US Governor celebrates Moon Festival
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-10-06 08:44
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.
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