"They don't even give them complete rice! This is what the warehouses look like in Cuba, lacking hygiene and with empty shelves."

A video posted on TikTok by the Cuban user @sheyreyes032 has generated thousands of reactions as it shows the condition of a bodega in Matanzas and explains that she did not receive the full amount of rice allocated according to the ration book.

"That's how the bodegas in Cuba are, and to make matters worse, they even stole rice from me," he says at the beginning of the video. As he walks towards the store, he adds: "This is the bodega in my neighborhood, and as you can see, the outside is completely destroyed. There is no hygiene here; just look at the state of the floor and the dirty walls. Of course, there are no food items. Look at the empty shelves because there is nothing."

It explains that previously, regulated products were delivered every month, but now they arrive sporadically. “Before, you would receive all the goods assigned to you by the ration card each month, but that no longer exists. Now, you get rice every 4 months, hygiene products every 6, and don’t even get me started on coffee; sometimes it takes 8 to 10 months, not to mention other products that don’t even arrive.”

That day, he went to pick up the rice meant for two people—eight pounds—and recorded the moment he received less than the expected amount. "I wanted to document what they gave me so you can see that the established guidelines are not followed here. 8 lb of rice should equal 8 cups filled to the brim in this ice cream container, and as expected, it never reached those 8 cups of rice. But I'm not surprised because it's always like this; they never give you everything you're supposed to get."

The video has amassed tens of thousands of views and over 650 comments, some focusing on personal aspects and others on the country's economic situation. “So who are the rich in Cuba????”, “The scale is 100 years old”, “Better not to eat rice so you don't keep gaining weight”, “That's normal where there's a Cuban”, “Why don't they start a revolution”, were some of the numerous reactions.

Messages of surprise, comparisons, or questions about how the supply system works also arrived from other countries: “Is what they give you given to you for free by the government, or can you only buy that amount?” “And you can't even buy it with money,” “But it seems she doesn't go hungry,” “They sell that on the street afterwards, how shameful.”

This video adds to other similar testimonies that have recently circulated on social media. In May, the user @briana_matancera showed what she brought from the store for two people: rice, black beans, peas, brown sugar, and a fruit puree for her son. She also displayed the old scale from the store and empty shelves. “The orders have arrived at the store, my love… stay so you can see what came in.”

In April, @rodriguez20245 showed his supply booklet and said, “As you can see, the meat section is empty.” He explained that many products do not arrive, and others have been marked as pending since the previous year. On that occasion, he also shared that he keeps old booklets in case any overdue products arrive.

The Minister of Domestic Trade, Betsy Díaz Velázquez, publicly acknowledged that the State cannot guarantee the delivery of basic products such as rice, milk, or coffee.

In Santiago de Cuba, local authorities have also acknowledged delays in food distribution, forced rotations of bread, the provision of "extended picadillo" for children and pregnant women, and the partial or late arrival of rice and sugar.

Despite promises of improvement and the continuation of the rationing system, an increasing number of Cubans are sharing on social media scenes that reflect a widespread reality: stores with empty shelves, incomplete deliveries, and a system that no longer serves its original purpose.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Supply Crisis in Cuba