A resident of Santiago de Cuba, identified as Lissete Franco, discovered a frog inside a kilogram of ground meat she had purchased from a butcher shop in the Altamira neighborhood. In statements to journalist Yosmany Mayeta, the woman claimed she bought the product from the butcher shop located at Calle G and 6 in Reparto Mármol, Altamira.
She explained that when she was about to prepare the meat, she found an almost intact frog inside. Later, when she attempted to exchange the product, she was unable to do so because the butcher shop had run out of stock. "There is no more, but I am going to cook this for the dogs. Even if they exchange it, I'm already disgusted," she commented.
This incident is not isolated on the island. The quality of food has been a persistent problem and a cause of numerous complaints from consumers. In the past, there have been reports of cockroaches, hair, and cigarette butts in products such as the bread from the rationed basket. The government has also acknowledged fragments of iron and inedible residues in the sugar distributed through the ration system.
In February 2022, a woman found a frog in a package of processed ground meat, and in November of the same year, another Cuban discovered strange residues in the ground meat from the basic food basket.
Food Safety Issues in Cuba
In light of recent incidents involving food safety in Cuba, here are some frequently asked questions and their answers:
What are the common contaminants found in Cuban food products?
Common contaminants in Cuban food products include cockroaches, hair, cigarette butts, iron fragments, and non-edible residues.
What should consumers do if they find contaminated food?
Consumers should report the incident to local health authorities and attempt to exchange the product, although availability might be an issue.
Has the Cuban government acknowledged these food safety issues?
Yes, the Cuban government has recognized instances of iron fragments and inedible residues in distributed sugar, among other issues.