A young Cuban has caught attention on social media by showcasing her ration book on TikTok, a document that for decades has symbolized rationing on the island, but today reflects more scarcity than assurance.
“She is well-stocked because we have to treat her like gold, as she is our salvation every month,” explains Brianna, a user known as @rodriguez20245 on the platform, while detailing each section of the document. She points to the space allocated for meat products and comments with resignation: “As you can see, it’s empty.”
The young woman detailed that her card registers items such as rice, sugar, bread, and, in her case, powdered milk for her son. She also points out the area where they mark the gas, although she admits that many products "aren't many, but still," and that sometimes they don't even arrive.
The networks react: amazement, empathy, and criticism
The video has generated hundreds of comments from users inside and outside of Cuba, many of them from countries like Spain, Venezuela, and Honduras, expressing empathy towards the depicted precariousness. “One complains about where they live and then sees this,” comments a follower. Another user asks if the products are given away, to which Brianna replies: “They sell them.”
There were also criticisms of the Cuban government: “65 years in the same situation and they have bellies that are bursting,” wrote another internet user. Several users appreciated the clarity of the video, while others expressed their disbelief at a system that remains in place after more than six decades.
A system in crisis: the government itself acknowledges it
Brianna's testimony is not isolated. In March 2025, the Cuban government publicly acknowledged the crisis in the ration book. The Minister of Domestic Trade, Betsy Díaz Velázquez, admitted to a decline in regulated sales and the state's inability to guarantee basic products such as rice, milk, coffee, and eggs.
The official strategy is limited to "perfecting management" and reducing subsidies, which foreshadows new price increases and less food available for the population, which is already being forced to turn to the private market.
"All of that is bugs": products in poor condition
The crisis is not only about quantity but also about quality. In February, the user AZÚCAR DE CUBA reported on TikTok that the rice delivered at her store was infested with weevils. “Those are all bugs”, she said while showing the insects among the grains.
The art critic Jorge de Mello also revealed that he received spoiled rice from a donation, and he had to discard it to prevent it from contaminating other food in his home.
Months of delays in delivery
The scarcity also translates into delays. In Villa Clara, the government promised to deliver 17 pounds of rice per consumer with a three-month delay. The deliveries were supposed to correspond to December, January, and February, but many families had only received 10 pounds by mid-March.
Although two free pounds were announced as part of donations, most Cubans believe that these measures do not address a crisis that is structural and ongoing.
Empty warehouses, obsolete structures
Another viral video shared by TikToker Sheyla (@sheyreyes03) showed a storage facility adapted from an apartment, featuring empty shelves and an old rusty scale. “Now they sold rice that was from three months ago”, she says, as she shows the line formed by neighbors.
"This supply booklet can be discarded at any moment," he laments, noting that hardly anything is being distributed anymore. Prime Minister Manuel Marrero announced in December 2024 that the booklet will gradually disappear, assuring that it is “a path with no turning back.”
Three months without salt for half a million Cubans
In the province of Artemisa, more than 450,000 people have gone three months without receiving salt in their warehouses. This was confirmed by the distribution program coordinator, Joan Molina Blanco, during a broadcast of the National Television News.
"We are waiting," he said, without providing a specific date. The lack of salt, a basic and irreplaceable product, shows that the ration book no longer serves its purpose of ensuring a minimum food supply.
A notebook that survives more out of habit than effectiveness
Brianna's video simplifies and honestly portrays what millions of Cubans experience each month: a carefully preserved notebook that symbolizes more of a memory of a right than a real guarantee. "I also kept the old one, in case any product from last year shows up," she says, in a statement that encapsulates institutional decay and the hope that refuses to fade away.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Supply Book and the Crisis in Cuba
What is the supply booklet in Cuba and why is it important?
The supply booklet in Cuba is a rationing system implemented in 1962 to ensure the equitable distribution of essential products such as rice, sugar, and milk. This system is crucial for many Cuban families, as it guarantees access to food at controlled prices amid a backdrop of scarcity and high costs in the informal market.
Why is the supply notebook often empty?
The supply booklet is often empty due to the shortage of products caused by the economic crisis facing Cuba. Structural problems, such as a lack of national production and dependence on imports, have led to a decrease in the supply of basic food items, affecting the government's ability to meet the allocated quotas in the booklet.
How do Cubans react to the shortages in the ration book?
The reaction of Cubans to the shortages in the rationing system is varied. Many express frustration and discontent on social media, sharing personal experiences that reflect the precariousness of their situation. The population feels increasingly desperate and critical of a system that fails to meet their basic needs, while the government continues to offer no effective solutions.
What measures has the Cuban government taken in response to the supply crisis?
The Cuban government has announced the gradual elimination of the ration book as part of an effort to "modernize" the economy and reduce subsidies. However, these measures have been criticized by the population, which fears a worsening of the food crisis and an increase in economic inequalities.
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