Haiti’s Dirt Cookies: A Harsh Reality of Hunger and Survival

 

In Haiti, one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere, a distressing symbol of survival persists. On the outskirts of Port-au-Prince and in many rural areas, dirt cookies – known locally as galettes de boue – are made from a mixture of clay, salt, and vegetable shortening. For many families, these are not a novelty or cultural tradition, but a desperate measure to calm hunger when food is unaffordable or unavailable.

What Are Dirt Cookies?

The clay used in these cookies is typically sourced from the central plateau of Haiti and sold in open-air markets. It is sun-dried, mixed with salt and shortening, then flattened into discs and left to dry on rooftops or pavements. Once hardened, the cookies resemble oversized crackers with a pale beige tone.

Though they contain no nutritional value, they are often eaten by children and pregnant women to reduce the feeling of emptiness in the stomach. Some believe the clay contains minerals, but health experts say the risks outweigh any potential benefit. Consumption of these cookies can lead to malnutrition, stomach pain, infections, and exposure to toxins, especially if the clay is contaminated.

The Roots of the Crisis

The widespread consumption of dirt cookies reflects the deep food insecurity in Haiti, a country facing compounding crises. Years of political instability, natural disasters, gang violence, and economic collapse have pushed millions into poverty. Inflation has made basic groceries inaccessible for many households, with prices for staples like rice, beans, and oil doubling or tripling in recent years.

The United Nations has consistently ranked Haiti as one of the most food-insecure nations in the world. According to the World Food Programme, nearly half the population faces severe hunger. In some neighbourhoods, even accessing clean drinking water or a regular meal is a challenge.

Why It Continues

Dirt cookies cost far less than proper food. In a country where many live on less than £2 a day, a handful of these cookies may be all a family can afford. Vendors continue to sell them because there is a steady demand, and many women who produce them rely on this trade to earn a small income.

For those eating them, it is not a choice made lightly. It is an act of survival in a system where safety nets are few and international aid, while present, cannot meet the scale of need.