A resident of Ciego de Ávila reported this Thursday in a Facebook group the purchase of a 200-milliliter juice intended for a child at a sales point on Abraham Delgado Street, in the old guarapería, which had an expiration date of April 2026.
Lizandra Cabrera mentioned that she did not check the date when purchasing the product, but upon arriving at her destination, she noticed the problem. Before returning to the main store, she stopped by an adjacent establishment – described as a kind of butcher shop – where they also sold one-liter boxes of juice. When she asked to check them, she found that they were also expired.
The saleswoman responded that the product was "good" and that she herself consumed it. Cabrera clarified that the juice was not for her, but for a child who was with her at that moment.
"How long do we have to endure being looked at and treated like animals? Where are the competent authorities that are supposed to ensure the well-being and health of the people? Hygiene inspectors, where are you that you do not see this?" questioned Cabrera.
Several users reported similar experiences with other products: moldy cookies, spoiled beans, and expired juices at various establishments. One anonymous user stated that her three-year-old daughter vomited after consuming a juice bought under similar circumstances.
"The inspectors aren't there for that; what matters to them is leaving with a full backpack or wallet," wrote one of the commenters.
The case arises weeks after a provincial inspection in Ciego de Ávila detected violations in 61.8% of the establishments reviewed, including the sale of expired food. Out of the 2,165 establishments inspected, 1,337 showed irregularities. Authorities imposed 1,141 fines totaling more than six million Cuban pesos, temporarily closed 70 locations, and permanently revoked six projects.
This week, news spread about the closure of an alleged illegal sausage factory in central Ciego de Ávila, and the day before, it was reported that handcrafted cheese was seized while being transported from Chambas to Havana.
At the beginning of October, a Cuban from Pinar del Río reported purchasing a can of sweetened condensed milk with dark spots.
At the national level, the Decree 167/2026 "On Domestic Trade," in effect since September 4, 2026, expressly prohibits the display and sale of products past their expiration date unless it is part of a commercial policy duly communicated to the consumer. Despite this regulation, citizen reports of expired food continued in October, both in Ciego de Ávila and in other provinces.
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