María Muñoz, digestive system specialist: "The yellow color of chickens is no guarantee of naturalness."

Chicken is one of the most common meats in the Spanish diet due to its affordable price, nutritional profile, and versatility in the kitchen. However, not everyone knows the key factors that determine the true quality of this food . Dr. María Muñoz , a digestive system specialist at the Virgen de la Arrixaca Hospital in Murcia and a collaborating professor at the University of Murcia, warns that many consumers are misled by the color of chicken skin as a supposed indicator of its origin or nutritional value.

On her Instagram account, where she shares content related to obesity, nutrition, and intestinal health, Dr. Muñoz issues a clear warning: "The yellow color of chickens is no guarantee of naturalness." She explains that this color can be due to a corn-based diet or, in some cases, the use of feed with artificial colors . Therefore, it is not a reliable factor in distinguishing a higher-quality chicken .

Furthermore, the expert debunks another widespread belief: that the term "free-range chicken" implies a special type of breeding. " All chickens are free-range, even industrial ones . That label doesn't indicate quality or better breeding ," she says. The real difference lies in the number of days the chicken is raised and the animal's living conditions.

Muñoz details the three main categories of free-range chickens compared to industrial or conventional chickens. The latter grows in just 42 days , in closed spaces without natural light, with a density of 16 chickens per square meter. Free-range chickens, on the other hand, can reach 81 days of rearing and enjoy better conditions. Normal free-range chickens are raised for 56 days and at a lower density (12 or 13 per square meter). Traditional free-range chickens live in much larger spaces (2 per square meter) and are also raised for 81 days , the same as free-range chickens, similar to organic chickens but without complying with all their regulations.

To know what type of chicken you're buying, the doctor recommends paying attention to the labeling information . " Only Alcampo and Eroski provide this information," she points out. "Mercadona doesn't specify anything about the product, so we assume the chickens are industrially produced. Therefore, don't trust marketing and try to buy chickens from a trusted butcher shop," the specialist concludes.