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The Cuban actor Luis Alberto García Novoa joined the wave of indignation sparked by recent official statements regarding food in Cuba and issued a strong message on his Facebook against the idea of disqualifying basic products due to their "non-native" origin.
It is his response to an agricultural specialist who suggested changing the consumption habits of the population, citing potatoes and rice as examples, which— in his opinion— should not be eaten as much because "they are not Cuban foods."
"Rice and potatoes (the potato helps) have the same right to be Cuban as those human beings born of peninsulares, who were later categorized as criollos centuries ago," Luis Alberto asserted firmly in his post.
As a mockery, the actor criticized the attempt to "call into question" the inclusion of certain foods on the Cuban table, and warned that it is not just about gastronomy, but about identity, history, and survival in a country battered by scarcity.
"Until now, we had grown accustomed to the partial or total disappearance of many of them (for quite some time), but suggesting that they be stripped of their identity card, their passport, and be removed from the rolls seems to me a crime against culture and a very dangerous precedent," he said sarcastically.
The artist sarcastically suggested that, following that logic, there might be an attempt to "strip citizenship" from animals brought by Spanish colonizers, such as cattle, pigs, sheep, horses, and chickens.
"Will this 'Cuban-style ICE de la jama' distort the corn? What's the deal with Olga's Tamalitos? And what about Coffea Arabica, which also came from abroad? What about guava (another newcomer)? Bread? Are we exiling bread along with timba?" he detailed.
García also pointed out the social background of this debate: the lack of food and the fact that the few available products largely end up in sectors with greater purchasing power or in tourism, while large groups of the population remain excluded.
He emphasized that the "needy and vulnerable" people do not have access to native fish and seafood, due to the reduction of the fishing fleet and a distribution system that prioritizes visitors and those who can pay in foreign currency.
"What will become of this suffering and noble town without Italo-Cuban pizza? Without the hot dogs and sausages native to Europe? Without the Mesoamerican avocado salad and Egyptian lettuce? Without the beer originating from Germany to forget so many sorrows? Without the feisty 'ronaldiño' made from sugarcane native to India, New Guinea, and Southeast Asia?" he inquired sarcastically.
His message comes after an official from the agricultural sector publicly blamed the eating habits of the population for the country’s productivity issues and suggested a change in diet, claiming that many of the foods consumed by Cubans are not "typical" of the nation.
These statements generated widespread backlash on social media, where numerous users pointed out that the government is trying to shift the blame for the shortages onto the citizens, without acknowledging the lack of investment, the obstacles faced by producers, the inefficiency of the state system, and the deterioration of the agricultural sector.
Luis Alberto García's intervention fits within that climate of collective dissatisfaction.
Their publication not only challenges the government narrative but also highlights the structural precariousness that forces millions of Cubans to survive on a minimal food supply. For the actor, the issue is not what people are eating, but rather that they are eating less, worse, and at higher prices.
In a country where the economic crisis has reduced purchasing power to critical levels, the idea of redefining food identity is seen as a maneuver that avoids acknowledging the real causes of shortages.
García summed it up with concern: the debate not only threatens traditional cuisine but also the fundamental right of the population to nourish themselves with dignity.
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