regulations

85% hide a “cocktail” of pesticides and PFAS that current regulations ignore

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If we think about a healthy food, the truth is that the apple is at the top. However, a recent published analysis by the NGO Pesticide Action Network Europe, in collaboration with 13 other organizations, has put an uncomfortable reality on the table: a good part of the conventional apples that reach our supermarkets are contaminated by multiple pesticides. The data. The report was based in this case on the analysis of 59 fresh samples of local production collected in September 2025 in 13 European countries, which also includes Spain. In this case, organizations like Ecologista en Acción have been able to corroborate The results have pointed to the following: 93% of the apples analyzed had at least one chemical residue, that is, only 7% were completely free of pesticides. 85% contained more than one pesticide, with an average of three different substances per fruit, reaching up to seven in the most extreme cases. By countries. While in Denmark only 20% of samples had multiple residues, in Spain, France and Italy the figure shot up to a worrying 80%. And when asked where so much chemical comes from, the answer suggests that apples can be sprayed with agrochemicals up to 30 times a year. The toxic ones. What worries the scientific community most is not only the quantity, but the quality of these toxins, since the breakdown of the substances found ignites several red flag: 71% of the apples contained pesticides classified by the European Union itself as “substitution candidates”, that is, the most toxic on the market that should be gradually removed by safer ones. 64% had PFAS wasteknown as “forever chemicals” for their persistence in the environment. The most common is fludioxonil, which is a known endocrine disruptor found in 40% of the samples. The consequences. The data here indicates that 93% of these commonly consumed apples did not comply with the strict legal limits required for the production of processed baby foods, highlighting the risk for children, who are especially vulnerable to these substances because they are much more sensitive as their livers do not have fully developed. The cocktail effect. If apples have a toxin on their surface, the question seems inevitable: why are they legal? This is where the European Food Safety Authority comes in, analyzing the substances individually, estimating that in the vast majority of cases the concentration of each pesticide separately is below legal limits allowed. In fact, the EU Annual Report on waste prepared by EFSA guarantees that exceedances above the standard are low. but the problem It’s in the ‘cocktail effect’ because the current regulations ignore the fact that when three or four toxins are combined, their effect is multiplied. However, despite the fact that the EU has had a legal mandate for 20 years to assess cumulative risks, to this day it still does not apply it rigorously, and if that were not enough, at the end of 2025 the European Commission put forward proposals that could further weaken these toxicity reviews. There are precedents. This study is not an isolated case, since other entities such as the OCU have already published information that pointed to the high level of toxic waste that is in some foods. Even EFSA itself It records this multiple contamination year after year in its databases, although it limits itself to validating that individually they do not break the rule. Faced with this panorama and waiting for European regulations to be updated to protect consumers from the cocktail effect, experts and environmental organizations agree on a clear recommendation: for those seeking to minimize their exposure to these hormone disruptors and persistent chemicals, organically produced apples, which according to studies are usually free of these residues, are currently emerging as the safest alternative. Images | Ilham Wicaksono In Xataka | We are surrounded by “eternal chemicals” that we could only destroy with cannon fire. It turns out that we have an ally in the intestine

The regulations allow you to take home a product from three weeks ago

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We go to the supermarket, we pick up a package of eggs where it says in big letters “Category A” or “Fresh Eggs” and we assume that those chickens They laid the eggs a couple of days ago. But the reality is very different, and the legal and biological sections follow very different paths. And it’s something easy to see if we look closely. on best-before dates and if we do the necessary math we will see that what the law considers “fresh” can take almost a month in the world. Many doubts. Seeing this, the most logical questions we can have in this case is if it is safe to consume or even if it is legal. And the reality is that it is. But there is a small print in the 28-day regulations that you need to know before deciding whether to make a curdled tortilla or homemade mayonnaise. The 28 day clock. To understand what we are buying, we must first go to the BOE and to European regulations. In this case, category A eggs —those that we usually find on the supermarket shelves— have a very specific commercial life cycle. According to marketing regulations, these eggs must be classified, marked and packaged within 10 days of laying. But this is where we have the key information: the best before date is set in a maximum of 28 days from laying. That is, the law allows an egg to be legally sold and consumed up to four weeks after it comes out of the hen. In this way, as they collect the labeling technical guides and AESAN itselfthat is the deadline to supply them to the consumer. Therefore, under the legal umbrella, “fresh” does not mean “placed yesterday.” Means “within the 28 day window“. How to know the real age. This is where we find the picaresque and calculation that many popularizers like the doctor Fernández Viso has shared on his TikTok account. In this case, the packaging rarely says the “selling date”, because it is not mandatory, if the ‘best before’ date appears. And with this you can do a kind of reverse engineering. To do this, let’s give an example. If we are in the supermarket on January 8 and see a container of eggs with the best before date of January 18, the operation is quite simple. The deadline in this case is 28 days after placement, and if they expire on January 18, it means they were placed around December 21. That is why nothing fresh. Its meaning. Although originally this time frame was limited to 21 days in order to guarantee proximity and consumption a little more, the reality is that it was changed to 28 days to reduce food waste. It is not that the egg magically stays “ultra fresh” until the 28th, it is that it has been prioritized that they do not end up in the trash if they are still suitable for consumption. The truly fresh one. There is a category that is much more recent, and it is the one that says “extra” or “extra fresh” on its packaging. The EU Delegated Regulation specifies that this term can only be used during the first 9 days after laying. If you see that label, you are guaranteed real freshness. If you don’t see it, you are looking at a standard egg that can be from 10 to 28 days old. The problem is that, in the consumer’s head, the term “fresh” on the shelf is interpreted loosely. Good business practice guides recognize this disparity: the legality of labeling does not match what people intuitively understand by freshness. Furthermore, the common commercial practice of mixing lots on shelves, which is legal as long as traceability is respectedmakes us lose the perception of the exact age of each container of eggs. Food safety. Knowing the age of the egg is not only a question of gastronomic quality, it is a safety issue. The AESAN and the EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) warn that extending the storage time increases the risk of Salmonella poisoning. Risk mitigation. This is a risk that grows exponentially the longer eggs are stored, both in the store and at home. Therefore, the experts’ recommendations are clear, and depend on the calendar we follow. Specifically, for cooking, that is, for the egg to be well set or cooked, it can be rushed until the best-before date without problem. But for raw consumption such as mayonnaise or tartars, freshness is critical. In this case, it is recommended to use eggs that are more than two weeks away from expiration. Images | Jakub Kapusnak In Xataka | Having a cup of coffee as soon as you wake up seems like a great idea. Science has something to say about it

There is only something more intimidating, dangerous and outside of road regulations than a Cybertruck: a Russian Cybertruck

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A Russian startup has recently presented what Tesla has not dared to create: an electric van with the same angular design and stainless steel body that characterizes the Cybertruck. It’s called Russo-Balt F200.was recently sighted in the country and already has a production date for January 2027. A particular project. From the middle CarScoops they count that it is not a simple prototype or a digital render. And the F200 already circulates through the streets snowfall in Russia, and specifically it was sighted in the city of Perm. The company has revived the name of Russo-Balt, a historic Russian automobile and railroad car manufacturer that operated between 1869 and 1918, to give life to this project that mixes a bit of industrial heritage with futuristic aesthetics. In detail. The F200 measures 5,950 mm long, 2,000 mm wide and 2,550 mm high. It has a monocoque structure, unusual in vans of this size that usually use ladder chassis, and supports a payload of up to 1,000 kg. The startup counted The stainless steel panels are hand-welded and, although the body comes unpainted, buyers will be able to customize it with polyurethane wraps in various colors and graphics. under the hood. A 200 HP electric motor drives the front wheels, powered by a 115 kWh battery that promises 400 kilometers of autonomy. According to account In the middle, the van supports direct current fast charging through a port located on the front fender. Standard equipment includes ABS, ESP, climate control, rear air suspension and a 360-degree camera system. The startup insists that practically all surfaces are heated: seats, steering wheel, mirrors and even the windshield wipers, especially thinking about the harsh Russian winters. A possible Chinese brother. Initially it was debated that the vehicle could be a modified version of the V90a van from the Chinese company Weiqiao New Energy. However, Russo-Balt insists that the F200 is his own design. The company highlights that its team has previous experience in the manufacture of stainless steel water dispensers, knowledge that they now apply to the production of the vehicle, which they confirm will be made to order. Between the lines. Following the massive withdrawal of Western manufacturers from the country following the invasion of Ukraine, Chinese brands They have quickly occupied that space and now represent the majority of new car sales in Russia. The F200 perhaps represents an attempt to once again develop local production capacity with a product that is, of course, very striking. How to get one. The price is set at 6.5 million rubles, approximately 72,400 euros at the exchange rate. The company asks for a refundable deposit of about 10,000 rubles, about 111 euros. Russo-Balt also offers a curious 100-year warranty for stainless steel panels. It’s a fairly ambitious figure, but also difficult to verify even considering that the car hasn’t even gone into production yet. And now what. Russo-Balt is already working on a second modelthe F400, which will incorporate a gasoline engine as a range extender and all-wheel drive through two electric motors, adding 400 HP of combined power. It will also add front air suspension to the rear that already includes the F200. Although no pricing details have been revealed, this model targets a more premium segment. It remains to be seen if the startup delivers on its promises and if demand follows. In Xataka | You can now bid on the most exclusive Ford GT prototype in history. The only handicap is that you won’t be able to drive it.

V16 beacons with associated application. Five models to comply with DGT regulations as of January 1

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There is nothing left for us to have to carry a mandatory one in the car. V16 beacon. Which one to buy? There are many models, so in this article we are going to focus on five V16 beacons that come with their own smartphone application. Help Flash IoTan affordable beacon compatible with myIncidence. Help Flash IoT+a beacon with a good number of candles that is also compatible with myIncidence. LEDOnea V16 beacon that stands out for its format and is compatible with its own app. LEDOne for trucksincludes the beacon and an arrow for commercial vehicles. FlashLEDcomes with an anti-shock case and is compatible with its own app. Help Flash IoT The first V16 beacon that we have introduced in this list is from Netun Solutions: the Help Flash IoT. It has a similar design to the Help Flash IoT+, but has different characteristics: it offers visibility up to 1 km, its autonomy is approximately two hours and it offers more than 40 effective candles. Plus, it connects to the app myIncidence to be able to quickly contact the insurance company and emergency services. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Help Flash IoT+ Secondly, we have introduced the most complete version of the previous V16 beacon: the Help Flash IoT+. It has a more interesting technical sheet and its price is usually similar: it offers approximately 290 candlesits autonomy is up to 2.5 hours and it also connects to the myIncidence app. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links LEDOne The LEDOne It is a particularly interesting beacon due to its format, since it incorporates a support so that it can be placed a little higher, thus improving visibility. Offers 120 effective candlesits autonomy is approximately two hours, the brand mentions that it is suitable for all vehicles and can be connected to the LEDOne app to notify insurance and emergency services. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links LEDOne for trucks An alternative to the previous V16 beacon—or rather a more complete option—we have it at Leroy Merlin. The LEDOne is available in a truck pack which, in this case, includes both the beacon that we have mentioned before and a signaling for industrial vehiclesthus improving visibility. In addition, since it is the same beacon, it is compatible with the LEDOne app. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links FlashLED Finally, PcComponentes has the V16 beacon FlashLEDwhich in this case comes along with a anti-shock hard case. It works using a single battery and is compatible with its own app SOS alert. Of course, the brand does not mention either the theoretical autonomy or the figure in candles. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Some of the links in this article are affiliated and may provide a benefit to Xataka. In case of non-availability, offers may vary. Image | Netun Solutions, LEDOne, FlashLED In Xataka | Safety, organization and entertainment gadgets and accessories for cars on long trips In Xataka | Clarifying all the mess that the DGT has on its hands: the V-16 light, the V-27 signal and the emergency triangles

Volkswagen is going to stop manufacturing the combustion Polo due to new emission regulations

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The future of the Volkswagen Polo will be electric or it will not be. This is what Thomas Schäfer, CEO of Volkswagen, has come to say. The company’s head believes that there is no way to launch a future combustion Polo if emissions requirements do not change. And the European Commission’s proposal changes the situation very little for this type of car. Electric or electric. “Offering new models with a gasoline engine in the size of the Polo and below does not make sense considering future emissions regulations. They would be too expensive for our customers. The future in this segment is electric.” The words are from Thomas Schäfer, CEO of Volkswagen, in an interview with the German media Auto Motor und Sport. In it, the top executive of the brand points out that it makes no sense to launch a new Volkswagen Polo with a combustion engine because the development costs could not be amortized if the car is to be kept at a competitive price. Why does an electric car have less autonomy than advertised? It must be taken into account that the disappearance of the Polo It has already been advanced in 2022 when it was thought that the car would die. Then it was already said that the company was not going to invest money in developing small cars with combustion engines and it seems that the idea remains. The Polo ID. In 2022, Volkswagen was considering eliminating the Polo name. As the years went by and seeing the public’s reception, the company has finally decided to call the electric that comes to occupy this space as Volkswagen ID.Polodiscarding the ID.2 designation finally. At the moment, little is known about the car, other than that it should start at less than 25,000 euros and that will be manufactured in Spain. That and throughout the Volkswagen Group they have the same approach to the combustion car: there will be no new cheap options. Seat, for example, will not launch combustion cars of this size to renew the current Ibiza but it will not do the same with electric until they are cheap enough. The regulations. In his statements Schäfer points to the emissions regulations that Europe has ahead. To start, Volkswagen has until 2027 to record its average emissions of cars sold since this year below 93.6 gr/km of CO2 if you don’t want to incur heavy fines. According to data collected by Motor.esthe Germans had the possibility of receiving more than 1.5 billion euros in fines on the table. These emissions must be halved by 2030 and non-existent by 2035. But hadn’t they changed? At the moment, no. Although everything indicates that there will be subtle changes. However, with the European Commission proposalthose who benefit within the Volkswagen Group are Audi, Porsche or Lamborghini since the cars with combustion engines that can be sold will be very expensive. And the proposal has to be approved by the European Parliament and the Member States (the Council of the EU). However, if it goes ahead, which is most likely, the important changes will be the following: The emissions. To get an idea of ​​the impossibility of complying with these limits by selling small combustion cars, a Volkswagen Polo with a 1.0 three-cylinder engine and 80 HP emits 119 gr/km of CO2. The company would have to sell more than a dozen electric cars to offset each sale of a combustion Polo of this type. Something unthinkable. And small cars are the ones that less profit margin left to a company. That is why the amortization of developments must be achieved by selling a very high volume of cars. If not, the price must be raised and the car is anticompetitive in a part of the market that is more susceptible to price changes. That leaves Volkswagen’s hands tied. The development of a platform for small electric vehicles to comply with emissions regulations has already eaten up money that cannot be invested in launching a new combustion-powered Volkswagen Polo with another stream of money in development included with such a short commercial life ahead. In fact, if Volkswagen does not sell enough electric vehicles He is not even interested in selling the current Volkswagen Polo. On the horns of a dilemma. The biggest problem this leaves us with is that the client finds himself between a rock and a hard place. For a purely technical issue, buying a four-meter electric car can be a very good solution for everyday life. Having a plug at home is perfect and the more kilometers we travel daily, the cheaper it will be for the customer. But the owner of an electric car of this type has a problem when he goes on a trip. And the price savings you are going to pay with discomfort. An electric car of this size is leaving us with versions with batteries of between 40 and 50 kWh to meet the 25,000 euros mark and that leaves us with real autonomy on the road of between 200 and 250 kilometers in the best of cases. This situation is causing the small electric car to not gain enough traction in the market. And if this type of car doesn’t start, the industry has a problem because emissions limits are already on the table and They need to multiply electric sales to comply with the figures that Europe has put on the table. Photo | Volkswagen In Xataka | I went out for a weekend with the Renault 5. This is all that awaits anyone who buys a cheap electric car

The offer on this V16 beacon arrives at El Corte Inglés that will help you comply with the DGT regulations from January 1

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From January 1 it will be mandatory to carry a V16 beacon to comply with the DGT regulations. These beacons are not particularly cheap, so some stores have gotten to work to launch the occasional offer. And if you have not yet purchased a V16 beacon, El Corte Inglés has the Onexus-Geo by 39.99 euros instead of 49.99 euros. Onexus-Geo (V16 approved beacon) The price could vary. We earn commission from these links A V16 beacon that lights up when the base rotates The Onexus-Geo is a V16 beacon that meets the DGT requirements, which are not few. This type of beacon replaces the triangles and this particular model, in accordance with the law, incorporates a GPS module at its top, offering prepaid connectivity until January 1, 2039, so it has a duration of 12 years. Includes a battery charge level indicator and To turn it on, just rotate its basean interesting point, and one that differs from the typical power button, to prevent us from accidentally activating it. It is capable of emitting a powerful light and connects directly to the DGT. It works with a battery that is included and has a magnetic fixation so that it can be easily placed on the top of the car. Furthermore, depending on the brand, it offers up to 2 hours of autonomyit is resistant to rain, snow and dust, it is visible from 1 kilometer and the battery can be changed without tools. You may also be interested in these other V16 beacons El Corte Inglés also has other V16 beacons at the same price, as is the case with the Help Flash IoT by 39.99 euroswhich is also a model manufactured in Spain by Netun Solutions. Amazon also has many V16 beacons, such as the Help Flash IoT+ by 34.95 euros wave Isse Safety by 34.54 euros. Even PcComponentes, which now has the Nk DP-EL2024-C1 on offer for 29.99 euros. The price could vary. We earn commission from these links help flash IoT+, V16 Emergency Light with Geolocation and more than 250 candela power, Required from 2026, Connected with DGT 3.0, V-16 Signal for Cars, data plan included The price could vary. We earn commission from these links ISSE SAFETY Beacon v16 Approved DGT SIM and Data Included until 2038 – Car Emergency Light Approved DGT 3.0 – v16 ​​With Mandatory Geolocation January 2026 v16 Approved DGT The price could vary. We earn commission from these links Some of the links in this article are affiliated and may provide a benefit to Xataka. In case of non-availability, offers may vary. Image | El Corte Inglés and Compradicción (header), Onexus In Xataka | V-16 emergency light for the car. Purchasing guide, regulations and when they come into force, characteristics and approvals In Xataka | Clarifying all the mess that the DGT has on its hands: the V-16 light, the V-27 signal and the emergency triangles

22% of renewable plants did not meet the basic tension control criteria during the blackout. And the regulations already demanded it

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Almost two months after the blackout that disconnected Spain and Portugal, the government has released the technical report That analyzes what happened. The document, prepared after checking hundreds of data gigabytes, discards any external attack and points to a chain of technical errors. The decisive factor, according to the document: A network without sufficient capacity To control tension at critical moments, especially in renewable parks. A critical fact. During the blackout, different plants were disconnected preventively when detecting overtheions. The problem is that, According to the reportseveral of these disconnections occurred before even the maximum voltage thresholds allowed by the regulations will be reached. In other words, they did not respond properly to the network conditions. As has pointed out The energy expert, Javier Blas, 22% of the renewable plants did not comply with the criteria required by current regulations. I already demanded it. This is not a case of legal lagoon or regulatory vacuum. The report itself He has made clear that the technical demands for response to surge were already in force. European regulations –Regulation (EU) 2016/631also known as “requirements for generators” (RFG) – establishes behavior requirements for generating plants connected to the network. By the Electric Red Operation Proceduresespecially PO 12.3 (on technical requirements of generation facilities) and PO 9 (on supply quality and safety), already included the obligation to maintain the connection against voltage variations within defined margins. Not adapted to your own transition. The report too He has pointed out to a structural problem: the electricity grid has not evolved at the same pace than the massive renewable deployment. At the time of the blackout, 82% of the generation in operation was renewable. However, the number of synchronous centrals – fundamental to stabilize the network – was the lowest of the year. In this way, the network faced an explosive cocktail: a lot of distributed generation, little centralized control and little response capacity against critical events. A domino effect that, in just 12 seconds, led to the total disconnection of the Iberian system of the rest of Europe. The solutions on the table. The document proposes a package of ambitious measures. Among which we find to strengthen supervision to ensure normative compliance, immediately implement a specific technical service so that renewables actively participate in the voltage control and Increase electrical interconnection with France. Purifying responsibilities. The Government has pointed out both Electric and Electric Companies and possible responsible. From RedeiaBeatriz Corredor has responded ensures that they have not provided all the necessary information, and that the received did not have the desirable quality to clarify what happened. In addition, Corridor recalled that Red Electrica does not manage private networks or distributed control centers, and that its role is limited to guaranteeing the physical compatibility of the system with the programs that result from the electricity market. Image | Pexels Xataka | 49 days after the blackout, the government has published the official report. Against all prognosis, he points to a culprit

César Huerta will not be able to play in the UEFA Europa League due to regulations

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Cesar Huerta has generated many expectations within Mexican soccer. His time with the UNAM Pumas allowed him to make the leap to Europe with the Anderlecht. The “Chino” lives his European dream, but he will have to paralyze it momentarily in the UEFA Europa League. Anderlecht will play this Thursday, January 23 in the penultimate matchday of the UEFA Europa League. The Belgian team will visit Viktoria Plzen at the Doosan Arena in Czechia. For this duel, Anderlecht will not be able to count on the support of the Mexican. By UEFA regulations, César Huerta still cannot be registered with the Belgian team. “Chino” still has to wait if he wants to debut in the continental championship. The establishments indicate that the clubs that participate in the UEFA Europa League They will not be able to register new players until the league format phase has ended. That is, the only way for César Huerta to debut in this championship would be after Anderlecht’s classification to the round of 16 of the championship or the playoffs. These matches would take place on March 6 and 13. How are Anderlecht doing? Anderlecht has had a very good performance in this edition of the UEFA Europa League. Although they are not classified, the Belgian team is very well positioned to stay alive in this tournament. After 6 days, Anderlecht is in 3rd place in the league table. The Belgian team accumulates 14 points from 4 wins and 2 draws. Until now, together with Lazio, Galatasaray and Manchester United, Anderlecht is undefeated in this cup. His rival on the day is Viktoria Plzen, a team that accumulates 9 points and is in 17th place in the standings. This is an important duel for both teams. César Huerta hopes that Anderlecht can take an important step towards their qualification and the possible debut of “Chino” in the UEFA Europa League. Keep reading:– Dream debut: “Chino” Huerta scores a goal in his first game in Europe– César Huerta was tempted by Rayados before going to Belgium– César Huerta criticizes Mexicans who stay in their comfort zone – Luis Chávez could return to Liga MX

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