Cuba cuts hygiene items from ration books

The cost of cleanliness will rise in Cuba after its cash-strapped, communist government announced that soap, toothpaste and detergent will be slashed from monthly ration books.

Cuba’s official Gazette said that effective from January 1, “personal cleanliness products” will join a growing list of products cut from the ration books that islanders have come to rely on for a small but steady supply of basic goods.