A resident of Pinar del Río reported having bought a can of condensed milk in apparent bad condition from a state-run store that operates in dollars, and presented photographs showing mold on the lid and 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, and yet for the state sector, the story is different," 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 reduce the price of food when it is spoiled and expired rather than doing it beforehand," Cascaret stated.
The circulated photographs show dark spots on the metal lid and visible formations in the contents of the can. The post generated numerous comments from users who questioned the quality control in state-operated establishments.
Some participants in the debate warned about the potential risks of consuming a food under those conditions. "Consuming that milk can be harmful; it could contain mold or perhaps rust from the can, and it could be toxic," commented one 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-owned store recalled that at that time, products nearing their expiration date were subject to checks and discounts before being removed from the shelves.
Another participant, also identified as a former employee in the sector, stated that there were procedures in place to carry out successive price reductions before the expiration date and to declare as losses those items that ultimately did not sell.
Complaints about expired food amidst the scarcity
The episode is reported just days after a check 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 foods in state-run stores.
The controversy arises amid difficulties in accessing dairy products in Cuba. In June, the Minister of Food Industry, Alberto López Díaz, acknowledged that the country was unable to meet the planned milk supply and that over 100,000 children were affected by the shortage of the product.
The issues with the marketing of products nearing expiration are not new either. In 2022, CIMEX publicly acknowledged the sale of goods with expired or soon-to-expire dates, amid the shortages that the country was already experiencing.
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