06/26/2023 08:27 pm (act. 06/26/2023 08:27 pm)
Italy: Gastronomic tradition to be included in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List. ©Canva
Italians are proud of their gastronomic tradition. They insist on having the best cuisine in the world and they want to defend their culinary tradition.
The government of Rome is committed to including Italian cuisine on the list of intangible cultural heritage. “Italian cuisine is a treasure and must be defended,” Italian Agriculture Minister Francesco Lollobrigida was quoted as saying by the media.
UNESCO must decide
The dossier is now being forwarded to Unesco by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Rome. The evaluation process must be completed by December 2025 at the latest. Italian cuisine is defined in the official application dossier as a set of social practices, rituals and gestures based on numerous local knowledge. According to the dossier, this mosaic of traditions reflects the biocultural diversity of the country.
Review of “Macaroni and Cheese”
Agricultural association Coldiretti complained that many Italian recipes were distorted on the outside, so that the original dish was no longer recognizable. An example is the dish “macaroni and cheese” popular in the USA, that is, macaroni and cheese sauce, which has nothing in common with the tradition of Italian pasta.
Pineapple on pizza: “True sacrilege”
The farmers’ association described the pineapple pizza, which is particularly popular in the US, as “true sacrilege”. Tropical fruit can serve as a dessert – but not as a topping. “Therefore, it is important to protect Italian cuisine with recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site,” said Coldiretti President Ettore Prandini.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s right-wing government, which has been in office since October, is strongly committed to defending domestic food production. The Ministry of Agriculture was renamed “Ministry of Food Sovereignty”. The government is campaigning against lab meat and insect meal, among other things.