Cuban official celebrates the lack of bread and praises cassava: “Blood pressure and obesity have decreased.”

The president of the Municipal Assembly of People's Power (AMPP) in Manicaragua, Madelaine Hernández García, sparked controversy after claiming on social media that the lack of bread in her locality has brought "benefits" to the population, including a supposed reduction in blood pressure and obesity.

In a post on Facebook, the official stated that, in light of the fuel crisis affecting bread production, the commerce sector has chosen to produce cassava bread, an alternative that, she mentioned, even surpasses traditional bread in flavor.

However, the most striking aspect of his message was not the food substitution, but rather the interpretation he made of its effects.

“This absence of bread has brought multiple benefits,” wrote Hernández García, while asserting—without providing evidence—that people “do not complain as much about issues related to blood pressure or fluid retention” and that obesity has decreased “to 5%”.

He also defended rationing as a way to "extend resources over time."

The statements come amid a prolonged supply crisis in Cuba, where the shortage of flour, fuel, and other basic supplies has led to frequent interruptions in the production of regulated bread, a staple food in the population's diet.

Instead of acknowledging the seriousness of the problem, the official discourse once again attempts to present the shortage as an advantage. The promotion of the so-called “yucca bread” or sweet potato bread does not reflect a planned food strategy, but rather an emergency solution to the system's inability to ensure basic products.

Although cassava is a traditional and widely consumed food, its use as a daily substitute for bread raises questions from a nutritional standpoint.

This is a product rich in rapidly absorbed carbohydrates and low in proteins, which can contribute to unbalanced diets if not complemented properly. Experts agree that the issue does not lie with the food itself, but rather in the lack of variety and access to a balanced diet.

Independent journalist José Luis Tan Estrada reacted to the statements by highlighting the contradictions in the official argument. In a critical comment on the social media platform X, he questioned the attempt to justify the scarcity with supposed health benefits, emphasizing that such narratives aim to normalize a situation rooted in structural failures.

The situation of bread in Cuba has become another symbol of the country's economic and logistical decline. While the authorities appeal to the "creativity" and sacrifice of the population, doubts are growing about the sustainability of these alternatives and the real impact they may have on the quality of life for Cubans.

More than a solution, "yucca bread" reflects how far the crisis compels us to replace basic foods with less balanced options, in a context where the ability to choose what to eat has become an increasingly rare privilege.