chicken

The rarest chicken in Spain is blue and lives in Extremadura. What we don’t know is for how long

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Human beings are ungrateful animals. For decades, while we miserably worked the land, those blue chickens (rustic, tough and independent) were very good for us. The battered farmhouses of Extremadura, toasted by the sun, extractivism and simple life, were full of them. But then modernity, cities and supermarkets came… and they became a hindrance. Today, despite the fact that in recent years the institutions have stepped up, there will be about 2,000 chicken specimens Extremaduran blue. The Extremadura Blue Hen Breeders Association has 23 farms, but most people raise them for personal consumption or as a simple hobby. It is the rarest chicken in Spain and that, believe me, is saying a lot. A country without half measures. In Spain there are 21 poultry breeds in danger of extinction. This means that 95.4% of all registered native poultry breeds are threatened. In fact, 84% of all native breeds (whether they are birds or not) are in danger. And it is curious because, in short, we live in an unparalleled agricultural power. Spain is the second largest chicken producer of the European continent (only behind the United Kingdom), the third in beef and the first in pork (although swine fever can change this). Although, to tell the truth, it is not that curious. In fact, that is the problem. The emergence of industrial poultry farming since the 50s it was cornering local breeds for the benefit of commercial hybrids specialized in pure and simple production. Therefore, deep down, we are not talking about a problem of great economic magnitude. We are talking about two central issues in the present and the future of the ‘Spain emptied‘: the territorial management model and the question of what we do with genetic heritage. Since its recovery began in 1991 (when only specimens were found in five towns in the region), the situation has improved greatly. But not enough: all those questions are still on the table. And they are not easy questions to answer. Because, and in this case the blue Extremaduran hen, is a good example of the problems that arise as soon as we start working on the matter. because the underlying question is whether a livestock breed can be preserved if no one can make a living from it. And not only because the regulations They are designed for industrial poultry farming (and represents a very considerable obstacle), but for the paradox that hides in a simple Extremadura hen: the realization that not even at the time with greater institutional support (MAPA logo, breeding programs, germplasm banks, etc…) this breed can take its commercial leap. Is it a warning to sailors? Is it the future we have to live? Image | Mentxuwiki In Xataka | China is so clear that the future of pork lies in ‘skyscraper farms’ that it is doing something: taking them to other countries

Washing chicken “to clean it” sounds hygienic. Science says it’s a bad idea (and very dangerous)

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“Chicken should never be washed.” This time, it was Higinio Gómez (one of the most renowned gourmet polleros in Spain) who reopened the debate in an interview in El País. But the issue is recurrent and inexplicably generates very opposing positions: from those convinced that washing chicken is a way to “remove germs or dirt” to those who, rightly, say that it is a terrible idea. But, as Gómez himself would say in his establishment, ‘let’s go in parts’. What’s wrong with the chicken? Let’s start with the most basic: nothing happens to the chicken. The risk linked to ‘washing chicken’ has nothing to do with the chicken itself. It has to do with cross contamination: the bacteria from raw chicken (which would be eliminated during preparation) transfer to the hands, sink, countertops, and various utensils. Often, in fact, when washing chicken we end up putting those bacteria in foods that are ready to eat. The EFSA estimated in billions of euros annually the impact of pollution Campylobacter (a bug especially linked to chicken). Sometimes it’s because you cook it wrong, yes; but often it is due to handling raw food without any type of rigor. What the evidence says. In a now classic observational study by the North American USDA, was discovered that, in fact, what I just explained was what really happened: among those who washed the chicken, 60% contaminated the sink and up to 26% ended up transferring bacteria to the salad. And, in fact, we already have experimental studies that explain the mechanism: beyond the obvious, “washing generates droplets capable of transferring bacteria and increasing environmental pollution” And why do people insist on washing it? That’s a good question with numerous answers: from the cultural and historical heritage (after all, when the chicken was slaughtered at home, washing did make more sense) to a lack of sense of control that ends up turning against us. Let’s be practical: How to avoid cross contamination when cooking chicken? Separate raw chicken from other foods: It is a good idea to keep the chicken raw separated from other foods. This is always true, but especially with all those that are consumed raw (such as fruits and vegetables). Use different utensils: We have talked about it with the cutting boardsbut it is especially effective advice with knives and other utensils. In fact, the recommendation is that, if we do not have several sets of utensils, wash them carefully between uses with hot water and soap. Wash hands and surfaces thoroughly: After handling raw chicken, you should not only wash your hands with soap and hot water for at least 20 seconds; Instead, we should disinfect all surfaces with which it has been in contact. Image | Christian Guillen / Imani In Xataka | Washing raw chicken increases risk of foodborne infection

The problem is not that there is a risk of eating chicken in Spain: it is that it is going to get very expensive

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In November 2023, Luciana Gallo and her team toured Punta León, a protected natural area on the southern coast of Patagonia. “It was like walking on a battlefield,” explained in SINC. “I’ve never seen anything like it. It was truly shocking: mountains of dead birds on the beach, thousands of elephants and sea lions dying.” The bird flu had reached that remote place in Argentina. A few weeks ago we confirmed that had arrived at the antarctic island from South Georgia killing 50,000 females elephant seal These days, however, the news caught us closer: it had also arrived in Spain. And the truth is that while the headlines are filled with bird flu, mass confinements and health alerts, chicken continues to be a central food in our diet. So it is logical that panic has spread. And, of course, that is a problem: a huge problem. In Xataka They are touching our balls (specifically, their price) Although not the one we tend to think. Although we are witnessing live and direct the largest epizootic of which we have records, the WHO continues to consider that the general risk to public health posed by A(H5N1) is low. Because, as Sergio Ferrer points out a few months ago, the most surprising thing about what we are seeing these years is that, “despite being immersed in a massive and historic wildlife mortality event, very few cases have been detected in humans.” And of course, there is no risk of contagion from consuming chicken or eggs from the supermarket. “No one has caught the bird flu virus from eating properly cooked animals or animal products,” said Jatin M. Vyasfrom Columbia University and he was right. Today, eating well-cooked poultry products is safe. That’s not the problem. And what is the problem? That the last thing a sector subjected to increasing costs, mandatory investments and minimum margins needed is a “global pandemic“. The consequences are clear in chicken meat. According to the Ministry of Agriculturethe price at origin of chicken meat in Spain was around €2.37/kg in week 38 of 2025. That is, an increase of 4% compared to the same moment in 2024. A moment in which, thanks to inflation, the price was already high. In Europe, the situation is worse: the price of broiler chicken has exceeded €3/kg for the first time and that represents an increase of 11.2% year-on-year. Something similar happens with eggs.. {“videoId”:”x7zvhsf”,”autoplay”:false,”title”:”REAL VS. FAKE BURGERS Could you tell them apart?”, “tag”:”food”, “duration”:”221″} And we’re talking about chicken, mind you. Chicken is not just another product: for years it has been the cheapest meat per kilo of protein. That is to say, It is the cheap protein par excellence. If the price breaks, the balance of the entire country’s shopping basket is broken. We have a serious problem around the corner. We better not miss the shot. Image | In Xataka |The United States has been immersed in extreme egg prices for months. Spain now faces the same problem (function() { window._JS_MODULES = window._JS_MODULES || {}; var headElement = document.getElementsByTagName(‘head’)(0); if (_JS_MODULES.instagram) { var instagramScript = document.createElement(‘script’); instagramScript.src=”https://platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js”; instagramScript.async = true; instagramScript.defer = true; headElement.appendChild(instagramScript); – The news The problem is not that there is a risk of eating chicken in Spain: it is that it is going to get very expensive was originally published in Xataka by Javier Jimenez .

feast on roast chicken

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For the first time in the history of space exploration, six astronauts they have had a feast with space-roasted chicken and beef. The scene took place aboard the Chinese space station Tiangong, where the crews of the Shenzhou-20 and Shenzhou-21 missions celebrated their reunion by cooking chicken wings and steaks in an oven specially designed to operate in microgravity. An orbital culinary milestone. He video released by the Chinese National Space Agency (CNSA) shows flight commander Chen Dong grilling half a dozen wings in a small oven built into the station wall. The pieces of meat are placed on a cage-type rack to prevent them from floating, and the device, which is more like a dryer than a conventional kitchen appliance, cooks them for 28 minutes until they get a nice golden brown. After the wings, the crew also prepared hydrated beef steaks. Click on the image to go to the post A more important comfort than it seems. Kang Guohua, professor of aerospace engineering at Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, explained Chinese state media that these types of amenities are essential to keep crews psychologically “connected” during their long stays in orbit. The furnace arrived at Tiangong with the Shenzhou-21 mission, which reached the station on October 31, breaking the national speed record in docking maneuvers. Technology to stay. Unlike the Zero G prototype which NASA tested in 2019 to bake cookies on the International Space Station, a temporary experiment, this Chinese oven is permanently integrated into Tiangong’s systems. According to the China Astronaut Center, the device works without overloading the electrical network of the station, provides consistent, smoke-free baking conditions in microgravity, and is certified for up to 500 uses. This is a crucial feature, as space stations rely on tightly controlled life support systems and rigorous fire safety protocols. A full belly, a happy heart. The images went viral on social networks, with users joking and highlighting the difference between the food of Chinese space missions and the rest. The crew of Shenzhou-21 will stay in Tiangong for six months conducting experiments including, according to payload specialist Zhang Hongzhang, Chinese gardening, zero-gravity tai-chi, and space poetry. Meanwhile, the Shenzhou-20 crew, which had been on the station since April, was scheduled to return to Earth on November 5, although his return was postponed due to a possible collision with small space debris that required additional safety checks. Cover image | CNSA In Xataka | A Harvard astronomer has accused NASA of hiding 3I/ATLAS images. has an explanation

For years the chicken was the king of protein. Now the beans and lentils want to dethrone it

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For decades they told us that the healthy thing was to change red meat by chicken or fish. The recommendation was so assumed that it became a kind of nutritional mantra. However, a change begins to glimpse either on supermarket shelves, gyms or social networks, the word “protein” appears more than ever. And the striking thing is that it is increasingly associated with meat, but plant foods. The question is inevitable: why now the vegetable protein? Vegetable protein in the center. The advisory committee of the United States food guides wants to turn the pyramid. According to a report by The Washington Postfor the first time it is proposed that vegetable proteins have priority. Not even chicken or fish, for years synonymous with healthy food, would occupy that place. Christopher Gardner, a professor at Stanford, summed it up with a simple phrase: “The beans, peas and lentils would lead the list of protein sources.” Red meat would be, on the other hand, in the last position. The evidence that supports this turn. The recommendation does not come from nothing. Rahman, clinical director of Barnard Medical Center, remembered the same media than those who eat more plants have less risk of cancer, diabetes, obesity and even deterioration of memory. In a study, Published in the American Journal of Clinical NutritionThey analyzed some 50,000 women, where they concluded that diets rich in plant proteins favor a healthier aging than those based on animal proteins. Beyond the guides, reality speaks for itself. According to The New York Timeslegumes are a pillar of the Mediterranean diet. A single cup of lentils or beans provides about 15 grams of protein, to which fiber, iron, magnesium, folate and vitamin E should be added. Vegetable or animal? Here the nuance appears. In Men’s Health They point to something that usually goes unnoticed In the middle of the vegetable boom: animal protein still plays with advantage. The reason is how we take advantage of it. Its essential amino acids – that our body cannot manufacture – are absorbed more effectively than those of plant origin. The simplest example is on the plate: 85 grams of chicken add up to 20 grams of protein. The same amount of chickpeas stays at six. Marie Spano, sports dietitian cited by the magazinewarns that those who follow exclusively vegetable diets need more daily total protein. Even so, the solution is to combine legumes, whole grains, nuts and seeds throughout the day. The great nuance: natural vs. ultraprocessed. Not all vegetable proteins are the same and here the most critical point appears. In The New York Times They warn of risk to trust ultra -processed that “disguise” healthy. A clinical trial showed that, even with good nutritional profile on the label, the ultra -processed (including shakes and vegetable meals) They do not offer the same benefits than minimally processed foods. In the study, the participants who followed a diet with little processed foods – fruits, natural yogurt, homemade legumes – lost twice as much weight and body fat that those who consumed “healthy” ultraprocesses such as vegetable lasagers ready to heat or protein smoothies. As the epidemiologist Filippa Juul summarized, cited by the NYT: “Ultraprocesses have less texture, chew faster and stimulate appetite artificially.” The world revolves around protein. The boom is not only nutritional, also cultural and commercial. We live in full “It was protein chic”: Protein has become a symbol of sculpted bodies and aspirational well -being. Social networks such as Tiktok popularize extreme routines, hyperproteic milkshakes and diets that touch the obsession, sometimes linked to eating disorders. The food industry has not been left behind. Product containers “High in protein” They adopt aggressive visual codes, with black and red typefaces designed to attract the male public. A strategy that remembers what happened in its day with the “Light” products in pink, aimed at women worried about weight loss. Protein is no longer just a nutrient: it is marketing, identity and business. So the powder protein? The most recognizable symbol of the protein boom may not be lentils or vegetable hamburgers, but the shake that is stirred in the locker room of any gym. But is it essential? The expert’s response is nuanced. Nutritionist Saray López defends it in Xataka As a practical tool: “It has no contraindications and can help reach daily requirements.” But others, such as the dietitian Jesús Guardiola, They underline this same medium that with a balanced diet it is not necessary to resort to supplements: “The problem is when the shake replaces real food.” Specialists agree that dust protein can be useful in concrete contexts: older people with difficulties in chewing, patients in recovery, who seek to gain muscle mass or even workers who barely have time to eat. But they insist that it is not a universal or magical solution. Everything indicates that it is not a passenger fashion. Protein has become the star of the global food conversation. From the official guides to the shelves of the supermarket, of the fitness routines to the homemade cooking recipes, everything seems to revolve around it. But beyond the boom, the background debate is not only how much protein we eat, but from what sources it comes and how it is processed. Image | Freepik Xataka | Powder protein has become the star accessory of modern well -being. Nutritionists have something to say

The potato or tomato. We have just answered a more intriguing question than if the egg or chicken was before

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For those who are not experts in gastronomic history, it is difficult to get the idea of what European medieval cuisine would be like. Today these two vegetables are two of the angle stones of the kitchen, we are in Andalusia or Helsinki, but there was a time when Europeans did not even know their existence. But the story of these two foods goes much further back in time, to an anterior era even to the appearance of the human being. The origin of the potato. Now, a genetic study has achieved Show us the degree of kinship Among the plants that give us the potato (Solanum tuberosum) and the tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). The study has indicated that the appearance of the potato was due to the natural crossing between the tomato and another plant called Etuberosum. The analysis has placed this crossing in time: it would have happened about nine million years ago. With regard to the place of origin of this plant, the study has not given any surprise since this crossing would have occurred in South America, the first continent where the potato became a key crop. “Our findings show how a hybridization event between species can detonate the evolution of new features, allowing even more species to emerge,” pointed in a press release Sanwen Huang, member of the study responsible for the study. “We have finally resolved the mystery of where the potatoes come from.” Solanum. The name of both plant species already gives us a clue: the close kinship between these plants had not yet escaped the experts who had classified both species in the genus Solanumthe “type” gender of the Solanáceas family (Solanaceae), family that includes other vegetables such as eggplants and peppers, while plants such as Petunia and The Datura. However, there was something that did not fit into this extensive family and that had been intrigued for the experts for some time. It was in the resemblance between the potato plant and a third species of soanácea of the same genre as the previous ones, Solanum ethuberosum. These plants are apparently resemble the potato plant, however They do not produce tubers In their roots, a fact that confused those who studied this family. Surprise in the family. The new genetic analysis explains that the difference between these plants lies in the fact that, despite the fact that the potato plant is more morphologically similar to Etuberosumit is with the tomato plant that the popular tuber is closely related. 506 Genomas. In his study, the team analyzed 450 genomes extracted from cultivated potatoes and 56 genomes of wild potato species. According to the team, this last part was an important challenge due to the difficulty of obtaining samples of the wild variants of these plants. The details of the study were published In an article In the magazine Cell. More than a family tree. The team also analyzed some key genes for the formation of tubers in these plants, the result of the combination of genetic material from both precursor species. They found, for example, the work of the SP6A gene, which acts as a “switch” that indicates when to start developing these structures and that comes from tomato plants. They also investigated in the IT1 gene, responsible for the growth of these tubers, from the plant side Etuberosum. In Xataka | In Spain of 2024 the tomatoes do not know anything, but in Albacete they live in 2124: welcome to the “Tomafrán” Image | Shalev Cohen / Rodrigo Dos Reis

The price of eggs has shot and having an own chicken coop seems attractive. But there are fines of up to 3,000 euros

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2025 is the year of Trump’s return to the White House, that of the negotiations on Ukraine, the Rearm of Europe, The tariffs and the distancing from Brussels and Washington. And against all prognosis 2025 it is also being the year of the Egg crisis. Literally. Good The US knowsplunged into a deep “ovoflation”but also Spainwhere in a short time the eggs have increased more than 20%. Thus, many households, especially in the rural, can think of mount To self -abuse. It is not new or that has been done before in Spain. Of course, since 2024 more than chickens, grain and desire to have a domestic chicken coop is needed. If we want to save a fine, it is also necessary to fulfill certain procedures. Issue of laws (and fines). That we lead all our lives seeing homemade pens in the villages, mounted on farms or courtyards with a few laying chickens, it does not mean that there is no law that regulates them. In July 2021 it was approved A Royal Decree which establishes certain “basic standards” to “order” poultry farms. And although it does not focus exclusively on “self -consumption” farms, it includes certain guidelines that its owners must respect. If you have a chicken coop or even a small homemade corral you should know the decree. Especially because, although The text It is 2021, part of its rules on safety, hygiene and equipment did not begin to apply until relatively recently: on January 1, 2024, when the moratorium enjoyed by the farms that already existed. And what does the decree say? One of the most relevant points for domestic farms is the one collected in article 16.5, which Specifies: “The holders of self -consumption farms will be obliged to carry out prior communication so that they are included in the General Registry of Livestock Explodes.” The “self -consumption” nuance is important because The law also define clearly what requirements they must meet to be: not exceed a maximum number of birds or selling anything they produce. Neither young nor meat nor eggs. In case they would go to the category of “reduced exploitation”. The requirement for home pens is less strict than the one applied to the rest of the farms, which before registering is required an authorization that accredits that they meet all the norms; But that does not mean that chickens for self -supply can do whatever they want. They must register. And among other issues are obliged to identify a reference veterinarian. Question of eggs euros. Laws usually carry sanctions for those who break them. AND The 2021 decree About poultry farms is no exception. In the norm, no sanctions are specified in euros, but the corpus of laws to which the authorities will resort to an infraction does refer. In the case at hand, that of not registering a corral, the reference is the Animal Health Law of 2003in which it is identified as a mild infraction not to communicate to the authorities the births or entries of animals of an exploitation. And how much does that mean? A good pinch. The sanction can go from 600 to 3,000 euros, everything depends on the circumstances of each case and aggravating as recidivism. The law also allows infractions to settle with a simple “warning”, although exceptionally. “It will only be imposed if there was no intent and in the last two years the person in charge would not have been sanctioned (…) for the commission of any other violation of the planned,” Clarify. But … Is it a new standard? Not quite. In fact it has been feeling its effect in different regions of Spain for a few months. A year ago for example The voice of Galicia explained that the new requirement had left “an avalanche” of applications in the offices of the Department of Rural Environment, where they already accounted for 40,700 self -consumption chickens. The high ones do not respond only to the fear of fines. Without the process, Corrales owners were already They couldn’t buy New offspring for its farms. In other regions the norm had a scope much more limited. The eggs, under the focus. That the Royal Decree of 2021 is news is now explained for a simple reason: the eggs have become considerably more expensive in recent weeks. In a scenario marked by the increase in demand and the costs and ghost of the avian flu that hits the United States, the Ministry of Agriculture calculates that its price at origin has risen 30% In just one year. So far from 2025 the increases have been, depending on the type of product, between 11 and 18%, with increases especially pronounced in the last month. The OCU estimates that “a dozen medium eggs now costs 25% more than a month ago.” Specifically, it calculates that the price of M Eggs M have risen 25.2% if they are compared to the data of April 2024. It also agrees that the rise has been more marked the last two weeks. Looking for the causes. OCU is not limited only to Identify ups Price, which move between 25% of the M Eggs and 15.4% year -on -year of the L. have also investigated the causes of that increase, a sum of “several factors” among which includes the rise in prices at origin, the US crisis by avian flu, an increase in production controls and “collective psychosis.” “The videos, information in networks … of individuals talking about the price increase and comparing what the eggs cost the eggs creates an environment in which we all expect that ‘crisis’”, Reason the organization of consumers, which warns about the possible “speculation.” With that backdrop in the US there are even those who have opted for rent chickens and self -abuse. In Spain, having its own domestic corral is not such a strange option, especially in the rural, but that: to avoid scares (and fines) it is convenient to know the law and … Read more

105,164 pounds of frozen chicken recalled due to undeclared allergens

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Custom Food Solutions, a Louisville, Kentucky-based manufacturer, issued a Voluntary recall on January 22 of more than 105,164 pounds of frozen chicken due to undeclared allergens that were distributed to 11 Yats restaurants in Indiana, according to the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS, acronym in English). The recall is due to a labeling error and undeclared allergens, since among The ingredients of drunken chicken are egg and sesame which are not mentioned on the product label. Drunk chicken has a shelf life of one year The product subject to recall was produced between March 14, 2024 and January 15, 2025 with a useful life of one year. The chicken is identified as “Yats Drunken Chicken Cooked Chicken Thigh Meat In A Spicy Tomato Sauce With Beer” and is distributed in 60-pound boxes containing 12 5-pound bags. All products have lot codes: 4074, 4102, 4130, 4144, 4163, 4178, 4214, 4229, 4236, 4255, 4325, 4326, 4339, 4355, 5002 and 5015. They also have establishment code “EST. P-17891” inside the USDA inspection seal. During a label review activity, the FSIS discovered that egg and sesame ingredients were not listed on the final product label. Although there have been no reports of people affected by the consumption of drunk chicken, if you present any symptoms due to suspected consumption of the product, it is suggested to contact a health care provider. While FSIS calls on restaurants not to serve these products, they should be discarded or returned to the place of purchase if you keep the product in your freezers. Risks of allergies to egg and sesame FSIS posted a photo of the product label on its website.Credit: FSIS | Courtesy Egg and sesame are two of the nine foods considered allergens in the US. Consuming these foods can generate a reaction in the body, since the body perceives it as a risk, so it defends itself. In the case of eggs, they cause allergies, especially in children, but also in adults. Allergy symptoms appear a few minutes after eating the food with symptoms that vary depending on the person, but there are some that are the most common, according to the Mayo Clinic, such as:to nasal congestion, vomiting, digestive problems, skin rash and hives. While the sesame allergy presents symptoms such as wheezing, trouble breathing, vomiting, diarrhea, cough, hoarseness, tight throat, abdominal pain, swollen, watery and itchy eyes, hives, red welts and swelling, according to Kids Health. Keep reading:

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