According to media reports, after the Mid Autumn Festival, mooncakes with exquisite packaging and symbolic reunion changed overnight from "darlings" to "abandoned children". The supermarket staff explained that all unsold mooncakes will be taken off the shelves and sent back to the manufacturer. A mooncake manufacturer in Henan said, "The production volume is determined according to the order situation in the year and the sales situation in previous years, and there will not be too much left. We will sell the unsold mooncakes to the nearby supermarket at a low price on the Mid-Autumn Festival, and they will sell them at a discount, 30% or even lower." In addition, some businesses will give the unsold mooncakes to employees as welfare. Mid Autumn Festival is good, mooncakes have worries. As a traditional seasonal delicacy, the issue of food waste behind "Where Are Mooncakes Going?" cannot be ignored. Firstly, living within one's means and reshaping the production and positioning of mooncakes from the source is the key to cracking down on waste. Mooncakes on the market are often characterized by high sugar, high oil, and high fat, which makes many consumers who want to manage their weight hesitant. If we can change our production philosophy and create more low sugar, low-fat, and portable "top-notch foods", not only can we meet consumer needs, but we can also break the limitations of mooncakes being exclusive to Mid Autumn Festival and become a food that can be consumed all year round. When mooncakes no longer rely on holiday popularity, their consumption cycle will be extended, and waste will naturally decrease significantly. The secondary utilization of surplus mooncakes that have already been produced, turning waste into treasure, is an important means of reducing waste. On social media platforms, netizens have shared creative eating methods such as "mooncake salad" and "yogurt fruit mooncake cup". Some media have also promoted the production method of "mooncake beverage" - combining leftover mooncakes with daily ingredients, which not only enriches the taste but also avoids waste. Enterprises and businesses can learn from the model of Shanghai's "zero waste mooncake battle" and deeply process the remaining mooncakes that have not expired - using five nut filling with dates to make energy bars, and mixing crushed mooncakes with grains to make breakfast cereal, giving new value to mooncakes that may have been discarded. This "transformative utilization" not only reduces waste, but also endows mooncakes with new consumption scenarios, making traditional cuisine better adapted to modern lifestyles. The intervention of public welfare forces can open up a warm "second home" for the remaining mooncakes. The "Mooncake Zero Waste Campaign" initiated by the Shanghai Oasis Public Welfare Development Center has been going on for many years, calling on citizens to donate unopened mooncakes with sufficient shelf life, and distribute them to low-income groups, sanitation workers and other disadvantaged groups in the community through "food banks". The first community-based "food bank" in Shanghai, which landed in 2015, has established more than 100 circulation points so far. With the help of blockchain technology, it ensures food traceability and safety, allowing surplus mooncakes to play a social value while avoiding resource waste. This model is not only promoted in Shanghai, but also radiates to other cities, forming a complete chain of "donation sorting distribution". When mooncakes transform from idle "sweet burdens" to carriers of warmth, their cultural significance has also been extended - the meaning of reunion is no longer limited to families, but also extends to care for vulnerable groups in society. Eliminating mooncake waste requires dual protection from regulation and consumer attitudes. The Anti Food Waste Law of the People's Republic of China clearly requires food operators to classify and manage expired food and provide special labeling. Regulatory authorities should establish a sound "holiday food daily report system" to track the production, sales, and destruction of mooncakes, and strictly prevent expired mooncakes from being returned to the market or processed illegally. At the same time, consumers also need to establish a rational consumption concept: purchase according to actual needs and avoid hoarding too much due to "face saving consumption"; When receiving excess mooncakes, actively participate in public welfare donations or creative transformations, rather than letting them expire and spoil in the corner. "One Congee and one meal are hard won". Resolving the waste of moon cakes is not only the treasure of food resources, but also the protection of traditional culture. From reshaping the source positioning, to innovative secondary utilization, and to the assistance of public welfare forces, it is necessary to fully leverage the wisdom of enterprises, consumers, and society. When mooncakes are no longer a symbol of the Mid Autumn Festival, but are integrated into daily life as warm food, they can become a beautiful existence that transcends seasons and connects emotions. (New Society)