As reports of people searching for food in the trash grow on social media and organizations warn that many can barely secure one meal a day, the regime, through its companies, promotes scenes that seem pulled from a parallel reality.
The suggestion was posted this Tuesday by the CIMEX Corporation on its official Facebook profile, where they shared images of sandwiches with milkshakes, inviting Cubans to try this "happy couple" as breakfast at their Café Cubita location, situated in the El Encanto store in Camagüey.
“Try the sandwiches with milkshake at breakfast tomorrow and let us know how it goes!”, the post said, adorned with emojis and an enthusiastic tone, unaware of the food situation facing the country.
The promotion is available from 9:00 a.m. every day, as stated in the post, at the address Maceo #52, between General Gómez and República.
The prices are not specified, but it is presumed that —as is often the case with this type of offers— they are not affordable for the average consumer.
The post has sparked a wave of outrage in the comments, where many Cubans questioned the institutional cynicism of promoting "happy" breakfasts amid such precarious conditions.
Pedro Orlando Guevara Yero wrote: “They have never had any shame, but the cynicism of these people is too much. In a country where the majority, especially the children, don’t even have milk for breakfast, and these... publish things like this, it's unbelievable... go to hell.”
For her part, entrepreneur Yulieta Hernández Díaz stated on her profile: “Sandwiches and milkshakes... Online communicators are confusing their account, they think they are managing the account of an influencer. It must be, because I can’t find any other logical explanation.”
Journalist José Raúl Gallego went further and wrote: “CIMEX, the corporation of Raúl Castro and his generals, invites Cubans to have breakfast with malt and a sandwich, in the country where they take milk away from children at 7 years old and they don't even have a piece of bread just to start the day.”
And he added: "The breakfast that Cuban mothers don't have for their children is stored away, in piles, in the military warehouses. The warehouses and the military that one day the people will rise up against, tired of so much humiliation, abuse, and misery."
The contrast between institutional propaganda and the harsh daily reality has once again highlighted the disconnection – or cynicism in attempting to sell a country unaffected by a crisis – of state-owned enterprises in relation to the struggle experienced by a significant portion of the Cuban population.
Just like CIMEX, which has converted a large part of its stores into units designated for dollar sales, it is one of the companies that makes the most "inaccurate recommendations" to the population.
Amid the severe food shortages in Cuba and economic inflation, the CIMEX corporation previously suggested that Cubans take advantage of weekends to dine out with their families at the restaurants in the country.
"Sunday is an excellent day to eat out with family or friends. Visit Café TV, between 5 and 7 PM, in El Vedado. Shall I show you?" said CIMEX on their social media.
"Guide me to where there is power so I can go out to eat," replied a user, referring to the shutdown of services in the country due to prolonged blackouts in many provinces.
Frequently Asked Questions about the CIMEX Promotion and the Food Situation in Cuba
What promotion did CIMEX launch for breakfast in Cuba?
CIMEX launched a breakfast promotion that includes sandwiches with milkshakes at its Café Cubita location, situated in the El Encanto store in Camagüey. This offer has been promoted on social media with an enthusiastic tone, provoking outrage among Cubans due to the ongoing food crisis in the country.
Why has CIMEX's promotion generated outrage?
The CIMEX promotion has been criticized for its disconnection from the food reality in Cuba, where many barely manage to secure one meal a day. Cubans have expressed their outrage on social media, calling the campaign cynical and detached from the crisis the population is facing.
What is the current food situation in Cuba according to the reports?
Cuba is experiencing a serious food crisis, where access to basic products such as milk, eggs, and bread is limited and costly. Many Cubans rely on the ration booklet, which provides insufficient rations, and face high prices and shortages in the market.
What impact does inflation have on salaries and the cost of living in Cuba?
Inflation has severely eroded purchasing power in Cuba, where the minimum wage does not even cover a week of basic needs. The cost of products like oil and chicken is exorbitant, and pensions are insufficient to survive, forcing many to seek income in the private sector.
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