The health authorities of Matanzas have strengthened the inspections on the sale of fine and coarse salt in the municipality of Martí, due to potential health risks associated with products from non-certified salt mines and without adequate quality controls.
The measure was reported this Monday by the official newspaper Girón, which reproduced a statement from the General Directorate of Health of Matanzas regarding the monitoring actions carried out by specialists from the Provincial Center for Hygiene, Epidemiology, and Microbiology, in coordination with the health authorities of the municipality.
Inspections were conducted in various commercial establishments to verify the origin of the salt, its traceability, and the hygienic and sanitary conditions in which it is offered to consumers.
The operation paid special attention to the salt from unlicensed facilities, where collection activities through sweeping and the lack of quality controls can pose risks to the population.
According to the statement, specialists identified several risk factors associated with these products, including the potential presence of impurities and heavy metals, microbiological contamination due to excessive moisture, and deficiencies in iodination.
The authorities also pointed out the lack of information regarding the source and packaging date of certain salt being sold, a situation that makes it difficult to determine its origin and verify whether it meets health standards.
The information did not identify the inspected establishments, the salt suppliers, the quantities reviewed, or any potential seizures or administrative sanctions.
The General Directorate of Health assured that, following monitoring actions, the epidemiological and health situation in the municipality remains within normal limits.
So far, the entity has not reported any sick individuals or outbreaks related to the investigated products.
In light of the circulation of unverified information, the authorities have called on the public to remain calm, avoid rumors, and consult the official channels of the healthcare system.
The main recommendation is to not consume salt from unknown sources or that lacks the necessary health guarantees.
The alert also highlights the importance of distinguishing between the different products marketed under the name of salt.
Informational materials from the Ministry of Domestic Trade (MINCIN) identify different types of salt, including iodized fine salt for human consumption, coarse salt, salt intended for animal consumption, and spiced varieties.
However, these classifications do not allow us to determine which of those presentations were being investigated in the municipality of Martí, nor establish that any specific variety was found to be contaminated.
The infographics also describe standardized mechanisms for the distribution of salt based on family composition and access to the product through commercial establishments.
One of them refers to production difficulties following Hurricane Irma, which occurred in September 2017, so its historical distribution data should not be interpreted as the current amounts in October 2026.
Iodization is another aspect highlighted in the health communiqué. Iodine is an essential nutrient for the functioning of the thyroid gland, and its addition to human consumption salt is a measure used to prevent disorders related to its deficiency.
The warning comes in the context of recurring difficulties in the production and distribution of salt in Cuba.
In August, a video showcased the artisanal salt collection in La Marcelina, Ciego de Ávila, using manual procedures and traditional transportation methods.
The images provoked reactions regarding supply challenges and working conditions in an activity related to a staple food product.
Warnings related to the marketing of food without the necessary guarantees have also had recent precedents in other Cuban provinces.
In August, the health authorities of Mayabeque warned that a type of oil sold at the El Rodeo fairgrounds was not suitable for human consumption, after tests revealed that it was crude vegetable oil intended for animal feed.
The General Directorate of Public Health in that province explicitly requested the population not to consume the product, although it did not specify how much had been sold, how long it had been available, or if it had been completely removed from the market.
In that case, unlike the preventive surveillance announced now in Martí, the authorities did communicate the results of tests conducted on a specific product.
In September, a food poisoning outbreak affected 29 people, including 22 minors, in the municipality of Pedro Betancourt, within the province of Matanzas.
The incident was linked to the consumption of food prepared at a local establishment, prompting the activation of medical attention and the necessary epidemiological investigations.
The authorities then reported that no severe or critical patients were registered. Later, it was announced that all those affected had been discharged from medical care.
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