In the midst of economic hardship, a common Cuban has become a beacon of solidarity after a social experiment captured him giving an egg to a stranger without a second thought when asked for food.
The brief video, shared on Facebook by verified content creator Lizardo Bello González, has stirred emotions, garnering thousands of reactions and numerous heartfelt comments from Cubans both on the island and abroad.
In the footage, Bello González approaches a man on the street with a simple question: "If I asked you for an egg to eat, what would you say?" Without hesitation, the man offers the egg. When thanked by the creator, he responds, "This is a family matter. Don't worry."
Bello González explained in the post that it was "a social experiment to reveal the heart of people on the street," dedicating the video to "the true ordinary Cubans, neighbors, and friends who share what they have without hesitation."
The High Cost of a Simple Egg
The gesture's significance is heightened by the context: in Cuba, an egg can fetch between 90 and 120 Cuban pesos on the black market, while a carton of 30 eggs exceeds 3,000 pesos, surpassing a retiree's monthly pension.
One observer bluntly noted, "To buy a carton of eggs, I have to work for three months."
Another commented, "An egg is worth $100 in street terms," highlighting the real street price.
Collapsing Egg Production and Widespread Hunger
Cuba's egg production has plummeted due to the decline of the state-run poultry sector: on the Isle of Youth, production has dropped by 98%, from 42,000 to just 1,000 eggs daily. In Ciego de Ávila, output fell from 120 million in 2016 to 16 million by 2024.
This collapse is part of an unprecedented food crisis. According to the "En Cuba Hay Hambre 2025" survey by the Food Monitor Program, released on May 5, 33.9% of Cuban households reported hunger in 2025, and by April 2026, 96.91% of the population lacked adequate food access.
Community Solidarity Shines Through
The video's impact was profound. "We have many difficulties, differences, and flaws, but it's hard for a Cuban to deny food if they know you're hungry," one user wrote. Another from within the island added, "These are the real Cubans."
The man's act of kindness is part of a broader wave of civic solidarity documented on social media in 2026: Young women in Santiago de Cuba distributed food to those in need, and a private entrepreneur in Sancti Spíritus donated 20 free meals to the Hermanos de la Calle project.
"We Cubans give what we have because we know exactly what it's like to have nothing," summed up another commenter, capturing the essence of what thousands witnessed in those 26 seconds.
Understanding Cuba's Current Egg Crisis
Why is an egg so expensive in Cuba?
The high price of eggs in Cuba is due to the collapse of the state-run poultry sector, resulting in a significant drop in egg production, which in turn drives up prices on the black market.
What is the impact of the food crisis in Cuba?
The food crisis has led to widespread hunger, with surveys showing that a substantial portion of the population lacks adequate access to food, forcing many to rely on community solidarity for survival.