A resident from the Isle of Youth recently bought a tube of minced meat from a local store for 700 Cuban pesos, only to find it completely spoiled upon opening. The meat was foul-smelling, greenish, and fermented, as shown in a video posted on TikTok last Sunday by user Yanet Diary (@el.diario70).
Yanet does not directly blame the sellers for the condition of the meat. Instead, she points to the frequent power outages plaguing the area. "It's not so much the sellers but the lack of electricity that's mostly to blame, because we only get power for two hours out of every eight," she explains in the video.
When she cut into the tube on camera, the contents emerged fermented and visibly deteriorated, a clear sign of a complete breakdown in the cold chain. "Look at the state it's in; it smells terrible and even looks green," Yanet describes as she displays the product.
The Impact of Power Outages
The electrical situation on the Isle of Youth has been steadily worsening. Back in February 2026, the area operated on a schedule of four hours with power followed by four without. By the end of May, blackouts extended to 18 hours daily due to a shortage of fuel for local generators, which operate independently from the National Electric System.
Geographic isolation exacerbates the crisis further. Yanet mentions that the Isle of Youth "relies on a ship once a week for people to come and go to meet their needs," and at the time of recording, the ferry service was not operational. The Perseverancia ferry was suspended indefinitely in November 2024 to improve the Batabanó access channel, and in February 2026, another suspension occurred due to adverse weather conditions.
Widespread Food Quality Issues
In this dire context, Yanet wonders how many locals depended on that minced meat as their sole source of nourishment. "Just imagine how many people can't do anything and that this was their only hope for the day," she laments.
This incident is not an isolated case. Poor-quality food distribution in Cuba is a recurring issue and is documented across multiple provinces: spoiled minced meat given to children in Santiago de Cuba after Hurricane Melissa in November 2025, moldy rice in Bayamo in December 2025, peas mixed with insects and stones in Matanzas in April 2026, and rotten eggs offered to a pregnant woman in Santiago de Cuba in March 2026.
Yanet's question encapsulates the desperation felt by thousands of Cubans: "Where have we ended up?"
FAQs About Food Quality and Power Outages in Cuba
What caused the minced meat to spoil in the Isle of Youth?
The spoilage was primarily due to frequent power outages disrupting the cold chain necessary for preserving the meat.
How are power outages affecting daily life in the Isle of Youth?
Power outages have significantly impacted daily life, with residents receiving electricity for only two out of every eight hours, affecting food preservation and overall quality of life.
Is the food quality issue isolated to the Isle of Youth?
No, the issue of poor food quality is widespread across Cuba, with several provinces reporting incidents of spoiled or contaminated food.