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The Municipal Assembly of the People's Power of Céspedes, in the province of Camagüey, publicly acknowledged that the toothpaste distributed in the stores of the regulated system exceeds its expiration date in some cases, although it endorsed its consumption as "risk-free."
The statement, shared by independent journalist José Luis Tan Estrada, was published last Tuesday on that institution's Facebook page. It is titled "Information on the Family Basket in Camagüey. 05/25/2026" and was issued by the Internal Trade Directorate, the entity that, according to the official text, "verified the quality" of the product before allowing its distribution.
The full statement reads: "The Directorate of Domestic Trade has verified the quality of the toothpaste distributed in the stores, and although in some cases it has exceeded its expiration date, it can be used without risks."
The same statement reported that the cigars are distributed in several municipalities of the province, but not in the provincial capital, and that the distribution of sugar and salt is complete throughout the province.
The case contrasts with what happened on April 20 in Las Tunas, where the Business Group for Commerce temporarily suspended the distribution of the Mentifresh toothpaste — manufactured by the state-owned company Suchel — due to public concern over the expiration dates printed on the packaging, and promised to inform the results of additional tests.
While Las Tunas halted sales to conduct an analysis, Camagüey chose to continue distribution and issued a public statement justifying the consumption of the expired product.
The mechanism of "quality extensions" — whereby provincial health authorities officially extend the shelf life of products whose expiration date has already passed — has become a common practice within the Cuban storage system, leading to increasing distrust among the population.
This episode is not the first involving Camagüey and toothpaste. In March 2026, the province announced the distribution of Sonríe brand toothpaste as part of the regulated supply, a news item that sparked mockery on social media with the viral phrase "There will be hunger but never bad breath."
The supply crisis of hygiene products is chronic across the entire island.
In Havana, residents did not receive toothpaste through the ration booklet from March to September 2024, accumulating a six-month delay. In Ciego de Ávila, distribution of toothpaste remained pending until April 2025.
In Las Tunas, in November 2025, the stores only distributed soaps after more than eight months without guaranteed hygiene products.
Those who do not have access to the product through the ration book must purchase it in the informal market, where a tube of toothpaste can cost between 1,150 and 1,680 Cuban pesos, compared to an average state salary of just 3,500 pesos per month.
The situation has worsened since April 2026, when the regime implemented the most significant change to the rationing system since the 1960s, eliminating direct subsidies to the regulated basket for the general population and focusing assistance exclusively on individuals deemed vulnerable.
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