A Cuban woman reported purchasing a can of condensed milk in apparent poor condition at a state-run store in Pinar del Río that operates in dollars, and she showed photographs showing dark spots on the lid and visible formations inside the product.
Gisela Cascaret shared the images in the Facebook group "Ventas Pinar" after purchasing a can of the Vacasa (TB Milk) brand for $0.80.
"I don't understand how there are so many inspectors for the private sector, yet the situation is different for the public sector," wrote the woman, who claimed that the product was expiring this month and questioned why it was still being sold at a discounted price. "They prefer to lower the price of food when it is in poor condition and expired rather than do it beforehand," Cascaret asserted.
The post sparked numerous comments from users who questioned the quality control measures in state-run establishments.
Some participants in the debate warned about the potential risks of consuming food under those conditions. "Consuming that milk could be harmful; it could contain mold or perhaps rust from the can and could be toxic," commented a user.
Others focused their criticism on the oversight of state commerce compared to private commerce.
A woman who claimed to have previously worked in a state-run store recalled that back then, products nearing their expiration dates were subjected to checks and discounts before being removed from shelves.
Another participant, also identified as a former employee of the sector, claimed that there were procedures in place to make successive price reductions prior to the expiration date and to declare as spoilage those items that ultimately remained unsold.
Complaints about expired food amid the shortage
The episode became known just days after an inspection conducted in Ciego de Ávila revealed violations in 61.8% of the 2,165 state and private establishments inspected, including the sale of expired products.
In the comments regarding the complaint from Pinar del Río, several Cubans claimed to have previously found rancid butter, spoiled yogurt, pasta with weevils, and other expired food products in state-run stores.
The controversy also arises amid difficulties in accessing dairy products in Cuba. In June, the Minister of Food Industry, Alberto López Díaz, acknowledged that the country could not meet the planned milk supply and that over 100,000 children were affected by the lack of the product.
The issues with marketing products close to expiration are not new either. In 2022, CIMEX acknowledged that goods which had not been sold before their expiration date could be checked and redirected to other locations for sale if they retained their condition, amid the shortages the country was already facing.
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