US Governor celebrates Moon Festival

California Governor Schwarzenegger celebrated the Moon Festival on Thursday, pledging to protect traditional Asian foods, including Moon Cakes.

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger celebrates the Moon Festival with Los Angeles Chinatown business and community leaders on Thursday, Oct. 5, 2006. [gov.ca.gov]

Joined by dozens of Los Angeles Chinatown business and community leaders, Schwarzenegger discussed new legislation directing the state to study ways to preserve moon cakes, delicacies that are traditionally served during the Moon Festival.

"The Moon Festival is a fantastic cultural tradition in our Asian-American community. It's a time to honor ancestors, exchange gifts and eat a lot of great food, including Moon Cakes," said Schwarzenegger.

"That's why I was very happy when I signed Assembly Bill 2214 by Assemblyman Van Tran to help communities safely enjoy Asian delicacies at ceremonies and cultural events like this one. In California, we are fortunate to be the home of people from many different cultures and backgrounds and we always want to make sure everyone can celebrate their heritage."

Schwarzenegger recently signed the bill requiring the California Department of Health Services to conduct a study to determine methods that allow certain Asian delicacies to meet existing food safety standards relating to retail sale at traditional Asian ceremonies and cultural events.

These delicacies include Chinese Moon Cakes, a special kind of sweet cake usually filled with sweet bean paste. Moon cakes are traditionally served at Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as Moon Festival, which will be celebrated this year on October 6.

California health officials had insisted that as the way Moon Cakes are made did not conform with the state's safety standards, Moon Cakes should be banned unless they meet the safety standards.

The existing health standards prevented traditional Moon Cakes and other Asian foods to be consumed at festivals.

But with this new law, Asian cultural events will not be limited in the traditional foods and preparation styles in which they are supposed to be served.