A concerned mother in Santiago de Cuba has raised the alarm about the deplorable condition of baby food distributed through ration cards. Upon opening the jars purchased from a local store in the Los Pinos neighborhood, she discovered the contents were dry, contained black spots, and appeared visibly spoiled, according to journalist Yosmany Mayeta on Facebook.
"These baby foods are old, dry, and have black spots," she expressed, clearly upset, as she took photos to document the issue. This revelation has sparked concern among families in Santiago de Cuba, as these products are specifically intended for young children's nutrition.
Community Outcry Over Poor Food Quality
Due to potential health risks, Mayeta urged other parents to thoroughly inspect these items before feeding them to their children. Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident. In the comments section, residents like Alberto Arocha confirmed similar experiences, stating, "It's true, many came in that condition at my store too."
Ivette Sarda Prada and Melitza Turcaz Montalbán, from the Segundo Frente municipality, also voiced their frustrations, indicating the issue wasn't confined to just one area. Aylin Seguras lamented the lack of dairy products for children, adding, "Poor children, what a shame, no milk, and now spoiled baby food. For God's sake, when will this end?"
Official Praise Contradicts Reality
In stark contrast, the official newspaper Sierra Maestra recently praised the work of the company La Estancia during ExpoCaribe in Santiago de Cuba. Yuriem Jiménez Sanabria, a specialist in Communication and Market Marketing, boasted that the Pillín brand – the same one involved in the complaint – is among the company's most sought-after products. "We use a unique packaging with different formats for long-lasting products," the executive claimed, emphasizing its role in the regulated family basket.
Recurring Health Hazards Highlight Systemic Issues
In a related incident last September, a customer publicly complained on social media when a Havana store refused to remove a spoiled product from sale despite her warnings. Bárbara Lazo Suárez recounted purchasing the item on September 22 from "La Infancia" store, only to discover its poor condition upon testing it at home before giving it to her grandson. In frustration, she questioned on Facebook if an outbreak of diarrhea or worse was needed for authorities to take action and stop selling compromised products.
The economic crisis in Cuba has led to unprecedented levels of negligence, with the sale of spoiled food products becoming alarmingly common. Back in July, a resident of the Sancti Spíritus province criticized the poor quality of yogurt bought at a fair for a child, questioning the regime's standards: "Do you think this is suitable for a child?"