The appearance of Brazilian theologian Frei Betto on the Mesa Redonda program this Friday has sparked outrage among the Cuban population. Many question the value of hearing a foreigner's opinion on the island's reality. In honor of the intellectual's 80th birthday, the official portal Cubadebate posted on Facebook that the radio-television program will be dedicated to him. This announcement has reignited memories of his previous appearance, where he offered food advice such as frying potato peels, which he claimed are excellent "for snacking."
"Potato peel, for example, is excellent for snacking when you have a drink. Fried, it’s excellent," commented the South American intellectual. He also suggested that the issue lies in people's dietary habits, which they are reluctant to change. Emphasizing the need for Cubans to make the most of the food they consume—and elaborating on the topic of peels—Betto also recommended using melon peels to make sweets.
The well-known defender of the Castro regime additionally discussed the importance of not discarding the leaves of certain foods, such as carrots, claiming they "have significant nutritional value."
Unsurprisingly, these statements are being recalled just hours before his new appearance on Mesa Redonda. "Isn’t he the one who said that the food problem in Cuba is because we eat too much?" questioned one user, while others suggested alternative forms of civic engagement to understand the true reality of Cuban families.
"It’s outrageous that amid so many urgent problems, Cubans have to waste an hour of resources and electricity (which is taken from the people) to pay tribute to someone who has nothing to do with the reality of Cuba," added the same user. Others remembered the absurdity of Betto's advice to fry potato peels (which are hard to come by). "What peel will the theologian tell us to eat this time? He already told us to eat potato peel, so I imagine this time it will be mango peel since it’s in season," posted another user, while others criticized the decline of the television program that ignores the real interests of Cubans.
"When will they have the courage to invite ordinary people? Everyone they invite lives well, lacks nothing, doesn’t suffer blackouts, and has cars at their disposal," reads one comment. "That program should be part of the energy-saving plan and taken off the air. It’s just talk and wastes thousands," another comment on the official Cubadebate post read.
People also recall Betto's comments published on December 24, 2021, in the official newspaper Granma, where he claimed there is no hunger in Cuba, but Cubans have a large appetite. He stated that the island's food situation is mainly affected by the "blockade" imposed by the United States government, which forces the government to spend "more than $2 billion annually to import food, including from Brazil, from which it buys, among other things, rice and chicken..." he noted.
At that time, Betto defended Cuba's Food Sovereignty and Nutritional Education (SAN) program, approved in 2020, for which he serves as an advisor. He argued that to succeed, it is crucial to achieve "nutritional education" of the people, which includes replacing meat with other products such as beans, lentils, peanuts, and avocados.
Understanding Frei Betto's Influence on Cuban Nutritional Policies
In light of Frei Betto's upcoming appearance on Mesa Redonda, many Cubans are curious and skeptical about the advice he will offer. Here are some key questions and answers about his influence and the reactions of the Cuban people.
Why are Cubans outraged by Frei Betto's appearance on Mesa Redonda?
Many Cubans feel that it is inappropriate for a foreigner to discuss their country's reality, especially when they believe the program should focus on urgent local issues. Betto’s previous comments on food and nutrition have also been met with criticism.
What controversial advice did Frei Betto give on his previous appearance?
During his last appearance, Betto suggested frying potato peels as a snack, which many found impractical given the scarcity of such items. He also advised using melon peels to make sweets and emphasized not discarding carrot leaves due to their nutritional value.
How did Frei Betto defend Cuba's food situation?
Betto claimed that Cuba's food issues are primarily due to the U.S. blockade, which forces the government to spend over $2 billion annually on food imports. He also defended the Food Sovereignty and Nutritional Education program, stressing the need for nutritional education among Cubans.