Neither extra, nor virgin, nor olive: Cuban filmmaker Kiki Álvarez denounces scam involving bottle of oil

A simple bottle of oil purchased at a small business located near the Mexican Embassy in the Miramar neighborhood of Havana serves as a stark example of the state of neglect in which the Cuban consumer finds themselves.

"The new scam. Neither extra, nor virgin, nor olive," reported on his Facebook profile the Cuban filmmaker Enrique “Kiki” Álvarez, who thought he had purchased extra virgin olive oil from the mentioned private store, but it turned out to be a “clear, liquid, and odorless oil, hopefully edible.”

Álvarez explained that the bottle was sealed, which suggests that the deception did not occur at the point of sale, but rather in the supply chain: importer, supplier, or both.

The product—presumably mixed or diluted, and labeled ambiguously—is just another example of how businesses operate without any effective quality control in a country where regulations are either absent or overlooked.

All of this we are exposed to is due to a dysfunctional economy that doesn't even have quality control mechanisms. Not to mention the "injected" fruits, watered-down butter, and other excesses that we have been enduring for years as second-class consumers,” argued the filmmaker.

And he added: “I share this as a symptom, as a diagnosis of the moral and physical decay we are experiencing, I know very well that the vast majority of people in this country cannot even exercise the right or the aspiration to consume healthy products for their health. It is the blockade, I know. And also our lack of imagination to manage it.”

In the comments on the post, other users confirmed that they had fallen into the same trap. Some paid 1,500 pesos, while others paid as much as 3,800, without realizing that the actual composition—95% sunflower oil and only 5% extra virgin olive oil—was hidden in the fine print and in English, while the packaging prominently promotes what it sells: "olive oil." The scam is legally camouflaged, but morally it is blatant.

The collective complaint reveals a pattern. It's not just about mislabeling oil, but rather a network of marketing that exploits need and misinformation. In many cases, the sellers know exactly what they are placing on the shelf. But sales take precedence. And in a market without clear rules, responsibility is diluted among the producer, supplier, and final seller. The consumer is left with nothing but to pay — and remain silent.

A perfect reflection of a country where the scarcity is not only of products but also of ethics, institutional oversight, and respect for people's health.

For the vast majority of Cubans, the much-touted consumer protection system is a mockery, while many citizens admit that “Cubans have almost become accustomed to being treated poorly” in stores, whether state-run or private.

Cuban television has criticized the management of private businesses. In a report, government spokesperson Talía González stated months ago that "the majority of essential goods in national currency can be found in non-state sector establishments, but they do not meet the established prices."

The report focused on the "exorbitant prices" of the micro, small, and medium enterprises (mipymes), while ignoring that the government dollar shops have imposed even higher costs. Although the government requires mipymes to sell products at controlled prices, the entrepreneurs themselves lament that state wholesale markets do not provide them with enough supplies.

The constant complaints about the low quality of food products have raised concerns among the Cuban population, which increasingly has fewer options to ensure proper nutrition. At the same time, the government continues to promote the dollarization of the economy with stores where only those who receive dollars from abroad can shop.

In March, the Cuban actor and activist Daniel Triana Rubio, known on social media as Danielito Tri Tri, shared his experience through his Facebook account regarding the food sold in micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (mipymes).

"Recently, one buys any cookie, snack, chocolate, or something else at any small kiosk (mipyme), and there is a very high probability that it will be spoiled. Everything is rancid, stale, expired. The bread flour tastes awful," he expressed.

The Triana publication added to a series of reports about the poor quality of food in Cuba, especially those in the state sector. One of the most emblematic cases regarding the poor quality of products and services is the iconic state-owned ice cream parlor Coppelia, in Vedado, Havana.

The broadcaster Laritza Camacho visited the well-known Cathedral of Ice Cream following its reopening and noted that, despite promises of improvement, the place continued to offer limited flavor options and inadequate services.

In September 2024, it was revealed that at the Piano Bar “El Dorado”, a central venue located between the iconic Parque Vidal and the Boulevard of Santa Clara in the province of Villa Clara, several violations were taking place, ranging from excessive charges to consumer deception.

A Cuban mother also reported that the regulated rice she received at the store was infested with weevils, suggesting that the government keeps products stored in military reserves and only distributes them when they are about to spoil.

Another relevant case occurred in Santiago de Cuba, where in February citizens reported the poor quality of the regulated bread, which arrived at the bakeries with a low-quality texture, burnt sections, and an unusual taste.

Frequently Asked Questions about Product Quality and the Economy in Cuba