Overview
- On Wednesday, October 21, 2026, Maru Botana told reporters she eats very little and that more than 30 years of cooking let her evaluate plates without taking large bites.
- Viewers have criticized Botana for sampling tiny portions compared with fellow judges Damián Betular and Germán Martitegui, a dispute that intensified after she barely tasted Campi’s mondongo empanadas in a recent episode.
- Donato de Santis publicly defended Botana’s approach on television, saying judges are different and she should be accepted for her style.
- Coverage of the tasting debate has expanded online to include past personal allegations by Yanina Latorre about Botana’s behavior, broadening the story beyond on‑screen judging practices.
- Producers and audiences are now wrestling with how visible judging rituals shape viewer trust and social‑media reaction, which can quickly turn single on‑air moments into wider reputational issues for the show and its contestants.