Cuba’s daily bread ration reduced due to wheat flour shortage

In a move reflecting the deepening economic crisis in Cuba, the government has announced a reduction in the weight of subsidized bread by 25%. This measure, which marks the latest challenge to a subsidy program established by Fidel Castro, reduces the daily bread ration from 80 grams to 60 grams (2.1 oz)—a portion roughly equivalent to an average cookie or a small bar of soap. The price of the bread has also been slightly adjusted to just under 1 peso, or approximately one-third of a cent. For many Cubans, the new bread ration exacerbates the struggle to make ends meet. With a monthly salary of around 4648 pesos, or about $15, many citizens find it nearly impossible to afford more expensive bread available on the private market. The reduction leaves them with minimal alternatives and a heightened sense of scarcity. Havana resident Dolores Fernandez voiced the collective frustration, saying, “We have to accept it, what else can we do?” She made these remarks while waiting outside a ...