A video by content creator El Vlog de Sary sparked a debate about the restrictions on consuming beef in Cuba, although much of the conversation on social media ended up shifting towards unexpected topics: the way she cooked the steaks, the amount of oil used, and a cat that appears during the recording.
The reel, published on Facebook, has surpassed 74,800 views and begins with a phrase that encapsulates the perception of many Cubans about this food: “When you see a Cuban eating beef, congratulate him because he's treating himself to a luxury.”
While preparing several steaks, Sary explains that for decades, the illegal slaughter of cattle has been heavily penalized in Cuba and that beef continues to be a product that is difficult for most of the population to access, as it is mainly sold in establishments that deal in foreign currency or under strict regulations.
However, many users focused their attention on another aspect of the video.
"Half a pan of grease on top. Cholesterol... here, since the oil is excessive, we just smear it on the pan," commented an internet user.
Another questioned the way of cooking the meat: "That meat isn't cooked like that... we can see you hardly ever eat it, and you don't even know how to prepare it."
Humor was also present among the reactions. "For every steak you fried that way, a Cuban died," wrote one user, while another left one of the most shared comments of the post: "Beef in Cuba is called pasture tilapia."
The expression, used ironically on social media, reflects how much beef has become an exceptional food for a large part of the Cuban population.
Another unexpected protagonist was the cat that appears in the video. Several comments shifted focus from the main topic to ask about the animal. "I hope the kitty ate today," wrote one follower. "What a beautiful little furball!" added another.
Beyond the jokes, the video highlights a reality well-known in Cuba. Since 1963, the slaughter of cattle without state authorization has been subject to severe legal restrictions. The current Penal Code prescribes sentences ranging from four to ten years in prison for the illegal slaughter of someone else's livestock and from three to eight years for trafficking that meat. Just in 2024, 1,615 people were sanctioned for crimes related to cattle, 90% of whom received prison sentences.
Sary herself acknowledges that in recent years, some regulations have been relaxed for certain producers.
"Some farmers can slaughter and sell the occasional beef cattle under certain authorizations, but that does not mean that beef is an affordable food for everyone," he states in the video.
Nevertheless, access remains limited. In the informal market, beef prices continue to be out of reach for many households, amid a context of inflation, low wages, and food shortages.
The post joins other viral content about food in Cuba. In May, another video titled "Where is the meat?" garnered over 351,000 views by humorously displaying a plate of rice where the meat was barely recognizable.
Amid jokes about oil, cooking tips, and compliments to the cat, one comment summed up the background of the debate: "A sad truth, going to prison for acquiring food."
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