Subsistence, Cuban style

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Six pounds of rice per month. Four ounces of coffee. Ten eggs. One tube of toothpaste. One bar of soap. Four pounds of potatoes.

That, according to an Associated Press story, is a partial list of what the average Cuban citizen receives each month under the government’s subsidized food program. The total value comes to roughly 33 Cuban pesos, or U.S. $1.30.

These staples, which are augmented by other meals Cubans eat at school or on the job, are intended to meet each person’s nutritional needs for between 10 to 15 days out of each month, according to the story.

Here’s the rest of the list:

-Dried beans, 10 ounces.

-White sugar, 3 pounds.

-Brown sugar, 2 pound.

-Cooking oil, about 2 cups.

-Salt, 12 ounces.

-Dried pasta, 8 ounces.

-Crackers, 1 pound.

-Cacao (sweetened cocoa powder) 8 ounces.

-Fish, 10 ounces.

-Chicken, 8 ounces.

-Other meat products, a little less than 1 pound.

-Bread rolls, 30 a month.

-Liquid detergent, 1 plastic bottle.

Posted by Reed Johnson in Mexico City