Dec. 10 (UPI) — The United Nations’ cultural heritage organization on Wednesday recognized Italian food as an intangible aspect of Italy’s heritage, the first national cuisine to be formally protected by the international body.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization website described Italian food as “a communal activity that emphasizes intimacy with food, respect for ingredients and shared moments around the table.”
“The practice is rooted in anti-waste recipes and the transmission of flavors, skills and memories across generations. It is a means of connecting with family and the community, whether at home, in schools, or through festivals, ceremonies and social gatherings.”
The addition of Italian cuisine to UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity came about as a result of a campaign by Italy’s far-right prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, The Guardian reported. She called for inclusion, saying Italian food was a nationalistic expression of identity.
“We are the first in the world to receive this recognition, which honors who we are and our identity,” she said in a video message posted on Instagram.
“For us Italians, cuisine is more than just food or a collection of recipes. It’s much more than that: It’s culture, tradition, work and wealth.”
Italy’s Agriculture Ministry worked for three years for the addition to the list, CNN reported.
“The act of cooking in Italy transcends the simple nutritional necessity to become a complex and stratified daily practice,” said Pier Luigi Petrillo, one of the writers of the bid.
UNESCO is perhaps best known for maintaining a list of World Heritage Sites, providing legal protection to important landmarks, whether geographically, culturally or historically significant. Italy has the largest number of sites on this list, 61, including the archaeological sites of Pompei and Herculaneum, the Amalfi Coast, and the Dolomites.
The Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, however, recognizes and protects nonphysical knowledge and culture, such as language, customs and traditions — some of which overlap multiple countries. Italy has 21 practices on this list, the eighth most among all countries.
Intangible customs in Italy previously protected by UNESCO include Lipizzan horse breeding, falconry, truffle hunting and Opera dei Pupi.
