Following the Cuban regime's announcement last week to reduce the size of bread in the basic food basket to 60 grams, officials from the Ministry of Food have begun inspecting bakeries to ensure compliance with the directive.
This was reported on X by the minister of that sector in Cuba, Alberto López Díaz, who added that "detecting illegalities and preventing violations of the stipulated guidelines are the main purposes of these actions to ensure the delivery of a quality product to the population."
However, rather than being applauded, the words of the Cuban official have only increased criticism towards a product that already faces hundreds of daily complaints.
"They have to put an inspector at each door every day and replace them quickly," wrote one internet user, revealing that inspectors can also be complicit in the prevailing corruption in Cuba.
"Albe, and after that, are all Cubans going to eat inspections? Thank you, Albe, for contributing so much to this nation," another user sarcastically questioned.
The truth is that since the announcement of the measures, alarms have not stopped ringing among Cubans, who are living through a prolonged period of crisis without any good news from the government about an exit from this stage.
In fact, according to the government, the measure to reduce the weight of bread from 80 to 60 grams is the only way to ensure that the population can acquire bread daily and avoid disruptions like those that occurred months ago.
Public Reactions to the Bread Weight Reduction
One of the reactions to this measure came from Camagüeyan journalist José Luis Tan Estrada, who stated on Facebook: "Birthday bread has begun," to denounce that last Saturday, in the municipality of Guáimaro, basic food basket bread was sold weighing only 50 grams instead of the stipulated 60 grams.
The journalist shared two images illustrating the situation. In one, a piece of bread is shown barely exceeding the diameter of a cup; in the other, its weight is displayed, reaching only 50 grams.
Meanwhile, other sectors of society continue to take initiatives to alleviate the reality of Cubans. One example is a Catholic priest who distributed bread during a Sunday mass in a rural area of Santiago de Cuba.
Bread Weight Reduction in Cuba: Key Questions Answered
Given the recent changes in bread weight in Cuba, many people have questions about the implications and enforcement of this new policy. Here are some of the most common questions and their answers.
Why has the Cuban government reduced the weight of bread?
The Cuban government claims that reducing the bread weight from 80 to 60 grams is necessary to ensure that the population can receive bread daily without disruptions.
What measures are being taken to ensure compliance with the new bread weight regulations?
Officials from the Ministry of Food are conducting inspections in bakeries to detect illegalities and prevent violations of the new weight guidelines.
How have Cubans reacted to the reduction in bread weight?
The reduction has been met with significant criticism and skepticism. Many Cubans are concerned about the quality and quantity of bread they will receive.