Rising Food Prices Force Haitians to Eat Mud ‘Cookies’

Posted by Shabana on February 1, 2008
Filed under: Haiti, Health, News

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As rising global oil prices have pushed up prices of basic food ingredients, people of the Caribbean nation of Haiti are learning to make do with an ingredient that’s more affordable, albeit not so nutritious - mud.

Haiti, along with other countries in the Caribbean, has been hit even harder by the price hikes in food because the country depends so much on imports. The cost of a couple of cups of rice has risen to 60 cents from 50 cents in December and other commodities like beans have risen sharply.

With even basic foods out of their reach, many Haitians are turning to the yellow clay that’s so plentiful in the country’s central plateau for their daily supply of food. The yellow clay has long been favored by pregnant women as a cheap source of calcium. But with increased desperation for food, the mud which is mixed with vegetable shortening and salt to make cookies has become the staple food for many.

Reporters who tasted the cookies said it makes the mouth extremely dry and leaves an earthy after taste that lingers for hours. Although the cookies have certain health benefits – according to some medical experts, they boost fetal immunity to disease - Haiti’s experts are warning against depending solely on these cookies for their daily diet. Of particular concerns are the presence of bacteria and other organisms in the mud, which could have dangerous health effects.

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Comments

Heather
February 4th, 2008 - 4:57 pm

This reminds me of the scene in Cuba during the Special Period, in the early 90s, after the Soviet Union collapsed. Cubans cooking and eating everything from cats to 100% cotton clothing.