Key Message
During the Mid-Autumn Festival, enjoy festive foods in moderation. Do not rely only on front-of-pack descriptions such as “less sugar”, “no added sugar” or “lightly sweetened”. Use the nutrition label and ingredient list to compare products and make healthier choices.
Many mooncakes and festive foods can be high in sugar, total fat, saturated fat and sodium. The Centre for Food Safety advises members of the public to maintain a balanced diet, avoid excessive consumption of mooncakes and refer to nutrition labels, especially the sugar, salt and fat contents, when choosing mooncakes.
Understand Nutrition Claims and Nutrition Labels
- Nutrition claims are regulated by law. Examples include claims such as “low fat”, “high fibre” and “sugars free”. Products must meet specified requirements before using these claims.
- Check the reference amount first. Figures on a nutrition label may be expressed “per 100 g/mL”, “per serving” or “per package”.
- Read the “1+7” items on the nutrition label (energy, protein, carbohydrates, total fat, saturated fat, trans fat, sodium and sugars.)
- Compare products by looking at energy, sugars, total fat, saturated fat and sodium, rather than relying on marketing wording on the front of the package.
Avoid Common “Reduced Sugar” Traps
| What to watch | Health-smart action |
|---|---|
| “No added sugar” does not necessarily mean “sugars free”. | Check the nutrition label for the actual amount of sugars per 100 g/mL or per serving. Ingredients such as fruit juice concentrate or fruit puree can still contribute sugars. |
| Sweeteners are food additives that provide sweetness with little or no caloric value. | Choose products sensibly and consume them in moderation. In Hong Kong, only permitted sweeteners specified in the Sweeteners in Food Regulations may be used in food. |
| Reduced-sugar baked products may still contain fat, saturated fat or sodium. | Compare total fat, saturated fat, sugars, sodium and energy together. A lower-sugar product is not automatically a lower-energy product. |
| Sugars can also appear in savoury foods and sauces. | Read the ingredient list and compare nutrition labels when buying sauces, dressings and processed foods for festive meals. |
Mooncake Tips
- Avoid choosing mooncakes that are high in fat or sugar. The Centre for Food Safety advises avoiding mooncakes with more than 20 g of total fat or more than 15 g of sugar per 100 g of food.
- For reducing salt intake, choose low-sodium mooncakes, i.e. containing not more than 120 mg of sodium per 100 g of food.
- Share mooncakes with family members and friends. This helps everyone enjoy different flavours while avoiding overconsumption.
- People with chronic conditions, including diabetes and heart diseases, should consider their health condition and seek advice from healthcare professionals when needed.
Food Safety Reminders
- Buy mooncakes from reliable outlets and check that they are properly packaged.
- Pay attention to expiry dates and eat mooncakes before the expiry date.
- Store mooncakes according to package instructions. Keep snowy mooncakes at 4°C or below, and ice-cream mooncakes at -18°C or below.
- Consume snowy or ice-cream mooncakes as soon as possible after taking them out of the refrigerator.
Islands DHC Express
Enquiries: 2556 5338
Core Centre Address: Block B, Lot 2536, Ha Ling Pei, Tung Chung, Lantau (next to Tung Chung Fort)
Website: islanddhc.org.hk
Opening Hours: Mon–Thu 9:00 AM–6:00 PM | Fri–Sat 12:00 PM–9:00 PM | Sun 9:00 AM–1:00 PM | Closed on public holidays
Reference Sources
- GovHK — Using Nutrition Labels: https://www.gov.hk/en/residents/health/foodsafe/nutrition.htm
- Centre for Food Safety — Seasonal food surveillance project on mooncakes: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/press/20251002_11864.html
- Centre for Food Safety — Understanding Standard Setting for Sweeteners in Food: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/multimedia/multimedia_pub/multimedia_pub_fsf_219_02.html
- Centre for Food Safety — Sweeteners in Foods: https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/programme/programme_rafs/programme_rafs_fa_02_05.html
- Centre for Health Protection — Have a healthy Mid-Autumn Festival: https://www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/4143.html
Care for Hypertension
»