The news in Czech
V Česku stouply ceny másla, ovlivnily rozpočet domácností a vznikly falešné teorie. Někteří Češi hledají levnější náhrady na pečení pro Vánoce. Doma vyrábějí máslo ze šlehačky, ale experti radí pečlivé skladování. Moderní výroba másla zaručuje delší trvanlivost díky hygienickým postupům , které doma nelze zopakovat.
Translation
In the Czech Republic, the price of butter has increased, impacting household budgets and leading to false theories. Some Czechs are looking for cheaper alternatives for Christmas baking. They make butter at home from cream, but experts advise careful storage. Modern butter production ensures longer shelf life due to hygienic practices that cannot be replicated at home.
Exercise: Text comprehension
Question 1: What are some Czechs doing as a response to rising butter prices?
Some Czechs are making butter at home from cream as a cheaper alternative for baking during Christmas.
Question 2: What advice do experts give to those making butter at home?
Experts advise careful storage of homemade butter.
Exercise: Vocabulary
stoupnout - rise
ovlivnit - influence
vzniknout - arise
trvanlivost (f.) - shelf life
hygienický - hygienic
postup (m.) - procedure
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▌20/11/2024
The recent spike in butter prices has created a storm in the Czech Republic, influencing not only household budgets but sparking a wave of misinformation and conspiracies online. As Czechs gear up for their traditional Christmas baking, many are feeling the strain of butter costs, prompting some to search for budget-friendly alternatives in local stores.
Amidst the financial challenge, conspiracy theories have surfaced, fueled by misinformation-spreading websites. One particular false claim suggests that to cut costs, butter producers are substituting milk fat with insect-based substitutes or even producing butter from gas. These sensational theories have been propagated by platforms like Události 24/7 and Volný blog, raising questions about the ingredients in butter.
In response to these claims, Manipulátoři.cz, a website dedicated to debunking misinformation, has clarified the misrepresentation of a scientific study from Belgium. Conducted in 2020, this study explored the impact on flavor when replacing milk fat with larvae fat in baked goods, not raw butter. The researchers concluded that such substitutions could occur without altering taste significantly in certain products.
Czech Republic Faces Misinformation Amid Rising Butter Prices (Illustration)
The notion of insect-based butter remains purely speculative and economically unfeasible. Any immediate plans for mass production are denied by industry experts. Tomáš Maier from the Czech University of Life Sciences highlighted that incorporating insect products would currently increase butter's cost, contradicting claims of price reduction.
Meanwhile, the high cost of butter has encouraged some Czechs to revert to homemade solutions, emulating past traditions. Shoppers like Aneta have taken to crafting their own butter from discounted whipping cream, finding it both economical and satisfying. However, experts caution on the homemade butter's shorter shelf life, especially if made from near-expired cream, as it is more prone to spoilage compared to industrially produced alternatives.
Amid this environment, food technology experts emphasize the advances in modern dairy production, which ensure longer-lasting butter through meticulous processes and sterile conditions not replicable at home. Despite these challenges, many continue to store butter for longer periods, with recommendations to use airtight packaging for freezing to preserve its quality.
Info: 'Czech Learner News' is a service from 'Let's Learn Czech', a language school dedicated to teaching Czech. Our Czech tutors offer a range of online courses designed to suit various learning needs and preferences.
