The host of the television program "Cuadrando la Caja," Marxlenin Pérez Valdés, shared on Facebook the segment dedicated to food production on the Island and criticized those who have condemned the stance of a guest who suggested that Cubans should not eat as many potatoes or rice, as they are not native products.
In his post, he referred to those who questioned the expert as "worms," accusing them of having edited his remarks with ill intent.
The host, who holds a doctorate in Philosophical Sciences, recommended watching the entire interview before forming a judgment and, especially, avoiding taking the opinions that abound on social media out of context.
In the post -which does not allow comments-, he stated that diverse opinions are valid and that it is not necessary to agree with everything that was said on the program.
"If it generates debate, it will have achieved one of its objectives (...). But, look at everything first so that you’re not fed 'Chinese' tales (like rice)," he concluded.
His words reinforce the feeling that state media support and legitimize narratives that attempt to blame the population for the crisis while ignoring the inefficiency and negligence of the authorities.
The center of the controversy was the official Roberto Caballero from the Cuban Association of Agricultural and Forestry Technicians (ACTAF), who blamed the eating habits of Cubans for the problems in the agricultural sector.
Caballero stated that products like potatoes and rice "are not native to our country" and that their consumption impacts national production.
Additionally, he suggested replacing them with native crops like malanga, sweet potato, yam, or cassava, which paradoxically are also not found in Cuban markets.
Numerous internet users on social media denounced the irresponsibility of these statements.
"Now it turns out we don’t need to eat potatoes, rice, meat, or eggs. The indigenous people only ate cassava... They also didn’t need electricity," wrote the singer Ulises Aquino.
Other users responded by dismantling the program's arguments from the perspectives of history, culture, and economic reality: they recalled that rice is a staple of traditional Cuban cuisine, present in iconic dishes such as arroz con pollo, moros y cristianos, or arroz con frijoles, influenced by African, Spanish, and Chinese traditions.
Activist Lara Crofs pointed out that state agricultural production is unable to meet the country's needs, with figures showing a historic collapse: before 1959, about 163,000 tons of milled rice were produced annually, and by 2025, production barely reaches 30,000 tons, forcing the import of a large portion of the food.
Caballero's speech, implicitly supported by Marxlenin Valdés, is nothing more than an attempt to divert attention from the structural problems of the agricultural system: the lack of investment in the countryside, corruption, unproductive land, and inadequate wages for producers.
The population, facing inflation, food shortages, and power outages, watches as the government prioritizes other sectors, such as international tourism, while blaming Cubans for the crisis they themselves are experiencing.
For many on social media, the message from the host and the official confirms that, rather than offering real solutions, the regime seeks to shift the blame onto consumers.
"According to the government, the problem isn't the economic disaster, it's that Cubans eat poorly," summarized a user, reflecting the indignation of thousands of citizens.
Amid the chronic shortages affecting the entire country, the controversy surrounding the Cuban diet highlights not only the shortcomings of the agricultural system but also the way in which official media attempts to legitimize narratives that blame the victims of the crisis.
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