British chef Gordon Ramsay visited Cuba to film an episode of his National Geographic show, Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted, titled ‘Secret Flavors of Cuba.’ The episode, which will air on Disney+ and Hulu on June 16, features Ramsay exploring the local culinary scene with Cuban chef Luis Ramón Batlle. Ramsay dives into markets, searches for fresh ingredients, drinks coconut water, and travels in an almendrón (classic American car) while uncovering the flavors that define Cuban cuisine.
However, Ramsay’s visit has sparked criticism due to the country’s ongoing food insecurity and poverty. According to a report by the Cuban Observatory of Human Rights (OCDH), 88% of Cubans live in extreme poverty. The same report points out that daily life in Cuba is marred by significant challenges, including food shortages.
Cuban chef Heyluis Pérez criticized Ramsay on Facebook, questioning why he would showcase a country where many, including chefs, have left in search of a better life due to the oppressive communist regime. Additionally, numerous Cubans voiced their discontent on National Geographic’s Instagram announcement of the episode. One user remarked, ‘Make sure to hear the sound of hunger and oppression of the Cuban people, who have been dominated by a dictatorship for over 60 years.’
Further aggravating the situation, recent assessments by the OCDH and the Food Monitor Program indicate that child poverty in Cuba is likely higher than reported by UNICEF, which noted that 9% of Cuban children suffer from severe food poverty. Reports from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (CIDH) and the Special Rapporteur on Economic, Social, Cultural, and Environmental Rights (REDESCA) highlight the worsening food insecurity in Cuba. They emphasize that this crisis disproportionately affects vulnerable groups such as the elderly, pregnant women, children, and individuals with chronic illnesses. The Food Monitor Program also indicated that nutritional deficits, food safety issues, and the stress related to food insecurity are having adverse effects on the health of Cubans.
Read the full article in English on diariodecuba.com, using Google Translate.