I have determined that the use of <meta <description is valid EPUB syntax and checks out fine using the EPUB3 validity checker
http://validator.idpf.org/ and displays correctly within caliber and the epub-metadata-editor. The bug is within Moon Reader and I have reported its failure to display these descriptions to the author. In the meantime any such epubs can be converted epub to epub which will generate <dc:description syntax which Moon Reader displays correctly.