food scandals involve the public exposure of unsafe or unethical food production practices. The video mentions several food scandals in China, such as toxic milk powder and fake eggs, which have damaged public confidence in the food industry. The mooncake issue is presented as part of this broader pattern of food safety concerns in China.

Highlights

Neither adults nor kids want to eat these mooncakes, so they were given to dogs, but even the dogs refused to eat them.

The video shows that dogs, usually drawn to meat and natural foods, sniffed the mooncakes but did not take a single bite.

Commentators on the video speculated that there might be something wrong with the mooncakes, as even dogs are rejecting them.

Sodium dehydroacetate, a preservative used in mooncakes, is thought to be responsible for their unappetizing nature and potential harmful effects.

Reports from a family show that a mooncake exploded unexpectedly in their home, caught on camera, raising more concerns about their quality.

Ants were reportedly killed after eating mooncake crumbs, which points to the harmful levels of sodium dehydroacetate in these products.

South Korea issued an emergency recall for Chinese mooncakes due to the presence of sodium dehydroacetate, a banned substance in South Korea.

Fake mooncake scandals have emerged in China, with counterfeit brands like 'Mang mooncakes' falsely marketed as premium Hong Kong brands.

Many consumers have shifted to healthier, low-sugar mooncake options as concerns over food safety rise.

Sales of mooncakes have plummeted, with factories reducing work schedules due to a lack of orders.

The mid-autumn festival saw a significant drop in demand for mooncakes and liquor due to economic downturn and changing consumer preferences.

Fake eggs and fake salted egg yolks are also being mass-produced in China, contributing to ongoing food safety scandals.

Consumers cannot distinguish between real and fake food, but dogs refuse to eat the fake eggs, providing a natural test of their authenticity.

Plastic particles were discovered in rice in Yunan Province, another alarming food safety concern in China.

Specially made mooncakes for high-ranking CCP officials are free from additives or preservatives, while the public is left with potentially harmful products.

Food safety issues in China remain unaddressed as CCP officials are shielded from the toxic food problems faced by the general public.

Transcripts

neither adults nor kids want to eat

these moon cakes so he gave them to the

dogs to see if they would eat them as

soon as the dogs saw the moon cakes they

rushed over but after sniffing them they

didn't open their mouths I don't know

what's in these moon cakes but after the

dogs sniff them they just walked away

without taking a single bite dogs are

usually drawn to meat and natural foods

but in the video this group of dogs

refuses to eat the moon cakes moon cakes

are traditional Chinese pastries

typically eaten during the mid-autumn

festival this suggests that there may

really be a problem with these moon

cakes many commentators reacted to this

saying things like I haven't bought a

single moon cake this mid-autumn

Festival if even dogs won't eat the moon

cakes why are they still being made

Chinese made moon cakes that even dogs

reject a dog's nose is sharp dogs can

smell

poison everyone's saying that this

year's moon cakes are inedible because

of all the additives today we're going

to test it out on dogs these are moon

cakes I bought just yesterday for the

mid-autumn festival from a supermarket

here we have frozen meat it will test

them together to see if the dogs eat it

look they don't eat it now here's a

frozen meat see just as I expected the

dogs won't eat the moon cakes honestly

it breaks my

heart in China Moon cakes are a

traditional treat for the mid-autumn

festival but this year they've been

labeled as trash that even dogs won't

touch leaving many people shocked in

another video posted on September 17th a

family of three was relaxing at home the

young parents were focused on their

phones and their child just a few years

old was quietly watching cartoons on TV

suddenly a loud bang came from the

coffee table the parents were startled

and the child burst out crying the

mother quickly picked up the child while

the father walked over to see what had

happened it turned out that a moon cake

had exploded the whole thing was caught

on the home security camera this footage

sparked a lot of discussion online some

people joked remote controlled moon

cakes others speculated this must be an

old expired moon cake it's all bloated I

ate one during the holiday and had

heartburn all night I swear I'll never

eat mooncakes again some also said I

haven't eaten moon cakes in years just

looking at the ingredients list gives me

the chills another person quipped life's

getting tough pagers explode and now

even moon cakes have a temper on the

internet there are many more similar

cases people are talking about sodium

dehydroacetate a preservative found in

moo cakes this chemical is used to

prevent yeast mold and bacteria it's

been widely used in China's food

industry for a long time because it's

cheap and effective it prevents mold

without affecting the taste so it's

often added to cream bread cakes

pastries yolk pies fermented tofu

pickles and moon cakes one commentator

shared that after some Mooncake crumbles

fell on the ground

ants ate them and then an entire colony

of them died this suggests that the ants

were too small to handle the toxic

substances in the moon

cakes further investigation showed that

sodium dehydroacetate was the cause

although the ants ate only a small

amount it was enough to kill them others

conducted similar tests by feeding moon

cakes to ants which also made them die

these findings point to high levels of

sodium dehydroacetate which can easily

poison ants according to Media reports

outside of China a resident in Chongqing

discovered that two moon cakes she had

kept for three years showed no signs of

mold the packaging clearly stated that

the moon cakes contain two preservatives

potassium sorbate and sodium

dehydroacetate the moon cake

manufacturer admitted to using

preservatives but claimed the levels

were within safe limits they also said

they didn't know why the moo cakes

hadn't spoiled in 3 years Studies have

shown that long-term use of sodium

dehydroacetate can harm the liver

kidneys and central nervous system it

can cause symptoms like reduced liver

and kidney function seizures Tremors and

loss of

coordination it may also lead to weight

loss and chronic lung

issues despite its widespread use in

China's food industry for over 20 years

China's national Health commission

issued new regulations earlier this year

starting on February 8th 2025 sodium

dehydroacetate and its salts will be

banned in starch products bread pastries

and fillings for baking Goods

in August South Korea's Ministry of Food

and Drug safety issued three emergency

recall orders they found sodium

dehydroacetate which is banned in South

Korea in Chinese moon cakes the moon

cakes came from Shenyang D shangkun food

industry company a well-known brand in

China however these moon cakes were

labeled as unfit for consumption in

South Korea and had to be returned to

China or destroyed

locally in recent years fake moon cake

scandals have also been on the ride

recently the Hong Kong mang mooncakes

controversy caught public attention

reports said that Chinese e-commerce

influencer crazy Young Brother claimed

during a live stream mang mooncakes are

a high-end Hong Kong brand over a

million units have been sold they also

have black truffle filling each one is

handcrafted by Michelin chefs you can

only buy them by queuing in Hong Kong

with 238 unen per box that is around

$34 many consumers believe these moon

cakes were the same quality as the

well-known maxims moon cakes from Hong

Kong to Consumers crazy young Brothers

low price seemed like a good deal thanks

to his access to Big seller Supply

chains maximum moon cakes cost between

238 and 322 un per box depending on the

variety meanwhile mang mooncakes were

sold for just 99 un for three boxes or

169 un for three boxes with such a low

price many people have opted for hang

moon cakes crazy Young Brother promoted

these moon cakes in three separate live

streams in the last 30 days sales of

this brand on doen surpassed 50 million

yen however consumers later discovered

that the moon cakes weren't actually

made in Hong Kong some found the same

product priced at only 59 un for three

boxes on other e-commerce platforms once

people realized the truth they became

outraged the mang moon cake Scandal

quickly became a Hot Topic as the

controversy grew people began

questioning the origin and quality of

mang moo cakes investigations showed

that the brand which claimed to be from

Hong Kong was actually operated by guano

mang food company based in guon Province

although the company is registered in

Hong Kong multiple agents told Chinese

media that it doesn't have any physical

stores there its production facilities

are mainly located in guano and folan

cities a PR representative from hu 3

gohost Network Technology the company

that sold mang muuk cakes told Chinese

media that mang is registered in Hong

Kong and was founded in

2019 while the research and development

happened in Hong Kong the production

takes place in guandong former Beijing

lawyer and chair of the Federation for a

democratic China in Canada Li JM ping

believes the CCP has never truly cared

about the lives and health of its

citizens in an interview with overseas

media on September 19th he pointed out

that the food scandals in China in the

past like toxic milk powder and Sudan

red Dy cause widespread harm yet the CCP

has consistently failed to address this

issue of toxic food he believes that the

ccp's regulations are just superficial

measures meant to deceive the public he

further argued that if the CCP genuinely

cared about public health it would solve

these problems but their inaction shows

their disregard for Citizens Health he

said for the CCP protecting the regime

is always the top priority that's the

real motivation besides food safety some

people think fewer moon cakes were sold

during this year's mid-autumn Festival

because of China's economic downturn

Rising unemployment has left many people

with less money a report from gmn news

on September 17th noted that enthusiasm

for mooncakes is waning data from

win-win Network a retail monitoring

agency showed that sales of mooncakes at

physical stores in the lead up to the

2024 mid-autumn Festival which was

during August 14th to September 13th

dropped by nearly half compared to last

year Revenue was down by 45% while the

number of units sold dropped by

41% sales of moon cake gift boxes fell

even further down by 49% on the business

side where companies and Merchants are

key buyers mooncakes are often purchased

as gifts large companies hotels and

Distributors typically buy them to give

to employees clients and Partners

Financial reports show that group buying

including mooncakes and donu make up

about 40% of sales however the tough

economic climate has hurt the

performance of many companies as a

result some have cut back on Festival

gift budgets leading to fewer moon cake

orders the report also mentioned that

consumer preferences are shifting many

people are now choosing healthier more

affordable options the consumption and

Industrial Development Research

Institute conducted a bid Autumn

consumption survey in which they found

that 40% of consumers now pay more

attention to healthier low sugar moon

cakes

this decline in demand has affected

suppliers as well according to Time

weekly a sales manager at a moon cake

factory in guano said that due to a lack

of orders some factories are operating

on a three days on one day off schedule

meanwhile some hotels have lowered their

sales targets for moon cake gift boxes

ahead of the mid-autumn festival another

report suggested that 2024 might be the

worst mid-autumn Festival in history

with millions of people Ching not to buy

moon cakes or liquor this year more than

4,000 moon cake companies have gone out

of business in Just 4 years data from

Chi chaa shows that from 2020 to 2024

the number of active moon cake related

companies dropped from 23,000 to

18,900 the Mooncake companies still

hanging on aren't doing well either moon

cakes priced over 500 yen have almost

disappeared this year and some 20 gift

boxes even come with a bottle of wine

even big brands are struggling according

to times weekly maximums moon cakes

which usually only offer discounts two

or three days before the festival are

already being sold at a 10% discount

this year not only that well-known

Brands like guano restaurant winga and

Kami have launched earlier than usual

promotions offering 10% to 20%

off in the past high-end Hotel moo cakes

were a face- saving gift for people

wanting to maintain relationships but

now with a weak economy and declining

gifting Customs even these once coveted

moon cakes are losing their appeal red

star Capital Bureau reported that a

five-star hotel in Hanzo set a 800,000

un sales Target for mooncakes last year

this year that Target dropped at 150,000

un a massive 80% cut in previous years

star related hotels sold Muk cakes in

huge numbers a morning tea service could

sell hundreds of boxes now it has been

reduced to only 10 boxes some hotels are

even pushing sales by making their

employees buy moon cakes what should be

a happy mid-autumn Festival has turned

into a mid-autumn disaster for many

hotel

workers it's not just the moon cake

Market that's collapsing the market for

BYU often given as gifts with moon cakes

is also struggling mid-autumn Festival

is one of the top days for BYU

consumption in China second only to

Lunar New

Year however earlier this year dang

Chong a senior official from the suon

alcohol circulation Association

predicted that buy juice sales during

mid-autumn Festival would drop by 20 to

30% many liquor sellers have confirmed

this they've told the media that sales

this year are clearly down compared to

past years some report that sales have

dropped to onethird or half of last

year's

levels it's not just moon cakes that are

being counterfeited food fraud in China

has also been on the rise in recent

years last September a video blogger

revealed that large quantities of

artificially salted egg yolks were being

sold in the market these yolks contain

chemical additives and were sold at very

low prices a machine can produce 100,000

yolks an hour would you still eat them

the Blogger asked in the video a machine

is shown making salted egg yolks a

yellow gel-like substance is squeezed in

a long strip which is then cut into

round yolks these fake yolks sell for

just 9.9 un for 20 pieces it's not just

salt egg yolks entire fake eggs can also

be

mass-produced I threw out all the eggs

inside and there were still five or six

left fake eggs just look like real ones

right look at this it's an egg but after

boiling them I realize the texture is

like an egg but there's no yolk inside I

thought okay one with no yolk is fine

but how come none of them have yolks so

I fed them to the dog look hey does a

dog eat the eggs no he doesn't people

can't tell the difference but look the

dog won't eat it but here this egg I

bought from the supermarket look the dog

eats it you see that the dog definitely

eats it people can't tell fake from the

real but dogs can you know people in

China these days you say they're not

creative look this one has yolk you see

the dog ate it he ate both the egg white

and the yolk you see that dogs don't lie

you know they can make eggs now but none

of them have yolks and taste the same

this is what's happening in China

nobody else in the world does this

Chinese people are fooling themselves

scamming their own people you could talk

badly about America or whatever but

you're not even treating yourselves like

humans even dogs won't eat fake eggs yet

they've caused serious harm to Consumers

this is the reality of the Chinese

Communist party

system according to Chinese media

residents in Yushi yunan Province found

plastic particles in the rice the rice

looked wider and had sharper EDG than

normal rice when heated it would melt

completely local market Regulators seize

13 bags of suspected fake rice and found

18.2 G of pet plastic particles

officials claimed this contamination was

accidental likely caused by mishandling

during Transportation but many

commentators are skeptical they point

out that rumors of plastic Rice have

been around for a long time in 2011

Chinese media reported that residents in

Nan Jing jansu Province discovered rice

grains floating to the surface of water

when washing rice tests afterwards

confirmed the presence of plastic rice

by 2015 reports surfaced that plastic

rice from China had made its way into

Southeast Asian markets including

Indonesia India and Singapore and even

reach Nigeria in West Africa a Chinese

Canadian writer Shen said that food

safety issues in China have been rampant

for decades almost no food in China can

be considered safe and the Chinese

Communist party has done little to fix

these

problems recently a photo of specially

supplied moon cakes for high ranking CCP

officials spread on social media drawing

widespread attention the photo shows a

package labeled great Hal of the

people's handmade moo cakes with a shelf

life of 40 days when sealed the package

also advised that the moo cakes should

be eaten quickly after

opening the ingredients listed on the

package include wheat flour sugar melon

seeds black sesame maltose and vegetable

oil there were no additives or

preservatives listed a note on the

package clearly states that these moo

cakes are custom made for the internal

CCP use and are not for sale in the

supermarkets or traditional

markets Shen remarked that the CCP

special Supply system is unique it

applies not only to moon cakes but to

nearly all Goods she said that CCP

officials and Elites are completely

shielded from toxic food

this is why food safety problems in

China remain unsolved the CCP Elite

never have to deal with these issues so

the government has no incentive to fix

them in the end it's the general public

who suffer

[Music]